Internal Funding Opportunities

Select offices and departments have designated funds designed to support undergraduate research. Below are some of the funding sources offered internally to University of Rochester students. Starred (*) entries are administered by the Office of Undergraduate Research.

If you are in search of a paid research position, use the links below to help begin your search:

  • JobLink - University of Rochester's on-campus student employment job board
  • Handshake - Internships and networking/connections on- and off-campus, though not all postings are paid opportunities
  • Summer research page - Links to searchable databases and a selection of competitive, structured research opportunities
  • Department of History HOUR program - Apply to assist members of the history faculty who would like help on their research projects; compensation can be an hourly assistantship wage or credit for HIS 395.
General Funding
  • Data Set Grant Program: The River Campus Libraries offers grants to current undergraduate students enrolled in the School of Arts & Sciences and the Hajim School to support unique, out-of-reach data needs for their independent studies.  
  • *Discover Grant for Undergraduate Summer Research Funding (sponsored by the Schwartz Undergraduate Research Fund): This $5000 grant can help fund living expenses for unpaid summer research experiences for students. The application cycle opens annually each spring and is highly competitive.
  • Institute for Human Health and the Environment (IHHE) Exploration Grant: funds for the promotion of transdisciplinary research experiences for UR undergraduate students who wish to conduct research related to the following areas:
    • The impact of environmental exposures on human health and potential underlying mechanisms by which environmental factors affect health;
    • Social, economic, and cultural contributors to the creation and/or resolution of environmental health problems.
  • McNair Research Program: The objective of the McNair Program is to increase the numbers of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented minority undergraduates who pursue PhD degrees and go on to careers in research and teaching at the university level. Academic year program applicants apply during the first semester of their sophomore year. Summer program applicants apply during the spring semester of their junior year.
  • *Research Presentation Award: Small awards used to support student conference registration, travel, lodging, and food expenses. Up to $500 domestically or $1,000 internationally. Rolling application cycle.
  • Research Initiative Award for Undergraduates: This $1,000 library-sponsored research award is for students in the early phases of undergraduate research, demonstrated by the initiation and organization of a project leading towards a senior thesis, capstone project, or an independent research project. Applications due annually in November.
  • *Research and Innovation Grant (RIG): The RIG is a $3,000 grant offered to approximately 100 students per year upon admission to Rochester that can be used for experiential education opportunities during the academic year and/or over the summer after the student’s first semester at Rochester.
Funding for Natural Sciences and Engineering Majors
  • Beckman Scholarship: A highly selective program that provides undergraduates in the fields of biological and chemical sciences the opportunity to conduct independent laboratory research under the mentorship of select University of Rochester faculty over the course of 15 months.
  • Bilski-Mayer Summer Research Fellowships: $5,000 of summer research support for brain and cognitive sciences or neuroscience majors. Students must be nominated for support by their faculty research advisor.
  • de Kiewiet Summer Research Fellowships in Biology and Medicine: Current juniors taking part in a non-clinical, biological summer research project may apply for $5,000 of summer funding. A letter of intent to apply must be submitted by the first week of March.
  • Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) Undergraduate Education Program: enables students to engage in mission-critical science and engineering. The unique research, workforce, and career building opportunities the LLE has to offer undergraduates are well suited to provide training, while helping to fill the critical future workforce needs of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) at all levels, including operators, technicians, and scientists. Undergraduate students pursuing degree programs in related science and engineering fields are welcome to apply.
  • Meliora Fellowships in Brain & Cognitive Science: 10-week program will pair students with faculty labs working in brain research for an intensive research experience. Will fully fund summer research opportunities for students from backgrounds underrepresented in research. Meliora Fellowships will be primarily available to first- and second-year students.
  • Strong Children's Research Center (SCRC) Summer Training Program: This experience is targeted towards medical, graduate and undergraduate students who plan to pursue a career in biomedical or clinical research. Participating students are paid a stipend of $3000 for the ten-week program.  In addition, the program provides housing, free of charge, to out-of-area program participants at a residential life facility with full bath and kitchen.
  • Sustainability Community-Engaged Fellowship Program: This award is open to students enrolled in undergraduate programs in AS&E.The goal of this project is to connect climate change to personal narrative through a mobile audio installation that travels the Adirondack Park recording the stories of climate change.
  • URMC Summer Scholars Program: For students interested in Biological, Biomedical, & Health Research to undergrads considering applying to PhD programs.  The primary goal of the Summer Scholars Program is to provide research and professional development opportunities to students from groups historically underrepresented in biomedical fields.
  • Walt and Bobbi Makous Prize for Undergraduate Vision Research: This prize honors the graduating senior who has made the most outstanding contribution to vision research at Rochester.
  • Wiesman Scholarship: For students of backgrounds underrepresented in research and interested in BCS or Neuroscience research.  
Funding for Humanities and Social Sciences Majors
  • Anthropology Undergraduate Research Grant: The undergraduate research grant is intended to promote original undergraduate research in anthropology, and provides up to $1,000 per year for projects conducted by anthropology majors.  The grant money may be used to cover: travel, living expenses, gifts, equipment and other research-related expenses. The award is limited to rising juniors and seniors.
  • Meliora Scholars Program: Current first-year students interested in the humanities and humanistic social sciences can apply to be part of this cohort-based program that offers workshops and up to $3,000 in research funding.
  • *Barth-Crapsey Award: Given to encourage high quality independent research by University of Rochester undergraduates in the humanities and social sciences, especially in the fields of government, politics and political history, and literature, and on topics relating to the historical and cultural heritage of the Rochester/Monroe County area. Nominally, these awards are up to $600 on a rolling application cycle.
  • Susan B. Anthony Institute (SBAI) Research Grants for Undergraduate Students: Small grants to support research in gender, sexuality, and women's studies. Applications available semi-annually.
  • Frederick Douglass Prize: A $500 prize for the best undergraduate research paper in African and African-American Studies.
  • English Undergraduate Research Awards: Awards between $500 - 1,000 for English majors and minors whose ongoing scholarly or creative work requires travel or short-term residence outside of Rochester.
  • Undergraduate Political Science Research Fund: Maximum grant of $500 to assist political science majors conducting research projects.
  • The Richard and Nancy Fenno Summer Fellowships: A summer stipend of $3,000 will be offered for students engaging in activities broadly related to politics and policy; preference is given to students pursuing experiences in the United States, whether at the federal, state, or local levels. Current sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply.