Ten Undergrad Research Opportunities at Brandeis
Photo Credit: Dan Holmes
By David Levin
March 5, 2026
• Research
At many universities, research is something undergraduates hear about but rarely touch. Brandeis is different: for our undergrads, hands-on research is a fundamental part of their collegiate experience. Each year, the University funds dozens of researches that are specifically designed to put undergrads at the lab bench or in the field—so all students can experience what it’s like to produce original scholarship. Whether you’re an incoming or current student, here are 10 places to start.
One of Brandeis's most flexible research awards, the URF offers a $5,000 stipend to students in any discipline — sciences, humanities, creative arts, social sciences. Recipients spend 7–10 weeks over the summer working with a faculty mentor on a project of their choosing, then present their findings at an annual undergraduate research symposium. For students who've identified a research question but lack funding to pursue it, this fellowship makes it possible to actually do the work.
A $6,000 summer stipend for science students to conduct research in Brandeis laboratories. SURFs give undergrads the kind of immersive lab experience that normally goes only to grad students — uninterrupted weeks to run experiments, dive into published literature, and learn to think like a scientist. Applications typically open in December.
A competitive $6,000 stipend for undergrads joining labs affiliated with Brandeis's NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). The research spans soft matter, biophysics, and materials science — fields that sit at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and biology.
The NSF REU program at Brandeis's MRSEC center places 6–8 undergraduates in research labs each summer for ten weeks. Students receive a $6,000 stipend, housing, and travel support. Crucially, this grant is open to students from other universities — one of the few ways for outside applicants to spend a summer doing research at Brandeis. Applications open each winter.
Unlike most summer fellowships, the Schiff Program is built around the academic year. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors receive a $3,000 stipend to pursue research or creative projects with a faculty mentor alongside their regular coursework. For students with long-term projects who can't commit to a full summer away, it's an ideal fit. Applications open each February.
A $5,000 fellowship open to undergraduates in any discipline working with a faculty mentor — from archival history to creative writing to social science fieldwork. Good research happens everywhere, and this award is designed with that in mind. Applications open each January.
The WOW program funds students who've landed unpaid summer internships but can't afford to take them. More than $100,000 is awarded annually across fellowships focused on social justice, climate change, Jewish communal life, and general internships. Students are automatically considered for all awards they qualify for. Applications open each February.
Since 2008, this fellowship has placed more than 500 students in full-time summer positions at nonprofits, advocacy groups, and community organizations. Each year roughly 40 students receive funding to pursue social-justice-focused work they couldn't otherwise afford to take on.
CHIP places students in community organizations in Waltham working on public health and its social determinants — housing, food access, economic stability. Interns receive a $4,500 stipend for eight weeks. For students drawn to medicine or public policy, it's a chance to engage with a real community rather than study it from a distance. Applications open each winter.
These grants of up to $5,000 are intended for students in any field whose research connects to the Middle East. The grant may be used to support travel expenses, fieldwork, language study, or internships. A history major studying Ottoman archives and a public health student researching regional healthcare systems are equally eligible. Applications are accepted each spring.