undergraduate research funding

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Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

• REU Program Overview
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• Search for an REU Site
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• Research Areas

NSF funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An REU Site may be at either a US or foreign location.

By using the web page, Search for an REU Site , you may examine opportunities in the subject areas supported by various NSF units. Also, you may search by keywords to identify sites in particular research areas or with certain features, such as a particular location.

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A Guide to Finding Funding

Funding to pursue your passions

We encourage you to explore the many funding resources that are available to you at Harvard in addition to need-based financial aid. The list that follows will give you a sense of the impressive possibilities and point you to resources and next steps. The resources below are grouped into four broad areas: public service, research and learning, international travel, and career opportunities. Dedicated staff members across the College are prepared to help you design your Harvard experience.

Public Service

Over the course of Harvard College’s history, graduates have upheld a commitment to making the world a better place for others. The decision to devote yourself to public interest or government work represents ideals fundamental to Harvard’s mission, and many grants and opportunities for funding can help to make this choice more accessible.

• Center for Public Interest Careers (CPIC) Internships : CPIC focuses on student development, alumni/ae engagement, and partnerships that serve community needs. 
• IOP Director Positions : The Institute of Politics (IOP) partners with prominent organizations and elected officials worldwide to provide fully-funded, career-focused summer internships. Internships are available for undergraduate students interested in politics, government, and public service. 
• IOP Stipend Positions : The Institute of Politics (IOP) offers funding for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors to pursue non- or low-paying summer internships in government, public interest, non-governmental organizations, and political organizations and campaigns. International internships must have a government affiliation.
• CPIC: Arthur Liman Public Interest Law Fellowship : This fellowship provides a stipend to selected students working in public interest law positions during the summer.
• Harvard Club Summer Internships :  Some Harvard Clubs and Shared Interest Groups raise funds to support student public service projects.
• PBHA Summer Urban Program (SUP) :   PBHA’s SUP is a network of 12 community-based summer camps across Boston and Cambridge.
• Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS) Public Service Grants : MCS provides grants for students interested in pursuing a domestic public service opportunity.
• Harvard Public Service Network : The Public Service Network (PSN), affiliated with the Phillips Brooks House, encompasses over 45 programs. These programs offer opportunities for students to work alongside community organizations and schools that provide health, educational and advocacy services.
• Presidential Public Service Fellowship Program (PPSF) : Harvard’s PPSF program supports a broad range of summer-long opportunities that serve the common good.

Research and Learning

At Harvard, you’ll have opportunities to conduct research alongside world-renowned faculty. Whether you choose to embark on your own research or assist with a faculty project, funding as available.

• The Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Office  (URAF) is Harvard College’s hub for undergraduate research grants. URAF administers ten research programs of its own and hosts a comprehensive database of opportunities. The office also provides tips for finding opportunities, writing applications, and securing funding. 
• The Faculty Aide Program  is a good place to start. This program subsidizes up to $1,500 in student wages as a way to encourage professors to hire undergraduate research assistants.

The following list highlights some of the many research grants and opportunities available.

Summer Residential Research Programs

Students who participate in these programs receive room and board to live on campus during the summer as a part of a vibrant research community.

• PRISE  – Harvard College Program for Research in Science and Engineering
• BLISS  – Harvard College Building Learning through Inquiry in the Social Sciences
• PRIMO  – Harvard Business School/Harvard College Program for Research in Markets and Organizations
• SHARP  – Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program
• Harvard Amgen Scholars Program
• PCER  - Program in Community Engaged Research
• SURGH  - Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health
• SPUDS - Summer Program for Undergraduates in Data Science
• FAS Center for Systems Biology Undergraduate Summer Internship

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

• FAS Center for Systems Biology
• Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Research Experience for Undergraduates Program
• SEAS Research Experience for Undergraduates

Domestic Research Funding

• HCRP - Harvard College Research Program
• Center for American Political Studies
• Charles Warren Center for American History
• Committee on Ethnicity, Migration and Rights
• Harvard Center for the Environment
• Harvard Forest Summer Program
• Harvard Stem Cell Institute
• Herchel Smith Undergraduate Science Research Program
• Mind, Brain and Behavior
• Microbial Sciences Initiative
• Museum of Comparative Zoology
• Saloma Fund for Government

International Research Funding

• Asia Center
• Center for Hellenic Studies
• Center for Jewish Studies
• Davis Center
• Korea Institute
• Harvard College Research Program
• Harvard Global Health Institute: International Internship in Global Health and Summer Undergraduate Research
• South Asia Institute
• Ukrainian Research Institute
• Weatherhead Center for International Affairs

International Travel

International study is an enriching experience, but financing study abroad can seem daunting. Funding is available for many options, including study at a foreign university, participation in humanitarian relief efforts, and internships.

There are different ways to include an international experience into your Harvard career. Students who receive grant assistance from Harvard can transfer their financial aid to an approved term-time study abroad program. You'd prefer to do a summer program? The Harvard Summer School may be able to help. Or you could design your own travel experience during summer or winter break. However you choose to do it, funding can make international study experiences possible.

Start your search at the  Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS)  and the  Office of International Education . Below you'll find a selection of offices and programs that offer grants for international travel, organized by location.

• Center for African Studies
• Edwin O Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies
• Fairbank Center
• Harvard China Fund
• Center for European Studies

Latin America and Caribbean

• David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies

Middle East and North Africa

• Center for Middle Eastern Studies

Multiple Locations

• FXB Field Education Internship Program
• Romance Languages and Literature – Dressler and Diaco grants
• Weissman International Internship Program
• Harvard Alumni Association Spring Break Trips

Career Opportunities

Whether you are looking for a term-time job, trying to secure a summer internship, or are exploring potential career paths, we’re here to help.

• Student Employment Office (SEO) Jobs Database : On- and off-campus employers list summer and term-time jobs on the SEO Jobs Database. You can use this database to browse opportunities and apply to full-time, part-time, and intermittent jobs.
• Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP) : If you are eligible for FWSP (check your financial aid letter), this program can subsidize your wages for jobs, making you a better candidate. 
• Mignone Center for Career Success (MCS) : MCS is your hub for programs and resources to help you explore careers, find jobs, and investigate graduate school options. 
• Crimson Careers Database : This database is available to current students and alumni who want to find opportunities or post available positions.
• Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) : The HAA maintains and enhances an engaged, vibrant community of alumni and friends worldwide.
• Harvard Student Agencies (HSA) : HSA provides Harvard students with meaningful opportunities for employment and hands-on business education.
• Global Networking Night : This biennial event brings alumni together for a fun networking event.
• January ‘Winternships' : Many students use Wintersession (the week before spring term begins) to pursue an internship in a field that interests them.

Opportunities After Graduation

Seniors may consider applying for fellowships and scholarships to fund graduate study, travel, public service, research, and other experiences after graduation. The Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF) administers both Harvard-specific and national opportunities and helps advise students exploring the wide of array of possibilities. Learn more about postgraduate funding opportunities on  URAF’s website .

Related Topics

As a college within a research university, Harvard undergraduates have access to unparalleled research opportunities. Learn about research at Harvard.

From physical spaces to funding, Harvard provides the support for students to follow their curiosity as they investigate and explore their world.

Additional Funding & Procedures

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scientify RESEARCH research funding database

Undergraduate funding support, a list of some recently published funding opportunities for undergraduate students.

HPC Immersion (computer science, undergrad)

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ConnectUR 2024.

Undergraduate Research: What’s Next?

The dual-experience conference will focus on revealing what is on the horizon for students, faculty, and institutions in undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative inquiry, even as we pause to take notice of how far we have come.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH WEEK | APRIL 15-19, 2024

FEATURED UR STORY

Center of UR Shares Their Keys to Success

Some of Our Institutional Members

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Immerse yourself in real-world faculty research

Mit undergraduate research opportunities program, upcoming deadlines.

Spring 2024

Spring DLC/Supervisor-Funding (Sponsored Research), Credit & Volunteer UROP Application Deadline

Summer 2024

Summer UROP Direct-Funding Deadline

Outstanding urop mentor awards nomination deadline.

Faculty & Other Mentors

Outstanding UROP Student Awards Nomination Deadline

Student advice & resources.

If you’re excited by the possibility of doing real-world research with MIT faculty and researchers, then you’re ready to UROP.

Eligibility and Participation

When it comes to planning and participating in a UROP, there’s a lot to consider. Review eligibility and participation options under our guidelines section!

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Undergraduate Science Education at Harvard

A world of exploration. a world of expertise..

Research Opportunities and Funding

• Look below to find summer and term-time Harvard research opportunities on campus and abroad. • For summer programs at other sites, see Summer Programs Away in the tab on the right. • For selected undergraduate science research opportunities at Harvard, see the Undergraduates: Open Research Positions & Projects  tab on the right.

• Funding For Research at Harvard
• Research Away Harvard Programs

Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP) Summer Scholars Program Brigham Research Institute Undergraduate Internships Broad Institute at Harvard Summer Program CARAT Cell Biology Research Scholars Program (CRSP) Center for Astrophysics Solar Research Experience for Undergraduates Program CURE, Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center DaRin Butz Research Internship Program on Biology of Plants and Climate Ernst Mayer Travel Grants in Animal Systematics E3 Evolution, Ecology and Environment REU Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program Harvard College Funding Sources Database Harvard College Research Program (HCRP) Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology Harvard Global Health Institute Funding for Independent Projects and Internships Harvard Global Health Institute Cordeiro Summer Research Fellowship Harvard Global Health Institute Domestic and Global Health Fellowships  Harvard Medical School Undergraduate Summer Internship in Systems Biology Harvard Multidisciplinary International Research Training (MIRT) Program Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology HST Summer Institute Harvard Origins of Life Initiative Harvard School of Public Health Summer Program in Biological Sciences Harvard School of Public Health Summer Program in Biostatistics & Computational Biology Harvard Stem Cell Institute Harvard Student Employment Office Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine Harvard University Center for the Environment Undergraduate Fund Herchel Smith-Harvard Undergraduate Science Research Program (any science area) International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) McLean Hospital Mental Health Summer Research Program MCZ Grants-in-Aid for Undergraduate Research MGH Orthopedic Trauma Undergraduate Summer Program MGH Summer Research Trainee Program MGHfC Digestive Disease Summer Research Program Microbial Sciences Initiative Mind, Brain, Behavior Summer Thesis Award PRISE (any science or engineering area) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics, HMS Summer Program in Epidemiology, HSPH STARS - Summer Training in Academic Research Training and Scholarship Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard Summer Research Program, Division of Newborn Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (SURGH) Radcliffe Institute Research Partnership Program Ragon Institute Summer Program The Arnold Arboretum The Joey Hanzich Memorial Undergraduate Travel and Research Fellowship Undergraduate Research in Mathematics Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Oceanography Undergraduate Summer Immunology Program at Harvard Medical School Undergraduate Summer Research in Physics

Harvard College Funding Sources Database  - Database of both Harvard and outside funding sources for a variety of educational purposes, including research. Additional database: https://uraf.harvard.edu/find-opportunities/resources-your-search/campus-partners  

The  Harvard Student Employment Office  manages a Jobs Database , the Faculty Aide Program  and the Federal Work Study Program . All of these programs may offer student research assistant opportunities. The site also provides information about Job Search Resources  and Research Opportunities .

