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.

AY 2026-2027 Schiff Research Fellowships

Dates, Deadlines and Notifications

• The Deadline was April 14, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET
• 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.

Eligibility Criteria

• Brandeis first-year, sophomore, junior. Schiff Fellows generally apply as sophomores or juniors. First year students may apply, but must have sufficient academic preparation and strong support from their faculty mentor.
• Students must be full-time Brandeis students enrolled in courses on the Brandeis campus during the entire AY26-27 year (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027).
• 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 they are doing a research project for course credit, students are eligible to apply for a Schiff Fellowship if their project meets the additional criteria below.

Eligibility Scope: Additional Criteria

• Students doing research for course credit during AY26-27: 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 AY26-27 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 AY26-27 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, training, 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 AY26-27) 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 summer 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 ( <1500 words total, including a 200-250-word project summary (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

For more information, please contact Margaret lynch.

Eligibility

• Brandeis undergraduates in good academic standing who will continue as undergraduate students in the subsequent Fall semester. Current first-year, sophomore, and junior undergraduates can apply, as well as seniors who will graduate in December of the year that the fellowship is awarded.
• Students are required to fill out an I-9 in order to receive the stipend. International Students are encouraged to review the steps for beginning on-campus employment found on the International Students and Scholars Office website.

Your completed application should contain the following:

• Student applicant information
• Transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
• One-page resume that highlights your qualifications to conduct this research
• Research proposal (1500 words or fewer, excluding reference list)
  
  • Organize your proposal as follows:
    • Project summary (a 250-word overview of your proposed project)
    • Background and Introduction to the research or creative topic and project
    • Project aims and goals (specify exactly what you plan to do)
    • Methods or approach (how you plan to do it)
    • Project output, outcomes and deliverables
    • Project timeline (outline what you will work on and when)
    • Project significance and impact
    • References cited (recommended if standard in the research area)
• Contingency plan
  • If your project involves travel, field- or laboratory-based research, in-person human or animal research, or in-person group studio-based projects or performances, please submit a brief contingency research plan in the event that travel and research restrictions are in effect in Summer 2026 for the location of your project.
• Mentoring plan
  • How often will you meet with your faculty mentor over the summer?
  • Will you be able to attend group research meetings or communicate with other researchers or creative professionals in your field of interest?
  • What type of training will your mentor provide (either directly or by referral to other people or resources)?
• Students should direct their faculty mentors to submit their letter of recommendation via the Faculty Letter of Recommendation Form (Brandeis email required to access).
• Fellowship awardees will be required to submit a project summary at the end of the summer and present their research to the Brandeis community at the URCC Symposium.

If you have general questions or want to discuss your application, contact Margaret Lynch, director of Undergraduate-Faculty Research Partnerships.