Pathways to Clinical Research Careers - Fellowship Application

Instructions

The Novartis U.S. Foundation and Novartis founded Beacon of Hope (BOH) in 2021 as a 10-year partnership with HBCUs aiming to advance effective, measurable solutions reducing barriers to accessing healthcare innovation and reimagining healthcare workforce pathways. Learn more about Beacon of Hope.

This professional fellowship is designed to give students the knowledge, skills, and support they will need to pursue entry-level roles in the clinical research field. BOH Pathways is a fully-funded experience; all training and travel costs are covered for each participant. As a result of this program, fellows will:

Learn about the clinical research industry and viable career pathways
Receive industry-recognized training
Engage in hands-on professional development experiences

Fellowship elements

Quality Training

Fellows will complete the 40-hour Early Talent Training Program (ETTP) delivered by ACRP, the leading organization for clinical research professionals.

Experiential Learning

Fellows will participate in professional excursions to visit with industry leading organizations to gain first-hand knowledge about clinical research careers.

Network Building

Fellows will have the opportunity to attend the ACRP Annual Conference to engage with peers and professionals, attend informative sessions, and develop mentor networks.

Eligibility Criteria

Interested students must meet ALL the eligibility criteria to be selected for the fellowship.

Currently enrolled part-time or full-time at an HBCU

At least 18 years or older

Currently classified as a junior or senior

Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher

Majoring in a health-related or science degree program, or on a pre-medical track

We will consider all complete applications equally, and fellows will be randomly selected from the pool of eligible applicants.

Submitting an Application

All applications must be submitted via the online form. Please review the application questions before beginning the online form: BOH Pathways Program Application

You can start an application and save your progress. Click the 'Save & Continue' button to receive a link to return to your application. Completed applications must be submitted by October 30, 2026.

The Spring 2027 Cohort will run from January to June. A tentative schedule is listed below; dates are subject to change.

Date	Event	Location
January 16	Orientation	Virtual
January 23	ETTP Course	Virtual
January 30	ETTP Course	Virtual
February 13	ETTP Course	Virtual
February 27	ETTP Course	Virtual
March 27	ETTP Course	Virtual
April 10	ETTP Course	Virtual
April 24	ETTP Course	Virtual
April 30 – May 3	ACRP Conference	San Diego, CA
June	Professional Excursion	TBD

Virtual sessions will be approximately 2–3 hours each.
Fellows are expected to participate in at least 80% of ETTP course sessions in order to be eligible to attend the professional excursion and conference.
All training, conference, and travel expenses will be covered.

If you have any questions about the application or fellowship, please contact the team at FHI 360, the Coordinating Center for Beacon of Hope at bohpathways@fhi360.org.

Ready to apply? Click here to access the online application