  CARAT  – CARAT (Common Application for Research and Travel) is used by all the major funding sources at Harvard.

Harvard College Research Program (HCRP)  – Summer (or term time) stipend. Applications from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at 77 Dunster Street.

Deadlines:   Fall term funding: 12 noon (EST), Tuesday, September 14, 2021 Spring term funding: 12 noon (EST), Tuesday, February 1, 2022 Summer funding: 12 noon (EST), Tuesday, March 22, 2022  [TENTATIVE]

Late applications  will not  be accepted for term-time or summer cycles.

Conference funding: rolling application deadline

Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard

The Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard (SROH) program connects undergraduates interested in a PhD with first-class researchers working in the life and physical sciences, humanities, and social sciences. This program is offered through GSAS and the  Leadership Alliance .

During this 10-week program, SROH interns conduct research and participate in discussions with Cambridge-based Harvard faculty, build their presentation and research discussion skills, and take part in field trips with other Harvard summer programs. Students in the program live in Harvard housing and enjoy access to the outstanding resources of the university.

Note that we also have funding for students interested in  atmospheric sciences  as part of the NSF-supported International Partnership in Cirrus Studies project.  Please see pire.geosci.uchicago.edu for information on participating faculty. Research focuses on modeling and measurement of high-altitude clouds.

PRISE  – The Program for Research in Science and Engineering (PRISE) is a summer residential community of Harvard undergraduates conducting research in science or engineering. By the application deadline students must be progressing toward finding a lab or research group but do not need to have finalized their research group or project. Participants must be in residence and be active participants for the entire duration of this ten week program.

Deadline:  Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 12:00 noon (EST)

Herchel Smith-Harvard Undergraduate Science Research Program  – Primarily directed toward students intending to pursue research-intensive concentrations and post-graduate study in the sciences. Undergraduate research either at Harvard or elsewhere, including internationally. Applications from the  Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships .

Deadline:  Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 12:00 noon (EST) via CARAT

Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program  -- The Amgen Scholars Program at Harvard is a 10-week faculty-mentored residential summer research program  in biotechnology for sophomores (with four quarters or three semesters of college experience), juniors, or non-graduating seniors (who are returning in the fall to continue undergraduate studies)

Deadline : Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 12 noon

Harvard Origins of Life Initiative

Research Grants:   Harvard undergraduates can apply for grants to support their research during the academic year.

Summer Undergraduate Program:  Summer Undergraduate Research Grants are available for undergraduates working in Origins member faculty  on Origins-related projects. Possible research areas include astronomy, astrophysics, chemical biology, geophysics, chemistry, genetics, and earth and planetary sciences. 

iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) team  - The iGEM team is a research experience targeted toward undergraduates interested in synthetic biology and biomolecular engineering. 

Mind, Brain, Behavior  – Summer Thesis Awards for rising seniors in the MBB track. Applications through MBB.

If interested, contact Shawn Harriman in March of your junior year.

Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) Internship Program (HIP) – for students interested in stem cell biology research. Students conduct research in labs affiliated with the HSCI. Accepted students are matched with a research laboratory group. or any college or university across the United States and internationally.  Harvard University will sponsor the visas for international students who are selected for this program.

Deadline:  Feb 7, 2022

Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine (HSRPKM) - an introduction to nephrology (kidney medicine) for the undergraduates considering career paths spanning science and medicine. The Program includes nephrology divisions of four Harvard-affiliated hospitals – Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston’s Children’s Hospital (BCH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Deadline : check the program website: https://hskp.bwh.harvard.edu/

BCMP Summer Scholars Program at Harvard University is organized by the The Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP) at Harvard Medical School. This 10-week program is open to both Harvard undergraduates and to students from other colleges and universities. Students must be authorized to work in the United States.

Deadline: contact program for details

Undergraduate Summer Immunology Program at Harvard Medical School  - a ten week summer research internship with a stipend. The program consists of laboratory research, lectures, and workshops and is open to Harvard undergraduates and students from other colleges and universities. Applicants must be eligible for employment in the US.

Deadline: contact program 

Microbial Sciences Initiative  - Summer research with Harvard Faculty. Email applications to  Dr. Karen Lachmayr .

Deadline:  contact program

Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (SURGH)  offers Harvard undergraduates the opportunity to research critical issues in global health under the direction of a Harvard faculty or affiliate mentor. Students in SURGH receive housing in the Harvard Undergraduate Research Village and a stipend for living expenses. The summer savings requirement is also provided for students who are on financial aid. Throughout the summer, participants in SURGH have the opportunity to interact with students in the other on-campus research programs. 

Domestic and Global Health Fellowships (DGHI)  offers Harvard undergraduates the opportunity to work in field-based and office-based internships in both US health policy and global health. Sites can be domestic or international. Students receive a stipend to cover travel expenses to and from their site, living expenses, and local transportation. Unfortunately DGHI cannot cover the summer savings requirement for students who are on financial aid. 

Harvard Global Health Institute Funding for Independent Projects and Internships

Funding for projects in the United States and abroad.

Deadline: contact program

The Joey Hanzich Memorial Undergraduate Travel and Research Fellowship  provides up to $5000 to a rising junior or rising senior enrolled in the Secondary Field in Global Health and Health Policy (or another field) who pursues a summer internship, project or research in health policy or global health, either in the United States or abroad.

Cordeiro Summer Research Fellowship Registered GHHP students may apply for a Cordeiro Summer Research Fellowship for the summer before their senior year. Each year 12 to 15 fellowships allow students to get a head start on their senior theses or research projects related to global health or health policy without incurring major costs to themselves.

Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology HST Summer Institute  - The HST Summer Institute offers hands-on research experience for undergraduates in two areas of study: Biomedical Informatics and Biomedical Optics . Participating institutions include the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School.

Deadline : contact program

MCZ Grants-in-Aid for Undergraduate Research  -The Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ), the Harvard University Herbaria (HUH), and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University (AA) award small grants in support of faculty-supervised research by Harvard College undergraduates.

Deadlines:  contact program

Ernst Mayer Travel Grants in Animal Systematics

Proposals are reviewed two times a year. 

The Arnold Arboretum : Fellowships are available to support undergraduate research

• Ashton Award for Student Research
• Cunin / Sigal Research Award
• Deland Award for Student Research
• Shiu-Ying Hu Student/Postdoctoral Exchange Award
• Summer Short Course in Organismic Plant Biology
• Arnold Arboretum Genomics Initiative and Sequencing Award
• Jewett Prize
• Sargent Award for Visiting Scholars
• Sinnott Award

Living Collections Fellowship  – Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

Hunnewell Internships  – Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

Summer Short Course in Organismic Plant Biology Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology  - The Harvard Forest Summer Research (REU) program is an intensive 11-week residential research and education experience at the Harvard Forest, a 3,700-acre outdoor laboratory and classroom in central Massachusetts. Students conduct research on the effects of natural and human disturbances on forest ecosystems, including global climate change, hurricanes, forest harvest, changing wildlife dynamics, and invasive species. The program includes a stipend, free housing, all meals, and the travel cost of one round trip to Harvard Forest. This program is open to not only Harvard undergraduates, but also students from all colleges and universities in the United States.

Harvard University Center for the Environment Undergraduate Fund  provides financial support for student research projects related to the environment. In the context of this program, 'environment' refers to understanding the relationships and balances of the natural and constructed world around us, with a particular emphasis on understanding how anthropogenic activities and policies affect the environment, including the intimate relationships between energy use and demand, environmental integrity and quality, human health, and climate change.  Two types of funding are available: 1) Funds for independent research (preference given to rising seniors seeking funds for senior honors thesis research) and 2) Research Assistantships (directed summer research experiences under Harvard faculty guidance). Award are intended to be applied towards living expenses (room, board), travel expenses related to research activities, and minor research expenses (for students doing independent research projects) for up to 10 weeks.  Awards are not intended to serve as a salary stipend for students. 


Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Oceanography : The Harvard Oceanography Committee has funding and fellowships for both term time and summer research. 

Harvard School of Public Health Summer Program in Biological Sciences -   This intensive 8 week laboratory-based biological research program is for undergraduates during the summer following their sophomore or junior years.

Additional programs at the HSPH:

• Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP)  – for undergraduate students outside of Harvard
• Additional summer programs  – for undergraduate students outside of Harvard
• Additional summer programs  – for undergraduate students at Harvard
• Boston-based undergraduate students looking for coop or other research internship positions are encouraged to contact faculty members directly.

STARS - Summer Training in Academic Research Training and Scholarship  - provides underrepresented minority (URM) medical and undergraduate students an opportunity to engage in exciting basic, clinical and translational research projects during the summer at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS). Housing and stipend provided.

Radcliffe Institute Research Partnership Program  -- The Radcliffe Institute Research Partnership Program matches students with leading artists, scholars, scientists, and professionals. Radcliffe Fellows act as mentors and students provide research assistance, acquire valuable research skills, and participate in the Institute’s rich intellectual life.

