Funds for Undergraduate Research

Weinberg College offers grants to support undergraduate students in independent research, creative work, and attendance at academic conferences.These grants are funded by Weinberg College alumni, whose support make these undergraduate research grants possible.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR WEINBERG GRANTS

Eligibility:

1. You must be a Weinberg undergraduate to apply for Weinberg research grants. (Students enrolled in other NU Schools, who are also doing Weinberg majors, are not eligible for these grants.)
2. Except where specified, applicants typically must first apply for a Northwestern University Undergraduate Research Grant (URG) from the Provost’s Office before turning to Weinberg College for research or conference funding. If your proposal is turned down by URG, you may then apply to WCAS, using the WCAS application form. Your URG proposal may be used to develop your Weinberg proposal, revising as recommended by the URG review committee. In most cases, the letter from your URG sponsor (faculty) may be used again for the WCAS grant proposal.

Notification:

Allow at least two weeks from the submission of the complete application, including faculty recommendation, to receive a decision from Weinberg on your grant.

Critical Information for International Travel:

Students who win any WCAS award (academic year, conference presentation, summer, etc.) and will be traveling abroad MUST complete certain necessary pre-departure requirements, including Risk Management Seminars, before their awards will be processed.  Risk Management seminars will be offered at the following dates/times for summer 2013 travelers:

• Monday, June 3: 10 am to 12 noon (1940 Sheridan, Fellowships Office)
• Friday, June 7: 10 am to 12 noon ( 1940 Sheridan, Fellowships Office)
• Friday, June 14: 10 am to 12 noon – booked in Room 103 (Chicago Rm) @ Norris
• Friday, June 14: 2 pm to 4 pm – booked in Room 103 (Chicago Rm) @ Norris

If your travel will be at a time other than the summer, if you cannot attend one of these seminars, or if you have any questions regarding these requirements, please contact:
Julie Anne Friend, JD
Associate Director for International Safety and Security
Study Abroad Office
629 Colfax St.
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL 60208
Email: julie.friend@northwestern.edu
Direct: (847) 467-3175
Main: (847) 467-6400
Fax: (847) 467-6410

Contact Information:

Professor William Haarlow, Director of WCAS Undergraduate Research, at wcas-stugrnt@northwestern.edu.

Funding Opportunities:

• WCAS Academic Year Grants
• Weinberg Summer Grants
• WCAS Conference Travel Grants
• Weinberg Designated Funds and Special Grants
• Weinberg Departments and Programs
• University-wide Research Funding (including URG)

 

WCAS ACADEMIC YEAR GRANTS

Awards are made for up to $1000 to assist Weinberg undergraduates in pursuing original research or creative work under the close supervision of a faculty member during the academic year. Grants can help cover the costs of consumable supplies (but not lab equipment or facilities costs), data collection, travel, and other expenses directly related to the research or creative project. NOTE: applicants typically must apply first for a URG Academic Year grant through the Provost's Office before applying for a WCAS Academic Year grant.  If the URG application is not funded, then one may apply for a WCAS Academic Year Grant.
 
Deadline for Applications: Applications for Weinberg Academic Year Grants may be submitted at any time, and decisions are made on a rolling basis. Typically, students can expect a decision on their proposal within two weeks after Weinberg receives the complete application package.
 
Starting in December 2012, applications for WCAS summer grants will be accepted exclusively via a new online protocol — similar to the one used by the Undergraduate Research Grants program administered by the Assoc. Provost’s Office. This protocol is available at: https://urg.northwestern.edu; from that site you can access links for both Provost's Office and WCAS grants.

 

WEINBERG SUMMER GRANTS

Awards are made to Weinberg sophomores and juniors of a $3000 stipend to cover research and living expenses for an eight-week summer period. To accept this stipend you must agree to take on no other internship, paid work, or research grant during the eight-week period, nor be enrolled in courses for any part of this period. (Limited volunteer work is allowed.) Note: applicants typically must apply first for a URG Summer grant through the Provost's Office before applying for a Weinberg Summer grant. If the URG application is not funded, then one may apply for a WCAS Summer Research Grant.

Though the URG committee does not consider applications of less than eight weeks of research, Weinberg College may do so. Weinberg students who seek support for a shorter period than eight-weeks of concentrated research may be considered for a prorated stipend.

For Spring 2013, applications for WCAS summer grants will be accepted exclusively via the online protocol — similar to the one used by the Undergraduate Research Grants program administered by the Assoc. Provost’s Office. This protocol will be available at: https://urg.northwestern.edu; from that site you can access links for both Provost's Office and WCAS grants. The WCAS Summer Grants application protocol will be opened to receive applications starting Saturday, April 13 and close on May 31, 2013 (or earlier if the funds are exhausted).  Review of WCAS Summer grant applications will begin in late April 2013. Please note that awards will be made on a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted.  Applications completed by mid-May have the best chance of being funded.  An application is not complete and cannot be considered for funding until the faculty endorsement has been submitted.  It is your responsibility alone to make sure your faculty research supervisor has submitted his or her endorsement!

