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Northwestern University

Posner Research Program

The Posner Research Program gives rising sophomores the opportunity to engage in research projects under the guidance of Northwestern faculty members during the summer after their first year. Research opportunities are available in four areas of study: humanities, social science, natural science, or mathematics. Students who are among the first in their family to attend college or who attended high schools with limited AP offerings are especially encouraged to apply. No previous research experience is necessary! 

What will I do in the Program?

Students awarded a Posner Summer Fellowship will spend eight weeks of the summer working full-time on a research project with a faculty mentor. The faculty member and the student will work together to decide the details of the project and the role of the student. Fellows must commit to an eight-week period of full-time work and live on campus; they may not enroll in summer school or be otherwise employed, or schedule vacation time. 

Each Posner Fellow receives support (which includes on-campus housing and a stipend) to cover research and living expenses for the eight-week period. The program will begin with an orientation on June 14; research will begin on June 17, 2024 and conclude on August 9, 2024. Program participants will need to move out of the residence hall on Saturday, August 10, 2024. 

The stipend is split into three payments made at the end of each month of the program (June, July, and August), after evaluation of your participation in the fellowship program.

How do I apply? 

Eligible students (first-generation college students and those who attended high schools with little or no AP preparation) will be contacted by email in the fall quarter and invited to apply in December. You will be asked to indicate which of the four areas of study (humanities, social science, natural science, mathematics) may be of interest to you and the name of at least one possible faculty mentor. Priority will be given to students who have already communicated with a possible mentor.

Application procedure 

Applications for Posner Program grants are made via an online protocol — similar to the one used by the Undergraduate Research Grants program administered by the Assoc. Provost’s Office. The application cycle for Summer 2024 is now closed.

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