Harvard School of Public Health Summer Program in Biostatistics & Computational Biology

The Summer Program is a relatively intensive 6-week program, during which qualified participants receive an interesting and enjoyable introduction to biostatistics, epidemiology, and public health research. This program is designed to expose undergraduates to the use of quantitative methods for biological, environmental, and medical research. 

MGH Summer Research Trainee Program

The goal of the MGH Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP) is to inspire students who are underrepresented in medicine (URM) to consider careers in academic medicine by immersing them in cutting-edge research opportunities. Each summer, fifteen students are selected from a nationwide competition to join SRTP. Each student is assigned to a specific MGH laboratory, clinical site, health policy, or health services research area where they undertake an original research project under the mentorship and guidance of a Mass General Hospital (MGH) investigator. Assignments are carefully considered and are made with the student's research and career interests in mind. In addition to this unique research experience, students will gain knowledge through weekly didactic seminars, both at the MGH and at Harvard Medical School, attend career development workshops and networking event, and have opportunities for clinical shadowing.

Application deadline:  contact program

MGHfC Digestive Disease Summer Research Program

Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC) Digestive Disease Summer Research Program provides support for 10 students at the undergraduate or medical school level. Each student will be matched with a research mentor to perform an independent research project focused on digestive diseases over a 10-week period during the summer months within a laboratory or collaborating laboratory of the MGHfC. MGHfC collaborating laboratories at MGH possess unique expertise in engineering and computational sciences in support of various projects centered on digestive disease research. 

Contact: Bryan P. Hurley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor & Program Director, Mucosal Immunology & Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School,  [email protected] ,   http://www.massgeneral.org/mucosal-immunology/Education/summer-research-program.aspx

Broad Institute at Harvard Summer Program

Broad Summer Research Program BSRP is a nine-week undergraduate research program designed for students with an interest in genomics and a commitment to research. Students spend the summer in a laboratory at the Broad Institute, engaged in rigorous scientific research under the guidance of experienced scientists and engineers. Underrepresented minority students enrolled in a four-year college are eligible to apply.

Broad Summer Scholars Program BSSP invites a small number of exceptional and mature high school students with a keen interest in science to spend six weeks at the Broad Institute, working side-by-side with scientists in the lab on cutting-edge research. Rising seniors who live within commuting distance to the Broad Institute are eligible to apply.

DaRin Butz Research Internship Program   The program gives undergraduates in the life sciences a unique opportunity to experience research from start to finish while gaining training and connections among scientific colleagues. DaRin Butz Interns will not only conduct research, but will also develop their project with their advisors and be guided through the process of sharing their research through written reports and oral presentations, an important component of scientific research.

MGH Orthopedic Trauma Undergraduate Summer Program

The Harvard Orthopedic Trauma Service provides number of undergraduate opportunities:

Orthopedic Internship

This internship is for undergraduate and graduate/medical students who are looking for exposure to Orthopaedic clinical and basic research.

Orthopedic Trauma Undergraduate Summer Internship

Our program is intended for undergraduates interested in healthcare careers. Our interns are introduced to the hospital experience through orthopedic research and observation.

Women's Sports Medicine Summer Internship Program

Learn more about this month long internship open to medical and premedical students.

Summer Research Program, Division of Newborn Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital

Summer Student Research Program sponsored by the Harvard Program in Neonatology, an academic program which includes Boston Children's Hospital (BCH) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). The objective of the Summer Student Research Program is to provide motivated students with an intensive laboratory and clinical research experience under the guidance of Faculty and Fellow mentors from the Academic Program. The Summer Program experience includes:

Brigham Research Institute Undergraduate Internships

The internship programs hosted by the Brigham Research Institute provides undergraduate students with a focused and challenging summer research experience in a cutting-edge science laboratory. Interns will have the opportunity to obtain a research training experience in a laboratory or research setting at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Deadlines: check program website

Undergraduate Summer Research in Physics

Undergraduate Research in Mathematics

CURE, Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center

The CURE program introduces scientifically curious high school and college students from groups currently underrepresented in the sciences to the world of cancer research. Students are placed in laboratories and research environments at the seven DF/HCC member institutions: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as research environments at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Ragon Institute Summer Program

The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard brings together scientists and engineers from diverse fields to better understand the immune system and support human health. 

Deadline: check program website

Harvard Medical School Undergraduate Summer Internship in Systems Biology

The Undergraduate Summer Internship is our headline program enabling undergraduate students to collaborate with our researchers, as well as their own peers, through Harvard's Quantitative Biology Initiative and the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. ​Participants work in our labs, gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art tools, learn cutting-edge scientific techniques in our dynamic research environment. Students interested in pursuing a PhD or MD/PhD, and students from under-represented minorities or disadvantaged backgrounds, are especially encouraged to apply.  

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)  Research Experience for Undergraduates  (REU) is a 10-week program that introduces undergraduates to bioengineering, materials research, nanoscience, and engineering while providing a coordinated, educational, and dynamic research community that inspires them to seek a graduate degree. 

Center for Astrophysics Solar Research Experience for Undergraduates Program

Scientists from the Solar and Stellar X-Ray Group (SSXG) and the Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Group (SSP) at the  Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics  (CfA) host undergraduate students from around the US. Please visit the  website for more information .

E3 Evolution, Ecology and Environment REU

We are seeking rising sophomores, juniors and seniors majoring in the life sciences who would like to join a new Research Experience for Undergraduates program based in the  Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB)  at Harvard University. Members of the program will enjoy cutting edge research experiences within the context of a strong mentorship community made up of faculty, graduate students, and peers. In addition, members will participate in a professional development program that is aimed at preparing students for the graduate school application process, building confidence to succeed in graduate school, and exploring long-term career opportunities. These professional development activities will include attendance of the annual  Leadership Alliance National Symposium  (LANS) research and mentoring conference. The E3 REU is part of a larger umbrella program, hosted by the Harvard GSAS  Summer Research Opportunities at Harvard (SROH) .

Program website:  https://reu.oeb.harvard.edu/sroh 

Harvard Multidisciplinary International Research Training (MIRT) Program

The 10-week  Systems Biology Summer Internship Program  enables interns to work on research projects spanning many scientific fields, including systems biology, biophysics, bioinformatics, genomics, applied mathematics, and computation. 

McLean Hospital Mental Health Summer Research Program

This competitive program seeks to  engage scientific curiosity ,  create research opportunities , and  promote academic success in mental health fields  for promising young  Black, Indigenous and underrepresented People of Color (BIPOC) interested in science .  We had our first, very successful MMHRSP last summer, and applications are now open for next summer. MMHRSP is an intensive, 10-week, full-time mental health/neuroscience research experience at McLean Hospital. McLean is the primary psychiatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and is located in Belmont, MA ( https://www.mcleanhospital.org/ ).  Chosen Fellows will receive a $7,000 stipend for the 10-week program.  

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/training/student-opportunities#research

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/news/new-summer-research-program-welcomes-undergraduates-color

Cell Biology Research Scholars Program (CRSP)

The Cell Biology Research Scholars Program  provides a 10-week full-time research opportunity to undergraduate students with a passion for scientific discovery and fundamental biology. Students will be hosted by faculty investigators to work on cutting-edge research projects and participate in training workshops and mentoring activities in preparation for a productive scientific research career.

Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics , now entering its 15th year, is a 9-week full-time extensive research opportunity with a curriculum including didactic lectures, clinical case studies, a mentored research project, and presentation of findings. 

The  Summer Program in Epidemiology  at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is an intensive 5-week program that integrates mathematics and quantitative methods to provide students with an understanding of the skills and processes necessary to pursue a career in public health. 

Biodiversity of Hispaniola Booth Fund Fellowship Cognitive Neurosciences at the University of Trento, Italy Darwin and the Origins of Evolutionary Biology, Oxford, England David Rockefeller International Experience Grant Harvard-Bangalore Science Initiative Harvard Summer School Study Abroad in the Sciences HCRP Herchel Smith-Harvard Undergraduate Science Research Program International Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (I-SURGH) RIKEN Center for Allergy and Immunology, Japan RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan Rosenkrantz Travel Grants Study Abroad in Paris, France The Office of Career Services (OCS) awards Undergraduate Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Research in Mathematics Undergraduate Summer Research in Physics Weissman International Internship

Harvard Summer School Study Abroad in the Sciences

In 2015 Harvard Summer School Science Study Abroad programs will be offered in the Dominican Republic, England, Italy, France, and Japan. See below for links to information on each of these programs.

Darwin and the Origins of Evolutionary Biology  - Oxford, England.

Prerequisites:  None. Apply through Harvard Summer School.

Information:   Andrew Berry

RIKEN Center for Allergy and Immunology  - Yokohama, Japan.

Laboratory research in immunology. Students will also receive some Japanese language training. Apply through Harvard Summer School.

Accepted students may apply to the  Reischauser Institute  for scholarships to help defray the costs of the program.

RIKEN Brain Science Institute  – Laboratory Research in Neurobiology, Tokyo, Japan.

Prerequisites:  Neurobiology of Behavior (MCB 80) or Animal Behavior (OEB 50); laboratory experience preferred but not required. Apply through Harvard Summer School.

Biodiversity of Hispaniola  - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  This six-week course covers basic prinicples of ecology, evolution, and island biogeography in the context of the diversity of habitats and organisms on the island of Hispaniola.

Prerequisites:  course work in biology

Information:   Brian Farrell  

Cognitive Neurosciences at the University of Trento  - Trento, Italy

This eight-week program at the University of Trento, Italy, organized by the Mind/Brain/Behavior Initiative, provides students a unique opportunity to study the mind/brain. Taught by leaders in the fields of neuroscience and cognitive science, the program includes daily, hands-on, laboratory sessions (e.g., neuroimaging demos) and Italian language classes, all while surrounded by the breathtaking Italian Alps.

Information:   Alfonso Caramazza

Study Abroad in Paris, France

Biology and the evolution of Paris as a Smart City.

