Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaborations

Jerome A. Schiff Undergraduate Fellows Program

The Jerome A. Schiff Undergraduate Fellows Program provides funding for students to perform an innovative research, creative or pedagogical project under the guidance of a Brandeis faculty mentor. Learn more about the Schiff Fellows program.

Applications will open in spring 2025.

For more information, please contact Margaret lynch.

Eligibility Criteria

• Brandeis first-year, sophomore, junior. Schiff Fellows generally apply as sophomores or juniors. First year students may apply, but must have strong support from their proposed mentor.
• Students must be full-time Brandeis students enrolled in courses on the Brandeis campus during the entire AY25-26 year (Fall 2025 and Spring 2026).
• Evidence of enthusiasm, preparedness, and commitment to do research and strong evidence of support and mentoring from the faculty mentor.
• Students can apply for a Schiff fellowship to support projects that are not for course credit. If their project meets the additional criteria below, students are eligible to apply for a Schiff Fellowship if they are doing a research project for course credit.

Eligibility Scope: Additional Criteria

• Students doing research for course credit during AY25-26: Please read the eligibility criteria below for students engaged in a research or creative project for a senior thesis, senior project, or a research or creative project for academic course credit.
  
  • Students who will doing a research or creative project for course credit in AY25-26 can apply for a Schiff Fellowship if they want to begin one or more components of their research or creative project during the summer.
  • Students who will engage in a research or creative project for course credit in AY25-26 can also apply for a Schiff fellowship to support a project that is related to but separate from (or completed different from) the research for course credit.
  • Students with a senior thesis research or creative project that requires travel, equipment, or other project-related supplies costing over $500 total can apply for a Schiff Fellowship.
  • If none of the above applies, students doing senior thesis research or a senior project who have project-related expenses of $500 or less can apply for funding through the Provost's Undergraduate Research Funds  (up to $250 per semester).
• Students are required to hold a SSN and complete an I-9 in order to receive a stipend. International Students are encouraged to review the steps for beginning on-campus employment found on the International Students and Scholars Office website. 

Amount, Duration of Award

• $3,000 stipend (in AY25-26) for each Schiff Undergraduate Fellow (non-U.S. citizens are subject to special tax deductions).
• The project should span the entire academic year. Depending on the nature of your project, your time commitment may fluctuate or remain consistent throughout the year. Some fellows begin their work in the summer and use a portion of their stipend for on-campus housing.
• Each Brandeis faculty mentor also receives a research reimbursement of $500 towards their own research.

Application Requirements

• Late applications cannot be accepted.
• Letter of recommendation, which must be submitted by your Schiff faculty mentor via the Faculty Recommendation Form. The recommendation letter should address the applicant's role in developing the project, the student's preparation to conduct research, expected outcomes, and a mentoring and communication plan.
• Application components include: Research or Creative Project proposal (2000 words, including a 250-word abstract), Other project activities or project attachments (optional), required Mentoring and Communication Plan, Personal statement, Resume, Transcript, Letter of Recommendation from the Faculty Mentor for your project

Dates, Deadlines and Notifications

• Campus deadline: Applications will open in spring 2025.
• Notification: Schiff Fellows are notified in mid-late May and are expected to accept or decline their award within 5-10 business days after notification.