Digital Health Innovation Scholarship
Building the tools that make personalized healthcare possible. One $2,500 scholarship awarded each cycle, twice a year, to a student researcher or engineer advancing digital health.
About the scholarship
Ready Practice believes the future of healthcare is personalized, data-driven, and built by the next generation of researchers and engineers. The Digital Health Innovation Scholarship supports students building open-source tools, algorithms, and systems for continuous health monitoring, bioinformatics, and dynamic care optimization.
This is not an essay scholarship. We evaluate applicants primarily on their GitHub repositories and the technical work they are doing to advance personalized healthcare. Show us what you are building.
What we're looking for
Health Monitoring Tools
Wearable integrations, real-time data pipelines, and continuous health tracking systems
Bioinformatics Research
Genomic analysis tools, biomarker discovery, and computational biology pipelines
Personalized Care Algorithms
Treatment optimization, predictive models, and adaptive care recommendation systems
Open-Source Health Infrastructure
Interoperability solutions, data standards implementations, and health data exchange tools
Eligibility requirements
How winners are selected
Applications are reviewed by the Ready Practice team using the following criteria. Each application is scored on a 100-point scale:
Technical quality of GitHub project
Code quality, documentation, architecture, test coverage, and active development
Relevance to personalized healthcare
Direct applicability to health monitoring, bioinformatics, clinical decision support, or health data systems
Innovation and potential impact
Novelty of approach, potential to improve patient outcomes or clinical workflows at scale
Faculty recommendation
Strength of endorsement and context on the applicant's academic contributions
One winner is selected per cycle. All applicants are notified of the outcome by the announcement date. Scoring decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
Application timeline
Two award cycles per year so you never have to wait long to apply
Spring Cycle
December 1
Applications open
February 1
Application deadline
March 1
Winner announced
Fall Cycle
July 1
Applications open
September 1
Application deadline
October 1
Winner announced
Apply for the scholarship
Submit your project and let your work speak for itself
Application received!
We'll review your submission and notify you of the results by the announcement date for this cycle.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply?
Any currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited university studying computer science, bioengineering, bioinformatics, health informatics, or a related field. Both US and international students are welcome to apply.
What kind of projects qualify?
We look for open-source projects related to personalized healthcare optimization, including health monitoring tools, wearable integrations, bioinformatics research, genomic analysis, personalized care algorithms, predictive health models, and health data interoperability infrastructure.
Do I need to be a US student?
No. The Digital Health Innovation Scholarship is open to both US and international students enrolled at any accredited university worldwide.
When will I hear back?
Winners are announced approximately one month after each deadline. Spring cycle winners are announced by March 1, and Fall cycle winners are announced by October 1.
Can I apply more than once?
Yes. You may apply in multiple award cycles, and we encourage reapplication with updated or new projects. Each application is evaluated independently.
How many winners are selected?
One (1) winner is selected per cycle, for a total of two awards per year. The $2,500 is paid directly to the winning individual.
Is the award taxable?
Yes. Ready Practice is not a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, so the $2,500 award is considered taxable income. US-based winners will receive a 1099-NEC. International recipients are responsible for tax obligations in their jurisdiction. Please consult a tax advisor if you have questions.
How is the award paid?
The $2,500 is paid directly to the winner via check or electronic transfer within 30 days of verification. You'll need to provide proof of enrollment and, for US recipients, your taxpayer ID for 1099 reporting.
Official rules
1. Sponsor
The Digital Health Innovation Scholarship is sponsored by Zei, Inc. d/b/a Ready Practice, 651 N. Broad St., Suite 206, Middletown, DE 19709, USA.
2. Eligibility
Open to individuals who are (a) currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited college or university at the time of application, and (b) studying computer science, bioengineering, bioinformatics, health informatics, or a closely related field. No purchase or payment is required to apply. Employees of Zei, Inc. and their immediate family members are not eligible. Open to US and international students.
3. Award
One (1) scholarship of $2,500 USD is awarded per cycle, for a total of two (2) awards per calendar year. The award is paid directly to the winning individual via check or electronic transfer within 30 days of winner verification. Funds may be used at the recipient's discretion and are not restricted to tuition or educational expenses.
4. Tax Responsibility
Ready Practice is not a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The $2,500 award is considered taxable income to the recipient under US tax law. US-based winners will receive an IRS Form 1099-NEC for the tax year in which the award is paid. Winners are solely responsible for reporting and paying any applicable federal, state, or local taxes. International recipients are responsible for tax obligations in their jurisdiction of residence and may be required to complete IRS Form W-8BEN prior to payment.
5. Selection Process
Applications are reviewed and scored by the Ready Practice scholarship review team using the published 100-point scoring rubric. Evaluation criteria: technical quality of GitHub project (40 points), relevance to personalized healthcare (30 points), innovation and potential impact (20 points), and faculty recommendation (10 points). The highest-scoring applicant in each cycle is selected as the winner. Scoring decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
6. Application Periods
Spring Cycle: Applications open December 1, deadline February 1, winner announced by March 1. Fall Cycle: Applications open July 1, deadline September 1, winner announced by October 1. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
7. Winner Verification
The selected winner must respond to the award notification within 14 days and provide proof of current enrollment (e.g., enrollment verification letter or student ID). Failure to respond or provide verification may result in forfeiture of the award, and an alternate winner may be selected.
8. Privacy
Personal information collected through the application process is handled in accordance with the Ready Practice Privacy Policy. Applicant information is used solely for the purpose of administering this scholarship and will not be sold or shared with third parties for marketing purposes. Faculty contact information is used only to verify recommendations.
9. Publicity
By accepting the award, the winner agrees that Ready Practice may use their name, university, field of study, and project description for promotional purposes related to the scholarship program, unless the winner requests otherwise in writing.
10. Governing Law
This scholarship is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, USA, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Questions?
Email us at scholarship@readypractice.com
Zei, Inc. d/b/a Ready Practice · 651 N. Broad St., Suite 206, Middletown, DE 19709
Build the future of personalized healthcare
Show us what you're building. Apply for the $2,500 Digital Health Innovation Scholarship.