Information:  Robert Lue

• Bangalore, India;  The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research  (JNCASR)
• National Centre of Biological Sciences  (NCBS)
• The Indian Institute of Science  (IISc) 

Note:  This is not a Harvard Summer School Program. 

Prerequisites:  Introductory coursework in basic biology, chemistry, physics, and math.

Information:   Venkatesh N. Murthy  or   Ryan Draft

International Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (I-SURGH)  I-SURGH offers Harvard undergraduates the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge global health research in an international setting. Students in I-SURGH receive a stipend to cover travel costs to and from their site, living expenses, and local transportation. Unfortunately Harvard Global Health Institute cannot cover the summer savings requirement for I-SURGH students who are on financial aid.  Once accepted to their site, participants in I-SURGH meet with a Harvard faculty member to develop a project that falls within the research agenda of the site. Throughout the summer, students work with a local mentor who supervises their daily work. While all returning Harvard College undergraduates are eligible to apply for an I-SURGH placement, preference is given to sophomores and juniors. 

The Office of Career Services (OCS) awards funding for research abroad, including both Harvard Summer School Study Abroad and non-Harvard International programs.  The  David Rockefeller International Experience Grant , which is a need-based grant aimed at students who have not previously received Harvard international funding, supports many of these awards. Award amounts vary. The purpose of the grant is to afford all students the opportunity to take part in a significant international experience, regardless of financial background. See the  Office of Career Services Summer Funding webpage  for more information.

Herchel Smith-Harvard Undergraduate Science Research Program  – Primarily directed toward students intending to pursue research-intensive concentrations and post-graduate study in the sciences. Undergraduate research either at Harvard or elsewhere, including internationally. Applications from the  Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships .

Harvard College Research Program (HCRP) – Summer stipend that can be applied towards travel expenses. Applications from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at 77 Dunster Street.

Weissman International Internship  – Research abroad for returning Harvard undergraduates. Average award ~$4000. More information and applications available through OCS.

Deadline:   See the  Office of Careers Summer Funding webpage

Booth Fund Fellowship  - For seniors to engage in a program of travel, study, research or observation that will further expand and challenge an existing interest in a particular field. 

Rosenkrantz Travel Grants

This grant program is exclusively for concentrators in History and Science.  It allows motivated rising juniors  (who have completed sophomore tutorial) and who are concentrating in history and science to devise a short but meaningful plan of travel and academic discovery in the United States or abroad. This grant program may serve as the first stage of research towards a senior thesis or junior research paper, but there is no requirement that it do so. The only requirement is a sincere passion for adventure and exploration, and a willingness to prepare well for the experience.

Please visit the Department of Physics webpage for more information:  https://www.physics.harvard.edu/academics/undergrad/summer

Please visit the Harvard Mathematics Department webpage for more information:  http://abel.harvard.edu/research/index.html

Undergraduate Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences

Please visit SEAS website for more information: https://www.seas.harvard.edu/faculty-research/research-opportunities

David Rockefeller International Experience Grant The David Rockefeller International Experience Grants were established in 2009 by David Rockefeller SB ’36, LLD ’69 to give students the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of the world beyond the U.S. or their home country, and to learn about other countries and peoples by spending time immersed in another culture. The purpose of the grant is to afford all students the opportunity to take part in a significant international experience, regardless of financial constraints.

A significant international experience may consist of:

• summer study abroad programs
• internships and service projects
• research assistantships (under the direction of a principle investigator)
• experiential learning projects.
• Harvard-affiliated Labs
• Undergraduates: Open Research Positions & Projects
• Harvard Wintersession & Winter Recess
• Summer Programs Away
• Underrepresented Minority Fellowships
• Post-Bac Job Listings
• Post-Bac Resources
• Transportation for Researchers
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities (HUROS) Fair
• Undergraduate Research Spotlight
• Resume Template & Proposal Tips
• Lab Citizenship
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• Conference Presentation Grants
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• Getting Started
• Research Funding

What kind of funding do you need in order to pursue your research project?

Do you need to be paid for the time that you put in? Do you need to purchase reagents, books or computational time for your project? Are you ready to present your research at a national or international meeting? There are resources for each of these needs!

Pay for Research

Some faculty in some fields of research will have funds to pay students for their work. In some cases, student may earn wages for work on research projects for the faculty member. Some students will split their time into helping on other people’s projects and working on their own projects.

Research groups will advertise for students with specific skills, for example, statistics or molecular biology or linear algebra. Student jobs can be found on Cornell’s Student Employment website .

Many research groups will require or prefer to hire students that have work-study funding as part of their financial aid package. If you do have this funding, the federal government pays more than half of your wages.

Funding for Supplies

In many fields, the faculty member that you work with will have funding to support whatever supplies or materials you may need. Some colleges ( CALS, Eng, Arts also have grants to help support research.

Presenting Your Research

Your research has gone well and you are ready to present it on a bigger stage? How do you get funding to do this? First, see if the meeting has any support for undergraduate travel awards. Many professional societies do have such funding. Then, talk to your major and your college. Many of the colleges do have funding to help students present their work. Finally, see if your research group has any funds that you might be able to use.

Summer Funding

Staying in Ithaca for the summer to work on your research is a wonderful opportunity. There are several resourses that will help you be paid for your work.

• Design Your Own Internship- a program through Financial Aid and Student Employment that will pay 60% of your wages, with your research group paying the rest.
• Some colleges and majors will have competitive felllowships that will allow you to stay in Ithaca for a summer of research
• Some professional societies have funding for student stipends for the summer. Check with your research advisor.
• Faculty funded through federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation can apply for extra funding to support a student researcher over the summer. Talk to your research advisor early ( November?) so there is time for the application.
• Students associated with OADI or the Engineering Diversity Office may apply for summer support. Students interested in applying to graduate school should check out the McNair Scholars program for low-income and first generation students.

Your personal needs and interests and the preferences those in the research setting are key factors as you seek a position.

Credit or Pay?

• Academic Credit

Many departments award academic credit in variable amounts to students who file for an independent study. How can you beat a faculty student ratio of 1:1? Credit is a great way to enhance your academics in a structured setting.

Students should consult with Courses of Study and their faculty advisor to explore this option.

Paid positions

Many research positions are paid. It’s a great opportunity to use work-study while engaging in a stimulating setting. While the student who is eligible for work/study funding has an advantage, paid positions that don’t require work-study eligibility exist as well. The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment can provide additional information.

Volunteer Positions

A student volunteer receives neither pay nor credit, but volunteering can help you “get a foot in the door.” Sometimes students, especially underclassmen, work their way into a research project, or they develop basic skills enabling them to become qualified for the research work they want to do. Volunteering is a great way to demonstrate enthusiasm for the research work of a professor.

Fellowships: General and Prestigious

Fellowships are endowments used to provide financial support to individuals pursuing advanced study or training. They can be for schooling, travel to certain countries, or projects within a given organization or group. See the Cornell University Fellowships Program for more information.

On-campus Resources

The best sources of information on-campus are the college offices that oversee undergraduate research. See the following:

• see also CALS grants page
• see also Drinkwater Lab, Department of Horticulture
• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Engineering
• College of Human Ecology
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• Division of Nutritional Sciences
• Einaudi Center
• Rawlings Cornell Presidential Research Scholars
• School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions
• School of Industrial and Labor Relations
• Undergraduate Program in Biology

Cornell Career Services maintains an excellent page with information about summer internship and job opportunities. You may also use Cornell Undergraduate Research Advisors as a resource.

Off-campus Resources

Regional opportunities.

• Project-ION (Internship Opportunities Now) , site with over 400 internships from across Central Upstate New York
• Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (SEE-U) , offered by Center for Environmental Research and Conservation at Columbia University

National Opportunities

Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, Summer Internship . The ICPSR is the world’s largest archive of digital social science data.

Federal agencies

The source of much support for your faculty mentor, federal agencies also have a few programs that support undergraduate research programs. See the list of federal funding agencies , maintained by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

• Department of Energy, Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration Undergraduate Student Research Program
• National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program
• National Institutes of Health Summer Internship in Biomedical Research
• National Human Genome Research Institute  Initiatives and Resources for Minority and Special Populations
• National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates

International Opportunities

• National Science Foundation REU-China: Ecological and Environmental Research in an Urbanized Environment

Funding Searches

• Cornell’s Research Administration and Information Services offers online sources to assist faculty and research staff in identifying sources of funding

National Organizations with a Focus on Undergraduate Research

• Council on Undergraduate Research
• The Leadership Alliance, Summer Research Early Identification Program
• The Reinvention Center at the University of Miami
• Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society

Professional Organizations

Be sure to explore funding opportunities offered by professional organizations in your field of interest.

• American Society for Engineering Education : SMART scholarship program
• American Heart Association
• Endocrine Society
• American Society for Microbiology
• First Steps
• Types of Positions
• Recognition for Research
• Student Clubs & Related Groups
• Troubleshooting

Undergraduate Research Funding Opportunities

You are here: american university provost undergraduate education undergraduate research funding opportunities.

202-885-2213

[email protected]

Contact: Bridget Trogden Dean of Undergraduate Education and Academic Student Services

Anderson Hall, Room 140 on a map

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American University is committed to supporting undergraduate research   by providing funding and resources to support students in all stages of their research pursuits. This includes  opportunities to serve as paid research assistants to full-time faculty, funding to engage in independent research projects and conference participation, as well as more in-depth summer research projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor as detailed below.

Applicants must be full-time students pursuing an undergraduate degree. Applications will be individually reviewed on merit, with special attention given to overall academic progress and success within the student’s area of research. Funding cannot be granted for travel and presentations given after officially graduating from the university. Only one travel reimbursement can be received per academic year. If applying for summer travel, the student must be registered for classes at AU in the coming fall.

Undergraduate Research Assistants:  Faculty   may apply for funding to hire undergraduate research assistants during the academic year. Applications are accepted each semester and awards are granted for up to 70 hours of assistance. Students are hired through the Office of Undergraduate Education and Academic Student Services with the faculty member as the supervisor of record. For more information, please contact  [email protected]  . You may  apply for funding here .