WCAS CONFERENCE TRAVEL GRANTS

Weinberg College undergraduate students may apply for conference travel grants if they are presenting the results of their research or creative work at professional conferences. Only students who are presenting their work at the conference may receive conference travel grants; those who are attending but not presenting are not eligible.
Weinberg is pleased to partner with the Office of the Provost in financing conference travel costs. The Weinberg conference travel grants will support a maximum of 50% of the travel costs up to $500, and URG conference travel grants also will provide a maximum of 50% of travel costs up to $500. Students must make separate applications to Weinberg and to the Provost's Office.

Deadline for Applications: Applications for Conference Travel Grants may be submitted at any time to Weinberg and to the Provost's Office. Students can expect a decision on their proposal two to three weeks after Weinberg receives the complete application package.

Starting in December 2012, applications for WCAS Conference Travel Grants will be accepted exclusively via a new online protocol — similar to the one used by the Undergraduate Research Grants program administered by the Assoc. Provost’s Office. This protocol is available at: https://urg.northwestern.edu; from that site you can access links for both Provost's Office and WCAS grants.

 

WEINBERG DESIGNATED FUNDS AND SPECIAL GRANTS

Weinberg College offers a number of special research scholarships, fellowships, and grants to Weinberg undergraduates. These special awards are made possible through the generosity of alumni donors. These special awards do not require a prior application to URG for funding.

Weinberg special research awards include:

• Katherine L. Krieghbaum Scholarship
• Herskovits Undergraduate Fellowship Program
• Posner Summer Fellowship Program
• Lane Environmental Studies Grant
• Sion Asia-related Research Grant
• Radulovacki Global Health Research Grant

Katherine L. Krieghbaum Scholarships provide research grants for senior-year research projects. The scholarships are awarded by the Weinberg College Committee on Superior Students and Honors to those Weinberg College students who, in the judgment of the Committee, best demonstrate promise of distinguished research in their major. More information

Herskovits Undergraduate Fellowship Program provides funding for research involving use of Northwestern’s renowned Africana collection. These fellowships are administered by Weinberg College’s undergraduate program, the Program of African Studies, and the Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies. Contact the Program of African Studies at 847-491-7323 for additional information.

Posner Summer Fellowship Program (previously known as Davee Summer Fellowships) provide summer research funds for students from underrepresented groups who are at earlier stages than students eligible for most other funding sources. Fellowship winners will typically be freshmen and sophomores, and their research plans may be more preliminary. For more information, contact Associate Dean Mary Finn (mfinn@northwestern.edu).

Lane Environmental Studies Grants provide funding for research on environmental issues. If you are applying for research during the academic year, please use the application form for the Weinberg Academic Research Grant. If you are applying for research during the summer, please use the application form for the Weinberg Summer Research Grant.  Note: a prior application to the URG committee is not required. Please send your application to Professor William Haarlow, Director of Weinberg College Undergraduate Research, at wcas-stugrnt@northwestern.edu with a subject line that says, “Environmental Research” and your last name.

Sion Asia-related Research Grants provide funding for research on Asia-related topics. If you are applying for research during the academic year, please use the application form for the Weinberg Academic Research Grant. If you are applying for research during the summer, please use the application form for the Weinberg Summer Research Grant. Note: a prior application to the URG committee is not required. Please send your application to Professor William Haarlow, Director of Weinberg College Undergraduate Research, at wcas-stugrnt@northwestern.edu with a subject line that says, “Asia Research” and your last name.

Radulovacki Global Health Research Grants provide funding for research on global health issues. If you are applying for research during the academic year, please use the application form for the Weinberg Academic Research Grant. If you are applying for research during the summer, please use the application form for the Weinberg Summer Research Grant. Note: a prior application to the URG committee is not required. Please send your application to Professor William Haarlow, Director of Weinberg College Undergraduate Research, at wcas-stugrnt@northwestern.edu with a subject line that says, “Global Health Research” and your last name.

 

WEINBERG DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAM FUNDS

Some Weinberg College departments and programs also have funds to support student research, including research expenses and summer stipends. Contact the departments and programs for details.

 

UNIVERSITY-WIDE RESEARCH FUNDS

Northwestern University Undergraduate Research Grants (URG): The Office of Northwestern’s Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education administers Undergraduate Research Grants that are open to undergraduate students from throughout the university. This office is the primary source for summer research grants for Northwestern students, as well as for grants for research during the academic year. The office also provides funds for students presenting their work at conferences. In addition, they maintain web pages with tips for applying for research grants and information on other research funding opportunities. Detailed information on applying for URG funding, including deadlines and procedures, is available on the URG website.

Northwestern University Office of Fellowships: The Office of Fellowships provides information and guidance for students regarding national and international fellowship competitions.  The fellowships fall into many different categories, and some provide opportunities for conducting research, including research carried out overseas. See the Office of Fellowships website for more information.

Residential College Awards: If you are associated with one of Northwestern’s Residential Colleges and involved in research with a faculty fellow, then you may be able to receive funding for the research through the Residential College Fellow Research Assistant program (FARA). This program provides funds for Residential College members to serve as faculty fellows’ research assistants. Students can discuss this opportunity with faculty fellows. More information is also available from the Director of Residential Colleges, Nancy Anderson (n-anderson@northwestern.edu).

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