Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaborations

Summer Provost's Undergraduate Research Fellowships are $5,000 stipends to support undergraduates conducting a research or creative project with the mentorship of a Brandeis faculty mentor.

Students who receive summer funding are expected to dedicate intensive effort toward the project for 8-10 weeks during the summer and participate in the summer community of Brandeis undergraduate researchers (which may be virtual in 2021).

• Summer 2021 Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET on March 2, 2021
  Both the application and recommendation letter are due on the above date.
• Eligibility: Brandeis undergraduates in good academic standing who will continue as undergraduate students in Fall 2021. Current first-year, sophomore, and junior undergraduates can apply, as well as seniors who will graduate in December 2021. Students are required to fill out an I-9 in order to be paid a stipend. International Students are encouraged to review the steps for beginning on-campus employment found on the International Students and Scholars Office website. Please contact Kathleen McMahan, Department Administrator, with any questions related to I-9 eligibility or to the I-9 process.

Your completed application should contain the following:

• Student Applicant Information
• Transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
• Research proposal (2000 words or fewer, excluding reference list)
  
  • Organize your proposal as follows: Background and Introduction to the topic and project, Project aims and goals (specify exactly what you plan to do), Methods or approach (how you plan to do it), and Project significance and impact.
• Contingency plan
  • If you 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 2021.
• Mentoring Plan
  • How often will you talk or meet with your faculty mentor? Will you be able to attend group research meetings or communicate with other researchers or creative professionals in your field of interest?
• Recommendation from your faculty mentor (Brandeis faculty). Faculty submit recommendation letter here.
• Felllowship 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.

Summer Funding Application

• Fall 2021 Application Deadline: October 1, 2021
• Spring 2021 Application Deadline: January 20, 2021
• Spring 2021 Applications re-opened until February 23, 2021

Limited funds (up to $250) are available to seniors writing theses. Standard costs for copying and binding theses cannot be funded.

Weight will be given to the candidate's summary and to the faculty thesis advisor's recommendation. When presented with equally excellent thesis proposals and recommendations, a candidate's grades may be considered to determine whether a grant will be awarded. If a student is doing research on a project that receives funding from another grant, they need to request funding to reimburse only those expenses which cannot be covered by the grant funds.

Application Checklist

Your completed application should contain the following:

• Student Applicant Information
• One-page funding justification summary: Summarize your research or creative project and explain at a high level how the requested funds will be used.
• Itemized budget request: Please each item, unit cost, the number of each item, and total cost. Ordinary school supplies and costs for copying and binding theses are outside the scope of this program. Students who need support for school supplies can reach out to the Student Support Services team.
• A resume
• Recommendation from your thesis advisor (Brandeis faculty). Faculty submit recommendation letter here.

Senior Thesis Funding Application

• Fall 2021 Application Deadline: October 1, 2021
• Spring 2022 Application Deadline: January 20, 2022

Limited funds (up to $250) are available to students engaged in non-thesis research or creative projects during the Academic Year (Fall and Spring Semesters).

Weight will be given to the candidate's summary and to the faculty recommendation. If a student is doing research on a project that receives funding from another grant, they need to request funding to reimburse only those expenses which cannot be covered by the grant funds.

Application Checklist

Your completed application should contain the following:

• Student Information
• One-page funding justification summary: Summarize your research or creative project and explain at a high level how the requested funds will be used.
• Itemized budget request: Please each item, unit cost, the number of each item, and total cost. Ordinary school supplies are outside the scope of this program. Students who need support for school supplies can reach out to the Student Support Services team.
• A resume
• Recommendation from your Brandeis faculty mentor. Faculty submit recommendation letter here.

Academic Year Funding Application

• The program is not currently active due to travel restrictions.
• The undergraduate must be the first and primary author and presenter of the abstract summarizing the research or creative project.

Weight will be given to the candidate's summary and to the faculty recommendation. If a student is doing research on a project that receives funding from another grant, they need to request funding to reimburse only those expenses which cannot be covered by the grant funds.

Application Checklist

Your completed application should contain the following:

• Student Information
• One-page funding justification summary: Summarize your research or creative project and how presenting your research will support the mission of Brandeis and your own personal academic and professional development.
• Itemized budget request: Please each item, unit cost, the number of each item, and total cost.
• A resume
• Recommendation from your research mentor (Brandeis faculty)