Summer Scholars and Artists Program:  Students can apply   for funding for in-depth research projects or creative work under the guidance of a faculty mentor through the Summer Scholars and Artists Program. This program allows students to apply for up to $4,000 for eight weeks of summer research. Faculty mentors are paid a stipend of $500 to supervise the project. Learn more about this summer research grant program here.

Rolling Undergraduate Research Support:  Students may apply for research and research-related funding on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. Funding may support:

• Equipment or materials related to research activities (equipment will be returned to the AU Honors Program for future lending where appropriate)
• Software or other technology directly related to a research project
• Nominal payments to interview subjects (with IRB approval)
• Academic poster printing
• Books and other publications needed for research
• *Academic conference attendance in the student’s discipline (preference will be given to students who will present at the conference)
• *Travel related to research activity or academic conferences. 

* Additional documentation is required for conference-related funding requests. Please send the following to  [email protected]  when you submit your application:

• A current transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
• Proof of presentation acceptance (confirmation email or letter)
• Letter of support from faculty sponsor

Other kinds of research funding requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

For more information, please send inquiries to  [email protected] . You may  apply for funding here .

• Undergraduate Research Funds Request
• Faculty Application for Undergraduate Research Assistant Funding

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Program Goals

The goals of the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund are:

• To support fundamental research in the petroleum field, and
• To develop the next generation of engineers and scientists through support of advanced scientific education.

The Undergraduate Research (UR) grants program supports the research programs of established scientists and engineers at non-doctoral departments and provides financial support for students at those institutions to become involved in advanced research activities, in preparation for continued study in graduate school or employment.

Undergraduate Research Grants

The Undergraduate Research (UR) grants program provides funding for scientists and engineers with established programs of research at non-doctoral departments. UR grants are used to illustrate proof of principle, i.e., feasibility, and accordingly, are to be viewed as seed money for generating preliminary results that can be used to apply for continuation funding from other agencies. Applicants may have limited or no preliminary results for a research project they wish to pursue.

Eligibility for a UR grant requires that a PI is in a department without a doctoral program, and that the students receiving stipends for the work to be done are undergraduates (M.S.-level students can also be supported only if one or more undergraduates are also supported from this grant). Accordingly, the research being proposed need not be high risk but it should be of publishable quality. The research opportunities afforded must be of the highest caliber, and provide a compelling educational experience for the student.

Award Information

• Amount: $70,000 over 3 years
• Estimated number of awards: ~25 each year

Nature and Scope of the Research

ACS PRF Research Grants are made to non-profit institutions for regularly appointed scientists whose research may be sponsored in accordance with the PRF Transfer Agreement :

The recipient (ACS) shall use all funds exclusively for advanced scientific education and fundamental research in the "petroleum field," which may include any field of pure science which in the judgment of (ACS) may afford a basis for subsequent research directly connected with the petroleum field.

Note that fundamental research is required as opposed to applied research or methods development. When submitting an application, you will be asked to select a scientific discipline that PRF supports.

The UR grant program is designed as a source of funds for faculty members in non-doctoral departments to support fundamental research and advanced scientific education in the petroleum field performed by undergraduate students. M.S. students may also be supported. The principal investigator must demonstrate that their proposals are designed with the participation of students as the essential feature. Poorly crafted proposals that are deemed to be “noncompetitive” will be denied without external review.

All proposals will undergo a compliance check for the following required elements:

• Completeness and correctness of the application;
• Fundamental nature of the research topic;
• Relevance to petroleum or fossil fuels; and
• Description of the impact on advanced scientific education of students.

Eligibility Criteria

Regularly-appointed faculty members in a college or university department that does not offer a doctoral degree in countries where ACS PRF can administer grants are eligible. In addition, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The non-profit institution submitting the Type UR proposal must certify that each individual listed as a principal investigator on the cover page qualifies as a principal investigator under the institution’s policies.
• In view of the long-standing goal of The ACS Petroleum Research Fund to give priority to support of students, the principal investigator must be eligible to serve as the formal, official supervisor of undergraduate students.
• The terms of appointment of each principal investigator must promise reasonable continuity of service. The appointment should continue at least through the period of funding requested in the UR proposal.

Generally the above criteria are automatically met by tenure-track principal investigators. If you are not tenure-track, attach a brief statement to your application describing your appointment and include a Department Chair’s letter affirming that you meet all three of the above criteria. Read more about Eligibility, Terms, and Conditions for UR grants.

One co-principal investigator (co-PI) is permitted on a UR grant proposal. The co-PI must meet the same eligibility criteria as the lead PI, and provide the same information requested of the lead PI in the application.  The lead PI (who should be denoted as such) and his/her institution (designated as the grantee institution) would subcontract the co-PI through the co-PI’s institution.  Any number of collaborators may participate on the project. However, no funds from the UR grant may be used to support the collaborators or their respective students.

Funding Criteria

The PRF Committee makes relative rankings of proposals and recommendations for funding on the basis of the following criteria (in order of importance):

• Overall quality, significance, and scientific merit of the proposed research, including the extent to which it will increase basic knowledge and/or stimulate additional research.
• Extent to which advanced scientific education will be enhanced through the involvement of students in the research.
• Newness of the proposed research for the lead principal investigator.
• Impact of PRF funding the research, including the effect on the principal investigator’s overall research program.
• Qualifications or potential of the principal investigator and adequacy of the facilities to conduct the research.

Budget Guidelines

The PRF Committee requires that at least 40 percent of the total proposal budget be devoted to support the education and training of students. If you have any questions about allowable budget allocations, please contact the appropriate Program Manager before submitting a proposal. For proposals that are funded, the budget becomes part of the grant agreement. Revisions to the grant budget can only be made with prior approval of ACS PRF.

• Amount : Proposals must request $70,000 for a three-year period. The total $70K budget may be divided between the three years according to the needs of the project. The normal ACS PRF budget year extends from September 1 to August 31.
• Excluded Charges : No overhead costs may be charged which includes secretarial and/or administrative salaries. Funds may not be used for Tuition or to support laboratory technicians, contractors, consultants, post-doctoral fellows, doctoral students, or visiting faculty.
• Support of Students : Support of students is a critical feature of UR grants, and should be the highest priority among expenditures. Total student support must be at least 40% of the grant budget.  Grant funds must be used to support undergraduate students in each year of the funded research; M.S. students may also be supported with salaries or stipends only.  Field Work expenses for students including transportation, lodging, etc. may be considered student support, and must be described in the budget justification.
• Principal Investigator Stipend : Only principal investigators in the United States may request a contribution to summer salary, not to exceed $8,000 per grant year, including benefits , to a maximum of $24,000. This limit includes the co-PI, if any, and does not change as a result of time extensions. Elective summer teaching is strongly discouraged for UR investigators who request this stipend.
• Travel : A maximum of $2,000 per grant year, or $6,000 total may be used for conference travel. Support of student travel to scientific meetings is encouraged. There are no restrictions on foreign travel. Note that scientific work performed away from the home institution is considered field work and is budgeted separately.
• Capital Equipment : Requests for capital equipment on UR grant proposals are discouraged. However, a limited amount of capital equipment funds (≤ $5000) may be included in the proposed budget, with justification and description of institutional cost-matching (if any) in the budget justification.

Limitations

• A principal investigator (lead PI or co-PI) may have only one research proposal active or under consideration per meeting with a maximum of 2 resubmissions on essentially the same topic.
• Principal investigators (lead PI or co-PI) may not hold more than one active PRF research grant at a time.
• Principal investigators (lead PI or co-PI) with an active PRF research grant, including a grant on time extension, may not submit an application for a new grant.
• Principal investigators (lead PI or co-PI) may have only one UR grant application considered in a 12-month period. Thus, a principal investigator (lead PI or co-PI) who has an UR proposal denied may not submit another UR proposal until the PRF Committee meeting one year later.

Program Managers

• Dr. Dean Dunn, Geology, Geochemistry/Geophysics, telephone: 202-872-4083, email: d_dunn@acs.org
• Dr. Laura Fernandez, Surface Science and Materials Science, telephone: 202-872-6154, email: l_fernandez@acs.org
• Dr. Askar Fahr, Physical Organic Chemistry, and Chemical Physics/Physical Chemistry, telephone: 202-872-6207, email: a_fahr@acs.org
• Dr. Thomas Clancy, Polymer Science, Engineering, Chemistry and Petroleum Engineering, telephone: 202-872-6093, email: t_clancy@acs.org
• Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin, Interim Assistant Director, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, and Inorganic Chemistry, telephone: 202-872-6186,email: a_liberman@acs.org

Proposal Submission

We are not currently accepting proposals for the Undergraduate Research (UR) grant program.  The Fall Submission window will be from Monday, August 12, 2024 to Friday September 6, 2024 (Considered at the May 2025 ACS PRF Committee Meeting). The Spring Submission window will be from Monday, February 10, 2025 to Friday March 7, 2025 (Considered at the October 2025 ACS PRF Committee Meeting).

• New Applicants: Pre-Registration Required
• Proposal Submission: PRF Portal Login
• UR Application Instructions
• Proposal Submission Overview
• Proposal Submission FAQ
• Online Help - Proposal Submission
• UNI & UR FAQ
• See Eligibility, Terms, Conditions and Guidelines for details regarding eligibility and the submission process for a UR grant.
• PRF Safety Requirements

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As  America’s first research university , we have been tackling difficult questions and finding answers since 1876.

Every day, our faculty and students work side by side in a tireless pursuit of discovery, continuing our founding mission to bring knowledge to the world. Whether you study engineering, chemistry, music, anthropology, or all of the above, every student here—no matter his or her major—is an investigator.

You can find research in whatever field you want because everyone here is doing some sort of research, and you can help out.

Explore supernovae alongside a Nobel laureate. Learn how to make music with lasers . Create devices that will save lives in impoverished countries . Take a grand tour of the cities that inspired some of the Western world’s great thinkers—Venice, Florence, Paris, or London.

