Finding Funding as an undergrad
How to find undergraduate research funding
Grants for undergraduate research experience are available but sometimes very difficult to find. Here are different resources that can help you navigate the world of research funding and fellowships. This is by no means a comprehensive list! So, if you find other resources outside of this list, please share with your fellow Sybburites. 😊
Internal Funding at Vanderbilt University
Most research at Vanderbilt is funded by an existing Principal Investigator’s (PI’s) grant. However, students can seek their own funding through other prestigious funding programs. Here is a list of some internal funding sources offered over the Summer.
Summer Research Funding Opportunities
· Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Program : provides Vanderbilt undergraduate students with the opportunity to fulfill 10 weeks of full-time research during the summer under the mentorship of any full-time Vanderbilt faculty member, including faculty in the graduate and professional schools. The goal of VUSRP is to encourage and enhance student-faculty mentoring and joint research efforts. A $5000 stipend is awarded, with a limited number of $6000 Littlejohn and Goldberg Fellow awards for exceptional applications.
· Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy: provides training for undergraduates in the biomedical Sciences through summer research programs. In 2003, the Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training (BRET) established the Vanderbilt Summer Science Academy (VSSA) to bring together all undergraduates conducting biomedical research at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
· Undergraduate Clinical Research Internship Program gives college students the opportunity to participate in both research and clinical patient care at an academic medical center. This program is designed for students who are interested in a career in medicine. Participants will complete a research project under the directorship of a research mentor and also directly observe clinical patient care while spending time with residents and attending physicians. $1,500 stipend.
· Data Science Institute – Summer Research Program : fellows will come from a diverse range of backgrounds and domains. Proposed research is welcome from: Foundational data science, the development, evolution, or implementation of data science methods. Application of data science to one or more fields in the physical, life, or social sciences, engineering, arts, or humanities. The study of the impact of data on society and its institutions. $6,000 stipend.
· Global Summer Fellows Scholarship Program: The Global Education Office administers the Global Summer Fellows Scholarship program for Vanderbilt-approved Maymester and Summer abroad programs, with need-based awards up to $8,500. Scholarship application opens in mid-November and is due in mid-January. Eligible students must have a 2.7 GPA. See below for details on associated funds. Please note: In order to be considered for need-based scholarships, all students must have a CSS profile for the current academic year on file with the Vanderbilt Office of Financial Aid prior to the application deadline. International students are only eligible for GEO scholarships if they are already receiving need-based aid from the university. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid directly.
· The Nichols Humanitarian Fund: A companion scholarship fund to the Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal. These programs seek to make Vanderbilt students better members of their communities and society in general by supporting their humanitarian activities and bringing speakers to Vanderbilt who embody the best of humanity.
External Funding
National Science Foundation (NSF)
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. This solicitation features two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department or may offer interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome. (2) REU Supplements may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements or may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects.
Undergraduate student participants in either REU Sites or REU Supplements must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States.
Students do not apply to NSF to participate in REU activities. Students apply directly to REU Sites or to NSF-funded investigators who receive REU Supplements. To identify appropriate REU Sites, students should consult the directory of active REU Sites on the Web at https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm.
· Resource: Research Experiences for Undergraduates | NSF - National Science Foundation
· Special Programs for Undergraduate Students: Special Programs for Undergraduate Students | NSF - National Science Foundation
Other Fellowship Sources
Here is an extensive list of Fellowships, academic year eligibility, area of interests and minimum GPA requirement. This list is provided by Vanderbilt Career Center: Listing-of-Fellowships-and-Scholarships.pdf (vanderbilt.edu)
