Fleming Scholars Program

Applications and recommendation letters are due by 11:59 p.m., Feb. 1. Mailed recommendation letters must be postmarked by Feb. 1.

We will not contact the references listed on applications.

Each year, the Fleming Scholar Selection Committee selects the Fleming Scholars. All complete applications received by the Feb. 1 deadline are reviewed by this committee, and 25 applicants are selected for a virtual interview. Following interviews, the committee selects the scholars as well as two to four alternates.

All applicants are notified of their application status by late February or early March. For those that are chosen for an interview in March, final results will be available following the conclusion of all interviews.

Fleming scholars work full time (40 hours/week on average) in state-of-the-art biomedical research laboratories on individual projects and are supervised by senior members of the OMRF scientific staff. Every effort is made to assign scholars to laboratories conducting research of particular interest to them. The scholars attend weekly seminars, group social and cultural events and, with the help of their mentor, write an abstract summarizing their summer project.

On the final day of the program, scholars give a short, formal scientific presentation outlining the findings of their projects. Parents/guardians, OMRF staff and other guests are invited to attend.

Fleming Scholars work at OMRF for eight weeks in the months of June and July. Their first day is the Monday after Memorial Day.

For Scholars that live more than 40 miles from OMRF, housing is provided and located on the Oklahoma City University campus. Scholars are assigned in groups of two to four per apartment.

OMRF does not provide transportation to and from work. Group transportation is provided to most social events, but most often, scholars are responsible for their own transportation.

Breakfast is provided at no cost to all scholars every workday morning (M-F) in the OMRF Research Café. Otherwise, scholars are responsible for their own meals. Lunches may be purchased in the Research Café at an employee discount. Evening meals are the responsibility of each scholar, with the exception of the meals provided at social events.

As a safety precaution, scholars should wear long pants and closed-toed shoes to work. Jeans are acceptable, as are athletic shoes. Lab work can be messy so scholars must dress appropriately and avoid wearing torn clothes, dangling jewelry, etc. Lab coats, safety goggles, and any other necessary protective gear will be provided.

The Fleming Scholar Program is rigorous and intense. Eight weeks is quite a short time to initiate—and complete—a detailed scientific project. In fact, many scholars find it necessary to return to OMRF in the weeks following the program in order to complete their experiments and put the finishing touches on their papers. An absence of even a few days can make it difficult for a scholar to catch up before the program ends. Therefore, scholars are required to commit in advance to attendance for the entire eight weeks of the program.

As long as the applicant meets the eligibility requirements for the program, they may apply to the program for as many years as desired. So, from senior year (high school) to junior year (college), candidates may apply once each year. Many scholars have been selected on their second or even third try. Anyone who is unsuccessful the first time is encouraged to apply again.

Being a Fleming Scholar is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The program was established with the purpose of affording this unique chance to as many gifted, science-minded students as possible.

Scholars are paid $5,000 for June and July. Paychecks are distributed 10 business days after the conclusion of the months worked.