At Hopkins, you can do all of the above. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Image caption: Kyra Bowden (left) and Grace Luettgen

Two juniors named Goldwater Scholars

Credit: Johns Hopkins University

Program funds undergraduate summer research experiences

Rising senior earns Beinecke Scholarship

Programs & fellowships.

• Provost’s Undergraduate Research Awards : Receive up to $3,000 and be paired with a full-time faculty sponsor for research on any topic of your choosing
• Woodrow Wilson Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program : Engage in hands-on, independent learning with faculty mentors and receive funding of up to $10,000 over four years
• ASPIRE grants : Promote independent research projects among undergrads in the School of Arts and Sciences; awards range from $500 to $4,500 per academic year

Learn more:

• Hopkins Office of Undergraduate Research
• Student research opportunities at the School of Engineering
• Student research opportunities at the School of Arts and Sciences

• Johns Hopkins University
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What opportunities are open to me?

There are many opportunities for Penn undergraduates to conduct research in any discipline—regardless of their previous experience. Research positions can be:

• Arranged through work-study
• Paid -- funded directly through a faculty member’s grant or via a program that provides a stipend
• Conducted for academic credit, or
• Supported via a grant for which you apply.

Keep in mind that funding options are often specific to particular kinds of research, fields of study, grad year, etc.  In addition, most (but not all) CURF funding is reserved for research conducted under the mentorship of a Penn faculty member.

Use the list below to identify research programs, grants and opportunities at Penn, elsewhere in the US and abroad.  While CURF strives to maintain a thorough and up-to-date website, these listings are not comprehensive and students are encouraged to conduct their own funding searches.

What grants should I apply for?

The Penn Undergraduate Research Mentorship (PURM) program is ideal for first and second-year students who have little to no prior research experience.  For more advanced researchers, the College Alumni Society Research Grant, the Vagelos Undergraduate Research Grant, and the Class of 1971 Robert J. Holtz Endowed Fund for Undergraduate Research are good places to start.

Other options are often specific to particular populations or kinds of research (e.g. grants for international research, social-impact endeavors, or for juniors who have not done research before). 

Search Funding Opportunities

Display funding opportunities that match ALL of my selections: (Select more options to return a narrower set of results).

Hoesley Digital Literacy Fellows Program

The Hoesley Digital Literacy Fellows Program encourages creative exploration of technologies commonly used in our rapidly evolving 21st century workplace and beyond through hands-on training and support as they design and develop a digital project and curate their professional digital presence.

The Urban Studies Program Gordon Fellowship

Winners of the Gordon Fellowship will receive a $5,000 stipend to explore careers that would lead to improving the quality of life in cities, whether in the public, non-profit, or private sectors and will benefit from career mentoring through alumni activities during the school year.

The Hassenfeld Grant for Undergraduate Research in Urban Studies

The Hassenfeld Grants for Undergraduate Research in Urban Studies provide Urban Studies majors and minors with the opportunity to explore questions arising out of their internship or other coursework in Urban Studies by supporting independent research in the summer before senior year.

History Undergraduate Research Grants

The History Department Undergraduate Research Fund awards grants to students who require funds to travel to archives or for research materials for extensive projects, usually as part of a History seminar or independent study. The Department also has additional funds to support undergraduate research for students in the History Honors Thesis program.

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI)

The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship provides both undergraduate and graduates students through conducting research in one of 17 participating U.S. Department of Energy laboratories/facilities for summer or for a semester-long experience.

H+U+D Mellon Undergraduate Research Fellows

The Humanities + Urbanism + Design Initiative bridges the humanities and design disciplines to promote the integrated investigation of 21st century urbanism and architecture through funding research in this space.

Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership

The Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership Program, open to Penn undergraduates, engages a small cohort of selected students with high-level local, regional, and national leaders drawn from government, business, and civil society to discuss decision-making in urban places.

The Raymond W. Sarber Awards

Award that recognizes students at the undergraduate or predoctoral levels for research excellence and potential.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Internship

Opportunity to conduct three months of hands-on, collaborative research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama.

Vagelos Undergraduate Research Grant

The Vagelos Undergraduate Research Grant funds an independent scholarly project conducted by an undergraduate student during the academic year.

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Funding for Undergraduate Research

Resources for funding undergraduate research:

Fellowships

Fellowships offer many opportunities for you to develop your academic and professional interests. They can help you study abroad, get involved in research or public service, or take on a postgraduate degree. Fellowships are also a networking opportunity. Recipients become part of a lasting network of like-minded people from around the country and around the world. Fellowship advisers can help you determine which opportunities help you meet your goals. Once you find a fellowship, they support you throughout the entire application process.

Opportunities exist for every class year, so it is never too early to begin to explore your options .

Columbia College Senior Thesis Funding

Columbia College offers a modest stipend, in the amount of $250, to defray associated expenses that Columbia College students may incur as they work on a senior thesis or honors project.

In order to apply for CC Senior Thesis Funding, please complete an application by the deadline, which is the last day of classes for the Fall term.

Eligibility is limited to current Columbia College juniors and seniors. Students may only receive the award once (if successful, reapplication will not be permitted).

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING STEPS REGARDING THE PROCESS FOR REQUESTING THIS FUNDING:

Complete the online Columbia College Senior Thesis Funding Application by the deadline provided.

Inform your Thesis Adviser that they must sign off on your project via the link which will be sent to their email. (You will be asked to provide your Thesis Adviser’s email in the application.) This email will contain additional instructions for your adviser. If you or they have any questions or issues, please email us at [email protected] .

Students with approved applications will receive a notification from Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.

Students majoring in architecture, dance, theatre, visual arts should speak with their respective Directors of Undergraduate Studies about funds available for particular thesis projects.

The deadline for senior thesis funding each year is the last day of classes for the Fall term. Please refer to the Academic Calendar to confirm the date for the last day of classes. Late applications will not be accepted.

Information Regarding Funding and Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses.

Expenses that are eligible for reimbursement may include research materials, transportation, entrance fees, etc.

Non-eligible expenses include durable equipment such as audio, video, hardware, software, cameras, laptops, etc. If any non-eligible items are listed in a proposal or submitted, Undergraduate Research and Fellowships will inform the student.

Services, such as choreography, are not reimbursable through the University. While students may still apply for funding for these types of services, they must not be paid for directly by the student. All services are paid directly to the vendor by the University. For additional details, please contact URF at [email protected] .

Regarding the purchases made with your debit card and/or credit card

You will be asked to provide a copy of your bank statement and/or credit card statement, and label the charges according to the expense number that you list on the reimbursement form. You may black out all other information on the statements. Please note, if you used someone else's credit card to pay for your expenses, they will receive the reimbursement.

Please remember to retain all original receipts and invoices for expenses to be submitted for reimbursement.

Questions? Contact URF at [email protected] .

Related Articles

• What is a Fellowship?
• What is Research?
• Finding a Fellowship or Research Opportunity
• Types of Research Opportunities
• Applying for Fellowship(s) or Research Opportunity
• Undergraduate Research by Department
• Finding a Faculty Mentor
• Resources for Research & Publishing

Academic Year Programs

Academic year undergraduate research grants.

Academic Year URGs provide up to $1,000 to pay for your research expenses to do an independent academic or creative project, in all fields of study, under faculty supervision. The project must be connected to an independent study or thesis seminar for at least one quarter during the academic year. Independent research grants center around a research question the student seeks to answer through the proposed methodology; the student is involved in multiple aspects of the research process including data collection, analysis, and synthesis of results (regardless of what methodology is used to answer the proposed question).

Academic Year URG Advanced

Academic Year URG Advanced are for students who have already received an Academic Year URG from the Office of Undergraduate Research.  This program mirrors the AYURG program, and simply provides you with an additional funding opportunity.

Undergraduate Research Assistant Program

The Undergraduate Research Assistant Program pairs inexperienced students with faculty who are in need of assistance on their own research projects. In doing so, students who do not have sufficient research experience to design and carry out their own URG project gain first-hand mentored knowledge of research practices in their discipline, while faculty who would not otherwise be able to hire Research Assistants (RAs) get help with their own projects. Faculty can apply with a particular student(s) in mind, or the Office of Undergraduate Research can assist in finding a student for them by running a search. All positions pay $16.00/hour.

Summer Programs

Summer undergraduate research grants.

Summer URGs provide a $4,000 stipend to cover living expenses for eight weeks of full-time research on an independent academic or creative project, in all fields of study, under faculty supervision. Independent research grants center around a research question the student seeks to answer through the proposed methodology; the student is involved in multiple aspects of the research process including data collection, analysis, and synthesis of results (regardless of what methodology is used to answer the proposed question).  

Summer URG Advanced

Summer URG Advanced are for students who have already received an Summer URG from the Office of Undergraduate Research.  This program mirrors the Summer URG program, and simply provides you with an additional funding opportunity.

Undergraduate Language Grants

ULGs provide up to $5,000 towards the cost of intensive summer language study either in the US or abroad. The program’s goal is to fund students for whom this language training is central to the achievement of specific academic or professional goals.

Circumnavigators Travel-Study Grant

A once-in-a-lifetime $9,500 grant to spend the summer travelling the world, researching a topic of your choice. Only juniors are eligible for this grant.

Hybrid Programs

Conference travel grants.

CTGs fund 50% of your expenses (up to $500) to present your research or original creative work at a conference. CTG applications are accepted on a rolling basis until June 1st.

Emerging Scholars Program

Our most recent grant program focused specifically on serving first year students who identify as first generation, lower income, people of color, and/or marginalized.  This grant focuses on providing opportunities for students to get started in research and/or creative activities in the arts, humanities, journalism, and social sciences – basically, research that doesn’t take place in a lab environment.  The Emerging Scholars Program will provide you with stipend (living expense money) funding for 15 months, starting the summer after your first year and stretching through your sophomore year and summer. There will be personal and professional development workshops throughout the program as well as time to meet and network with faculty and administrators.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Office of undergraduate education.

Select on-campus funding opportunities are listed below, as well as select off-campus opportunities for international research funding. As this is not a comprehensive list, we encourage you to search other databases for additional opportunities.

Visit the Georgia Tech Fellowships Office, which helps students identify and apply for nationally competitive awards that provide funding assistance for undergraduate and graduate study, research in the U.S. and abroad, and other educational enrichment opportunities.

• President’s Undergraduate Research Awards (PURA) : The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program competitively funds individual requests by a student to support undergraduate student involvement in faculty research. The main emphases of the awards will be for student salaries (PURA Salary Awards) and travel expenses for undergraduates to attend professional conferences and present their research (PURA Travel Awards). Students should contact individual faculty members to first get involved in undergraduate research projects. Either faculty or students can initiate projects, but the application and proposal must be done by the student. For salary awards, a faculty/student team must apply by the deadline given for the semester in which the funds are requested. Travel applications are accepted at anytime during the semester in which the award would be used but must be submitted at least one month prior to conference date. Please wait to submit an application until your paper or poster has been accepted at the conference. Students may apply for $1,500 (max.) salary awards or $1,000 (max.) travel awards. Students are eligible for only one successful salary award per academic year but may apply for more than one travel award within the same academic year.
• Georgia Tech Faculty Women’s Club Scholarships : Five scholarships of up to $2,000 each are awarded annually. In order for a student to apply, he/she must meet the following eligibility requirements: has completed at least one full semester at Georgia Tech, a parent or legal guardian is employed at Georgia Tech, a GPA of 2.75 or above, and has completed the application and essay requirements.
• Joe S. Mundy Global Learning Endowment : The Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) is pleased to offer the Joe S. Mundy Global Learning Experience Endowment. This generous endowment has been established to allow selected CEE students the opportunity to participate in an international experience during their enrollment at Georgia Tech. Undergraduate students will be given priority in decisions to support travel, although there may be reason to support travel of eligible graduate students and faculty, particularly when accompanying undergraduates.
• Office of International Education Scholarships : The Georgia Tech Office of International Education has information on several scholarships available to Georgia Tech undergraduate students who have applied to or will apply to a study abroad program. Some of these scholarships apply to work or research internships, as well.
• American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) : The ASF's award program for study and research abroad has been the Foundation's most long-standing commitment to educational exchange. During the past 94 years, over 3,800 fellowships and grants have been given to Americans and Scandinavians engaged in study or research projects.
• Forum on Education Abroad Undergraduate Research Award : This award is an honor that showcases the most rigorous and significant undergraduate research that occurs as part of education abroad programs. Every year, award recipients are invited (all expenses paid) to present their research at a plenary luncheon at The Forum annual conference. The annual deadline for nominations for the Award is at the end of June of that year. The Forum encourages its member to plan their nominations to work with their organization's calendars.
• IREX Individual Advanced Research Opportunities Program : Provides scholars and professionals with long-term support to perform policy-relevant field research in the countries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia. IARO fellowships provide scholars with the opportunity to impact the formation of U.S. foreign policy by conducting open-source research on current regional issues of importance to the United State
• US-Japanese Foundation Grants : For those interested in working in the media industry (print/online/broadcast/etc.) in Japan, the Foundation supports projects that seek to enhance communication and mutual understanding between the American and Japanese people.
• Social Science Research Council Fellowships : Sponsors more than 40 interdisciplinary programs focused on specific areas of research, on building new fields, and on the education and training of researchers.
• IIEPassport Study Abroad Funding : Free online database of study abroad scholarships, fellowships, and grants.

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Facilitating Research at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions:

View guidelines, important information for proposers.

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) and Research Opportunity Awards (ROA)

The Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) and Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) funding opportunities support research by faculty members at predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs).  RUI proposals support PUI faculty in research that engages them in their professional field(s), builds capacity for research at their home institution, and supports the integration of research and undergraduate education. ROAs similarly support PUI faculty research, but these awards typically allow faculty to work as visiting scientists at research-intensive organizations where they collaborate with other NSF-supported investigators.

Eligible PUIs are accredited colleges and universities (including two-year community colleges) that award Associate's degrees, Bachelor's degrees, and/or Master's degrees in NSF-supported fields, but have awarded 20 or fewer Ph.D./D.Sci. degrees in all NSF-supported fields during the combined previous two academic years.

All NSF directorates may support RUI and ROA funding activities. Funding for these awards is contained within research and education program allocations and not held as a separate allocation. RUI and ROA proposals are evaluated and funded by NSF programs in the disciplinary areas of the proposed research and are funded at their discretion. 

Prospective PIs should contact disciplinary program officers to identify specific NSF programs and to determine the feasibility and timing of RUI/ROA requests. General RUI/ROA points of contact are available through the website http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/rui_roa/contacts.jsp .

1. Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI). An RUI proposal may be:

• A request to support an individual research project or a collaborative research project involving PUI faculty and students at their own or other institutions.
• A request involving shared research instrumentation.

2.  Research Opportunity Awards (ROA). The types of ROA opportunities include: 

• A supplement to an existing NSF award to support ROA activities for PUI faculty.
• Requests to rebudget funds in an existing NSF award to support ROA activities for PUI faculty.
• Submission of a new collaborative proposal between a PUI and another institution(s), with a ROA component as a subaward or as part of a linked collaborative proposal.

Program contacts

RUI/ROA inquiries regarding this announcement should be directed to discipline-specific contacts found at http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/rui_roa/contacts.jsp .

Program Events

• February 8, 2023 - MCB Virtual Office Hours: Opportunities for Primarily…
• June 8, 2021 - BIO Virtual Office Hour: Primarily Undergraduate Institutions

Awards made through this program

Organization(s).

• Office of International Science and Engineering (OD/OISE)
• Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO)
• Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)
• Directorate for STEM Education (EDU)
• Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
• Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)
• Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)
• Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE)
• Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP)

Fund Your Project

Main navigation.

After you have focused your interests into a feasible project topic and started working with the right faculty mentor, you might identify some key resources that will enable your project to get off the ground.

Not every project requires funding, but nearly every kind of research, arts, and senior synthesis project can take advantage of one or more of the following funding opportunities. Grants are used for travel, supplies, and stipends depending on the project's needs. Department and Faculty Grants are good starting points for students just getting into research or looking to explore a new field. Student Grants are intended to support more independent scholarship designed primarily by the student, with the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Grant Types and Information

Explore student grants.

Grants offered directly to students who have designed an independent arts, research, or senior synthesis project in collaboration with their faculty mentors

Explore Departmental Funding

Funding offered by departments, interdisciplinary programs, and research centers to support introductory project experiences

Learn About Faculty Funding

Funding offered by individual faculty who have designed projects that introduce students to the methods of scholarship in a particular discipline

Other Funding

Grants and opportunities managed by other offices around campus

Need help with your independent project?

All students should  schedule a meeting with their Undergraduate Advising Director (UAD)  as they write their proposal. UADs are well-versed with all VPUE Undergraduate Research grants.

For further assistance, email:  [email protected]

• Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning

Funding Opportunities

• Undergraduate Research Funding

Undergraduate research has been identified by the Association of American Colleges and Universities as a high-impact practice. We promote faculty to engage with students in this evidence-based practice as it has shown to improve student outcomes and increase learning success.

One way we do this is by providing funding opportunities for students to receive a stipend while working alongside a faculty mentor on a research project. Funding is also available for project supplies associated with taking on undergraduate student researchers. Faculty can apply for the Student Engagement Fund (SEF) or Research, Engagement and Academic Diversity (READ) Grant.

Online Application Preview Application

Faculty Resources

• Mentoring in Undergraduate Research (PDF)
• Undergraduate Mentors - Things to Consider
• Ten Salient Practices of Undergraduate Research Mentors
• Opportunities

Acceptable Use of Funds

• Eligbility and Requirements

Disbursement of Funds

Faculty from all colleges and disciplines can apply for funding. Regardless of the funding opportunity you apply for research projects typically fit under the following broad categories:

• Research and Artistry: Research/ artistry project meant to contribute to a body of knowledge on a specific topic, intended to serve the academic community, and controlled by the researcher or artist.
• Civic Engagement: projects that promote and consider ways citizens are active, engaged, and informed as it relates to political participation, education, and other societal issues.
• Community-Engaged Research: Community based research that has as its main purpose to provide the community with tools and info to enact change; pursues community empowerment and mutual learning, controlled by researcher/artist and community members.

Student Engagement Fund

The Student Engagement Fund (SEF) is an Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning (OSEEL) funding program that provides student compensation and/or project supply funds for faculty-mentored research/artistry and community-based projects. Projects in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) are funded in partnership with the college.

SEF applications are reviewed by a committee of NIU faculty.

Research, Engagement and Academic Diversity Grant

The Research, Engagement and Academic Diversity (READ) Grant is the result of a collaboration between OSEEL, the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships and the Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI). READ Grant funds can be used for research, scholarship and artistry projects on closing equity gaps, social justice and diversity, as well as projects related to social entrepreneurship or social innovation focused on social and cultural issues.

Faculty are encouraged to recruit students from historically underrepresented groups (defined here as African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and Alaskan Native/American Indian).

READ applications are reviewed by the committee within the Division of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The main purpose of READ and SEF is to increase the number of students receiving funding to participate in undergraduate research. Additionally, faculty can apply for project supply expenses. Eligible project supply expenses include:

• Research-related travel expenses (i.e travel to a field site)
• Materials and supplies specific to the project
• Direct project expenses (copying, mailing surveys, etc…)

You may receive funding for more than one project. The following limits apply:

• Student researchers: maximum of three students per semester at $1,200 each
• Project supplies: $500 per student researcher; $1,500 maximum per application

Funding Timeline

Spring 2024.

• Application opens: mid-September
• Application deadline: early November
• Awardees notified: early December
• Feb. 15, 2024: funds disbursed pending receipt of student-faculty mentor learning agreement.

Summer/Fall 2024

• Application opens: mid-February
• Application deadline: early April
• Awardees notified: early May
• June 15: funds disbursed for summer recipients pending receipt of student-faculty mentor learning agreement.

Eligibility and Requirements

Student eligibility.

