2027 DREAM - Driving Recruitment through Education and Mentoring Program

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Driving Recruitment through Education and Mentoring Program (DREAM) is a 10-week summer program designed to inspire the training of the next generation of medical physicists by reducing barriers and promoting excellence through research opportunities. DREAM is a dynamic mentorship program dedicated to empowering fellows and fostering professional growth in their pathway toward the medical physics field. Through personalized guidance and a supportive network, DREAM aims to inspire fellows to reach their full potential and pursue a graduate degree in medical physics.

Program Highlights

  • Competitive selection: DREAM fellows are selected on a competitive basis.
  • Mentor-guided research: Selected fellows choose a mentorship opportunity from a list of mentors and institutions in the U.S. and Canada that align with their research and career interests.
  • $6,000 stipend: Fellows receive a $6,000 stipend to help with living expenses during the 10-week program (May to September), once the fellow and mentor have agreed on the expectations for the fellowship project. Dates are set to suit both the mentor and the fellow.
  • Full-time commitment: Selected undergraduate fellows may not take summer school or outside courses, or be employed in any other way, during the 10-week program.
  • Annual Meeting opportunity: Selected fellows may attend the 2027 AAPM Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio, with complimentary registration and $500 toward travel expenses.

► Curious about the field? Explore What Is Medical Physics?

► Got questions? Find answers in the DREAM Frequently Asked Questions.

► DREAM is made possible by the AAPM Education & Research Fund

Student Eligibility

To apply, students must:

  • Have completed at least two years of undergraduate study by the start of the fellowship, must not yet have graduated, and must have at least one full semester of undergraduate study remaining after the summer fellowship. Students graduating in spring 2027 or earlier are not eligible.
  • Have declared, or be eligible to declare, a major in physics, engineering or another science that requires mathematics through at least differential equations, modern physics/quantum mechanics, and electricity and magnetism, or equivalent courses in the engineering sciences
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, Canadian citizen, U.S. permanent resident or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient. Applicants are welcome regardless of national origin, but they must meet one of these citizenship or residency requirements.
    • The following three visa types are acceptable for the DREAM program:
      • F-1 Student Visa for study at an accredited U.S. college or university or for the study of English at an English Language institute
      • J-1 Exchange Visa for participation in an exchange program which would include university study
      • M-1 Student Visa for non-academic or vocational study or training. Although this visa is acceptable, it may not apply.
  • Not have previously received a DREAM fellowship

Application Requirements

  • Submission Deadline: February 9, 2027, 11:59 PM ET
  • All fields marked with a red asterisk must be completed, including document uploads.

Personal Statement

  • Approximately one page describing your interest in the AAPM DREAM Fellowship Program
  • Upload as a PDF file

Your statement should include:

  • Your interest in the field of medical physics
  • Your experiences, attributes and the challenges you've overcome in your journey in the STEM fields
  • What you hope to gain from the fellowship
  • The impact this fellowship would have on your professional goals

Transcripts

  • Unofficial transcript required at the time of application (a second transcript may be uploaded, if applicable)
  • Official transcript required from finalists within two weeks of notification

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Letters of Recommendation

  • Two letters required (PDF file format)
  • You may submit recommendation requests before your application is complete. Submit them early so your recommenders have plenty of time to respond.
  • It is your responsibility to make sure this step is complete. Check your application before the deadline to confirm your letters have been uploaded.
  • The person writing the recommendation letter should know you and your academic performance well.
  • Provide the name and email address of each recommender
  • Once you submit a request, the system automatically emails your recommender with instructions. Ask them to watch for an email from noreply@secure-platform.com, which may go to their spam/junk folder.

Proof of Health Insurance

  • Required after fellowship selection is confirmed

Fellowship Requirements

Timeline

► Student Application Deadline: February 9, 2027 | 11:59 PM ET
► Mentor Application Deadline: February 9, 2027 | 11:59 PM ET

► Decision Notifications: by March 3, 2027
► Mentor Matching: March 22 - 26, 2027

Closed

 

Mentor Eligibility

Each selected fellow will have a mentor employed by a university, a research facility, a hospital or clinical facility, or a radiological industry within the United States or Canada. Mentors must be a faculty medical physicist in a university environment, a person working in a medical physics-related field, or a qualified medical physicist.  Each mentor must be a full member of AAPM. Attestation of Employer support and Indemnification is an application requirement. More information on Mentor Requirements and Guidelines.

In the application, the mentor will specify a 10-week period during the summer academic period (May to September) during which the mentor will supervise the undergraduate student fellow.

► Mentor Application Deadline: February 9, 2027


Closed