One of the best parts about pursuing a degree is finding scholarly tracks you’re passionate about. Sometimes that passion swells beyond the scope of a class or project and you want to take your research to the next level. Whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, oftentimes there are ways to pursue that research in a meaningful, productive way.
Whether you take your project to a fellowship or find funding to do more research on your own, there is a myriad of opportunities to take advantage of while you’re still in school. This article doesn’t talk about every single option at DePaul or outside of the university. Rather this is a highlight of some of the opportunities you can take up with something you really care about.
If you want to do more opportunity searching on your own, there are more options listed here. Some of these opportunities’ deadlines have passed, but keep these in mind for future funding cycles.
Undergraduate
Summer Undergraduate Research Grant (SURG)
Sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, SURG provides financial support for students to engage in research with the supervision and mentorship of a faculty member. Students who wish to apply must develop a project for consideration.
Awards: (Paid from late June through September)
- $1500 for a single student
- $1250 per person for two student projects
- $1000 per person for groups of three or more students
Undergraduate Research Fund (URF)
This fund helps support undergraduate students to attend and present their work at conferences or other meetings. These awards are set up to reimburse students for registration costs, travel, and accommodation associated with those conferences and are usually paid back after the travel has happened.
Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP)
Unlike the other programs, this grant funds students who want to help faculty members with their research projects either in the summer or during the school year.
These opportunities involve three to four-week programs for United States-based undergrads to spend time in the UK over the summer break. Fulbright programs are designed specifically for students who have spent little to no time outside of North America. These intensives immerse students in another country while also giving them access to academics and sites they otherwise wouldn’t have seen.
Awards:
- Round-trip airfare
- Tuition and other fees
- Accommodation
- Sometimes a daily food stipend
A variety of fellowships are offered through The Smithsonian that give students an extremely unique opportunity to research alongside experts in a variety of fields. Fellows are given access to staff, collections, and materials they might not otherwise get to experience. Because there are so many fellowships offered, they all carry a different level of time commitment as well as financial compensation.
Graduate
These funds help alleviate the cost for graduate students who travel for conferences or research purposes. The fund is often disbursed as a reimbursement after the travel has occurred and can be used to offset registration fees, travel expenses, and accommodation.
Harrison I. Steans Graduate Fellowship
Supports DePaul graduate students who develop a project with an off-campus organizational partner with a focus on social equity. These fellowships can be renewed for three consecutive quarters if approved as the projects necessitate.
Award:
- $1800 per quarter ($5400 max.) for master’s students
- $2000 per quarter ($6000 max.) for doctoral students
ChLA Hannah Beiter Graduate Student Research Grants
Used to support graduate research around children’s literature. The grants can be used to acquire supplies, research assistance travel, or other research-related activities. Winners must be members of the Children’s Literature Association but can join if they win and are not currently members.
Awards: Between $500-$1500
Transnationalism Fellowship Program
Developed by The Americas Research Network as a way to promote collaboration between U.S. and Mexican scholars, the fellowship promotes research involving U.S./Mexican Transnationalism. Projects that are chosen are then developed in collaboration with one of the network’s partner Mexican institutions.
Awards: (For up to eight weeks of research in Mexico)
- Travel expenses between U.S. and Mexico
- $4000 fellowship stipend
- $500 for research expenses
There are a lot more opportunities for funding out there, especially targeted ones set for specific fields of study. If you are passionate about a project but need the funding to be able to dedicate time to it, search high and low for possible funds to support your work. Good luck!