In order for students to receive a stipend as an undergraduate researcher, the following criteria must be met:

• Currently enrolled student at NIU
• In good academic standing
• Ability to work on the research project for the entire semester for approximately 5-7 hours per week

Program Requirements

Faculty and students will be added to OSEEL’s Research Funding Programs Blackboard organization which will be used to communicate program requirements and expectations.

• Meet with faculty to complete student-faculty mentor learning agreement and adhere to established commitments
• Maintain regular communication with your faculty mentor
• Submit monthly progress reports
• Complete end of project survey
• Present your research project at NIU’s annual Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement

Faculty Mentors

• Meet with student and use the student-faculty mentor learning agreement to establish expectations
• Meet with student periodically to assess and review the stated learning outcomes of the project outlined in the student-faculty mentor learning agreement
• Provide resources and necessary tools for students
• Ensure students have completed any necessary safety training to participate in the project. Students and staff can create an account to access Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI training)
• Share OSEEL protocol with the department office manager for purchasing of supplies and reimbursement process
• Maintain regular communication with your student researcher and OSEEL staff on any major changes with the research project or mentoring relationship

Stipends for OSEEL undergraduate researchers will be processed through your bursar account and disbursed into partial payments throughout your project on the 15th of each month. If you already have a direct deposit account with the Bursar’s Office, please contact them to make sure you have the correct bank account on file for your funding to be distributed. Direct deposit as an NIU employee is not the same. You will still need to set up this feature through the Bursars office. Visit go.niu.edu/DirectDeposit for more information and to sign up for direct deposit.

Student Travel

Individual conference travel awards will be processed through MyScholarships. You will receive an email from MyScholarships with your awarded amount. Once you receive this email, you must accept the award. Upon acceptance, the award will be disbursed to your account within 10-14 business days.

Faculty Travel

Faculty awarded travel funds through the Experiential Learning Group Travel grant will complete the NIU Request for Group Travel advance form. Within two weeks of return from travel, a travel advance form must be completed with detailed, itemized receipts and submitted to Accounts Payable to reconcile the advance.

Taxability Statement Notice for Stipends

Please note that stipend payments for this award, though not considered wages, may be considered taxable income. The Internal Revenue Service regulations and notices state that the payer (Northern Illinois University) of a taxable stipend payment is not required to withhold income tax and not required to report the payment to the student at calendar year-end. Therefore, stipend payments issued to students who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or resident aliens (for U.S. tax purposes) will not be reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC at the end of the calendar year. Students are responsible for reporting these payments and remitting any tax due. Please refer to IRS Pub. 970, Tax Benefits for Education, for additional information. It is recommended you consult a qualified tax advisor to assist with personal tax questions.

• Conference Travel

Business Hours

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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NIH Common Fund

This page last reviewed on March 26, 2024

2024 Undergraduate Exhibition

Research Nova Scotia Supports Student Health Researchers with $186,240 in Funding

Research Nova Scotia has awarded undergraduate students from Cape Breton University, Mount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia Community College, St. Francis Xavier University, Université Sainte-Anne, and University of King’s College with the 2023/24 Undergraduate Scotia Scholars Awards.

The Scotia Scholars Award supports the growth and retention of highly skilled individuals who are advancing and translating knowledge in disease detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, strengthening health care delivery systems, caring for vulnerable populations, and preventing negative impacts to health and wellbeing.

“Receiving the Scotia Scholars Award has been a huge honour, and I am now better positioned to dedicate myself fully to my research this summer, thereby enhancing the quality and depth of the project,” says Allyson Hayward, 2023/24 Undergraduate Scotia Scholars Award recipient at St. Francis Xavier University. “I am very thankful that there are resources like this award, that are accessible, and continuously support student researchers.”

This year, 31 students received up to $6,250 each to support their engagement in a health research project.

Recipients’ projects cover areas of physical, mental, social, and emotional health and span a broad range of topics including traditional Mi’kmaw medicine and two-eyed seeing, cancer, mental health and addictions, AI in healthcare, occupational health, Lyme Disease, and health equity for LGBTQ+ communities, racial and ethnic communities, and those experiencing disabilities.

“Our contribution to improving health care in Nova Scotia is to support research teams that are working to address challenges within our health care systems,” says Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia. “The Scotia Scholars Award program helps to launch the careers of the next generation of health researchers who will inform the future of health care.”

Funding for the Scotia Scholars Award is provided by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness.

View the complete list of 2023/24 undergraduate recipients and their projects .

Congratulations to all recipients and good luck with your research!

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Facilities Management

UI approves P3 funding to support 4 new projects in FY24

The University of Iowa will use the next round of P3 funding to enhance student success, retain critical employees, and share faculty research and scholarship with the public.

Up to $15 million in funding will be distributed from the UI Strategic Initiatives Fund (P3) to support implementation of the strategic plan in FY2024. The P3 Board of Directors endorsed the following allocation of funds at its June meeting:

• $2.6 million for four projects selected from a campuswide call for proposals
• $5 million for the enhancement of education infrastructure on campus

The remaining $7.4 million for FY2024 will be reserved for the implementation of additional strategic plan initiatives throughout the year. Members of the  Strategic Plan Action and Resource Committee  (SPARC) can make requests on a rolling basis until all FY2024 P3 funds are committed.

As campus leaders began implementing the first year of the  Strategic Plan for 2022-2027 , they recognized the potential for a more effective use of the P3 funds. Adopting this new funding approach allows the university to prioritize crucial improvements to educational spaces and respond more quickly to funding needs that arise throughout the year. The new funding model maintains the opportunity for all members of the campus community to submit proposals.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to leverage P3 funds in a more strategic, responsive way,” says Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Kregel. “The four projects selected this year are innovative proposals that will have a positive impact on our students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, the investment in educational infrastructure allows us to provide more modern and accessible learning spaces to better meet the needs and expectations of our students and instructors.”

The $5 million for educational infrastructure will have a transformational impact on academic programming and student success at Iowa. The P3 board approved $3 million for facility upgrades, which will allow the university to start planning and design for  relocating the Department of Dance to the Performing Arts Annex , the renamed former art museum on North Riverside Drive. The remaining educational infrastructure funds for FY2024 will be used to upgrade classrooms.

Projects approved for FY2024

A campuswide call for proposals in September 2022 drew 33 preliminary applications. Nine were invited by SPARC to submit full proposals. SPARC reviewed the full proposals in March and April 2023 and recommended to President Barbara Wilson four projects totaling $2.6 million in funding.

The approved projects are:

• Increasing access to information and supporting interventions: A full-function mobile app for the UI

This initiative aims to boost student engagement and success by providing a digital gateway to the University of Iowa. Creating a mobile application for UI students will expand student access to critical information, resources, programs, and services. Collaborators on the project—including the Division of Student Life, the Office of the Provost, the Office of Strategic Communication, Information Technology Services, Undergraduate Student Government, and Graduate and Professional Student Government—will work together to provide a simple, easy-to-use app that focuses on a strong user experience, establishes deep integration into existing systems, and communicates timely messages that will support student success. 

Approved funding:  $1,696,875 over three years; led by Sarah Hansen, vice president for student life.

• The use and impact of targeted, need-based financial assistance at the UI

This project will evaluate the effect University of Iowa need-based financial assistance programs have on students’ GPA, credits earned, retention, and graduation. Leveraging substantial institutional data and quasi-experimental methods, researchers will determine when and for whom financial assistance is most effective. The project will involve close collaboration between researchers and campus stakeholders, allowing findings from the study to support the expansion or refinement of financial assistance programs, which will ultimately improve academic success and reduce academic disparities among students.

Approved funding:  $130,617 over two years; led by Katharine Broton, assistant professor of higher education and student affairs, College of Education.

• Recognizing, recruiting, and retaining Merit staff

This project  aims to increase engagement and reduce turnover among Merit staff at Iowa. Merit staff are vital contributors to the university’s missions, functions, and strategic goals. Previous feedback from Merit staff on culture, supervision, and training will guide the development of pilot initiatives to address retention. The project will introduce Merit-specific orientation programs, expand supervisor training, and develop tailored mentoring and career-pathway programs. Assessment of the effectiveness of these initiatives will inform whether they are integrated into University Human Resources operations to enhance the overall employee experience and advance the university’s strategic plan goals for holistic well-being and success.

Approved funding:  $520,000 over three years; led by Cheryl Reardon, chief human resources officer and associate vice president, University Human Resources.

• Writing for the public good: Establishing Iowa as the leading institution where faculty communicate research and scholarship with our state, nation, and world

Building upon the University of Iowa’s distinction in writing,  this initiative will equip faculty  with the skills to communicate their research and scholarship to wider audiences outside academia. Participants will attend workshops focusing on writing effectively for public news outlets, including essays, op-eds, research-informed journalistic essays, leading newspapers, respected magazines, and other venues. This initiative directly aligns with the strategic plan goal to leverage the UI’s areas of distinction and the talent of its people to have a transformative societal impact. By extending the reach of academic knowledge through various media outlets, this project will help enable Iowa to become a leader in communicating research and scholarship to the public.

Approved funding:  $270,000 over three years; led by Kristy Nabhan-Warren, associate vice president for research, Office of the Vice President for Research.

The P3 Program provides resources for strategic investment into the UI’s core missions of teaching, research, and scholarship. In March 2020, nearly $1 billion in funding from the university’s 50-year partnership with ENGIE North America and Meridiam to operate the utility system was placed in an endowment. Earnings from the endowment will allow the university to invest about $15 million per fiscal year in support of the UI’s strategic plan priorities of excellence in teaching and learning, innovative research and creative discovery, welcoming and inclusive environment, holistic well-being and success, and transformative societal impact.

Psychology undergraduate awarded Autism Science Foundation Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship

Posted in: Featured Students , News , Psychology News

Wasayef Bsharat ( Psychology combined BAMA student, mentored by Erin Kang ) is awarded Autism Science Foundation Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship , for her project, “Addressing Challenges in Autism Service Access in South Asian and MENA families.”

This funding mechanism focuses on underrepresented and underserved populations in the autism community because there are great disparities in timely diagnosis and support for racial and ethnic minority groups.