AAPM DREAM Fellowship Program Opening Soon
Offered by American Association of Physicists in Medicine
About This Scholarship
DREAM — Driving Recruitment through Education and Mentoring — is the American Association of Physicists in Medicine's second 10-week summer fellowship track, built to reduce barriers into the medical physics pipeline and steer talented undergraduates toward graduate study in the field. Fellows choose a mentorship opportunity from a list of participating mentors and institutions across the U.S. and Canada that align with their research and career interests.
Like its sibling SUFP program, DREAM pays a $6,000 stipend for the 10-week program, scheduled between May and September on dates that suit the fellow and mentor. Fellows may also attend the 2027 AAPM Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio, with complimentary registration and $500 toward travel.
The application asks for a personal statement about your journey in STEM — including challenges you have overcome — plus transcripts, a CV on AAPM's template, and two recommendation letters. Students who will graduate in spring 2027 or earlier are not eligible, since the program is designed to shape the remaining undergraduate years.
Eligibility
- Completed at least two years of undergraduate study but not yet graduated (students graduating spring 2027 or earlier are ineligible)
- Declared (or eligible to declare) a major in physics, engineering, or another science requiring math through differential equations, modern physics/quantum mechanics, and electricity and magnetism
- U.S. citizen, Canadian citizen, or U.S. permanent resident (DACA students welcome)
- Have not previously received a DREAM fellowship
How To Apply
- Open the DREAM application from AAPM's grants and fellowships portal when it becomes available on November 5, 2026
- Upload a roughly one-page personal statement (PDF) covering your interest in medical physics, your path in STEM, and what you hope to gain
- Upload an unofficial transcript and a CV using AAPM's required template
- Request two letters of recommendation through the application system and confirm they are uploaded
- Submit by 11:59 p.m. ET on February 9, 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
How is DREAM different from AAPM's Summer Undergraduate Fellowship?
Both are 10-week, $6,000-stipend summer research fellowships with the same deadline. DREAM emphasizes mentorship and broadening the path into medical physics — its personal statement asks about challenges you've overcome in STEM — and fellows choose from a published list of mentor institutions.
Can Canadian students apply?
Yes. Eligibility extends to U.S. citizens, Canadian citizens, and U.S. permanent residents, and DACA students are welcome to apply.
When does the fellowship take place?
The 10-week program runs between May and September 2027, on dates the fellow and mentor agree to. It requires a full-time commitment with no summer courses or outside employment.