Funding for Research at Harvard

Harvard College Science Research Opportunities Database – Database of undergraduate research opportunities in the sciences at Harvard. Can search by keyword, location, and area of interest.

Harvard College Funding Sources Database - Database of both Harvard and outside funding sources for a variety of educational purposes, including research. Can search by keyword, location, term, class year, and more.

The Harvard Student Employment Office manages a Jobs Database, the Faculty Aide Program and the Federal Work Study Program. All of these programs may offer student research assistant opportunities.

Student Employment Office Deadlines

CARAT – CARAT (Common Application for Research and Travel) is used by all the major funding sources at Harvard.

Harvard College Research Program (HCRP) – Summer (or term time) stipend. Applications from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at 77 Dunster Street.

Deadline: Fall 2013 - Sept 18, Spring 2014 - Feb. 5, Summer 2014 - March 31.

Dean's Summer Research Awards

The Dean’s Summer Research Awards are designed to give rising seniors who receive financial aid the opportunity to devote the summer to thesis research. The awards provide students who have already received an HCRP grant to pursue thesis research with an additional grant (up to $1k) to cover the summer savings requirement of their financial aid packages. Grants are applied to a students’ term bill and are not awarded as cash. Awards are announced in June after the financial aid award for the next academic year has been calculated.  Students will be notified at that time.

PRISE – The Program for Research in Science and Engineering (PRISE) is a summer residential community of Harvard undergraduates conducting research in science or engineering. By the application deadline students must be progressing toward finding a lab or research group but do not need to have finalized their research group or project. Participants must be in residence and be active participants for the entire duration of this ten week program. In 2014 PRISE starts on June 4 and ends on August 14.

Deadline: February 19, 2014 by 5 pm EST

Harvard BioDesign is a research program targeted toward undergraduates interested in synthetic biology and biomolecular engineering. In this student-centric experience, a team of undergraduates will decide on a research direction that interests them under the guidance of a mentoring staff that includes a Harvard faculty member and several graduate students/postdocs. Team members are recruited in the Spring semester, when they design their own research project under the guidance of a team of faculty/post-doctoral/graduate student mentors. The team spends the summer performing experiments in the laboratory in order to realize their vision, and finally presents their findings at either the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machines) or the bioMOD (International Bio-Molecular Design) competition in the Fall semester. 

The program represents a unique opportunity to design biological systems at the molecular and organismal scale, and engineer them to perform specific tasks. Both competitions provide a forum whereby students can meet other like-minded researchers from Harvard and across the globe, and survey the most innovative and exciting ideas in the fields of synthetic biology and biomolecular engineering. 

Deadline
: Friday, Feb. 28, 2014.

Genome to Biome (G2B) program- Summer internship 2014 in China was created in 2010, includes a G2B summer internship component in Shanghai, China and two other components, Freshman seminar 25o (fall term) and LS100r (offered both fall and spring terms).  Participation in one of the components DOES NOT require participation in either of the other two components. Read the detailed description of the summer program at Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, China.

Selected Harvard students will receive a stipend of $4500.  Students are required to cover both the cost of travel to and from China and living expenses during the 8-week program (including on-campus housing, food, and expenses associated with cultural activities).  There are six to eight internships.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for an OCS Grant for Harvard-Run Summer International Programs (HRP) due on February 12, 2014.

Selection process: Interview of pre-selected students based on a short written essay Application (pre-selection): Send to Dr. Alain Viel (aviel@fas.harvard.edu): a resume and a short written essay including your motivations, your scientific background, the type of research that interest you the most and your other possible plans for the summer.  Students selected for the program will be notified on February 7, 2014. 

Application deadline: January 30, 2014

Deadline for OCS Summer Funding: February 12, 2014

Herchel Smith-Harvard Undergraduate Science Research Program – Primarily directed toward students intending to pursue research-intensive concentrations and post-graduate study in the sciences. Undergraduate research either at Harvard or elsewhere, including internationally. Applications from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.

Deadline: February 12, 2014 by 5 pm EST

Mind, Brain, Behavior – Summer Thesis Awards for rising seniors in the MBB track. Applications through MBB.

If interested, contact Shawn Harriman by March 27, 2014.

Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) – for students interested in stem cell biology. Students conduct research in labs affiliated with the HSCI. Accepted students are matched with a research laboratory group.

Deadline: February 5, 2014

FAS Systems Biology/Bauer Fellowship - Sponsored by the FAS Center for Systems Biology at Harvard University. Interns will work on research projects in the labs of the Bauer Fellows and Systems Biology faculty whose work spans many fields of science, from biology (including systems biology, biophysics, boinformatics and genomics) to applied mathematics and computation. Interns will have the opportunity to learn a range of cutting-edge genomics or bioinformatics techniques in the exciting and dynamic research environment at the FAS Center for Systems Biology and the Department for Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. Underrepresented minority students and students from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

Deadline: February 21, 2014

BCMP Summer Scholars Program at Harvard University is organized by the The Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP) at Harvard Medical School. This 10-week program is open to both Harvard undergraduates and to students from other U.S. colleges and universities.

Rolling admissions: Apply between November 20, 2013 and April 30, 2014. Applicants notified between February 1 and May 15, 2014.

Undergraduate Summer Immunology Program at Harvard Medical School - a ten week summer research internship with a stipend.

Deadline: February 1, 2014.

Microbial Sciences Initiative - Summer research with Harvard Faculty. Email applications to Dr. Karen Lachmayr.

Deadline: February 19, 2014 before 5 pm

Harvard Global Health Institute Summer Undergraduate Fellowship (SURF) For students engaged in scholarly research with a faculty mentor at a participating laboratory or research site.

Deadlines: On Campus Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF) February 15, 2013; other funding requests February 15, 2013

The Joey Hanzich Memorial Undergraduate Travel and Research Fellowship provides up to $5000 to a rising junior or rising senior enrolled in the Secondary Field in Global Health and Health Policy (or another field) who pursues a summer internship, project or research in health policy or global health, either in the United States or abroad.

Deadline: Early April, 2013.

MCZ Grants-in-Aid for Undergraduate Research - Applications (5 printed copies) can be dropped-off/ mailed to: Catherine Weisel MCZ Projects Coordinator, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. Questions should be directed to Catherine at 495-2460.

Deadline: September 18, 2013 for fall term; February 5, 2014 for spring term; March 31, 2014 for summer.

Ernst Mayer Travel Grants in Animal Systematics

Deadline: October 15, 2013 and April 1, 2014

The Arnold Arboretum: Fellowships are available to support undergraduate research

Harvard Forest Summer Research Program in Ecology - The Harvard Forest Summer Research (REU) program is an intensive 11-week residential research and education experience at the Harvard Forest, a 3,700-acre outdoor laboratory and classroom in central Massachusetts. Students conduct research on the effects of natural and human disturbances on forest ecosystems, including global climate change, hurricanes, forest harvest, changing wildlife dynamics, and invasive species. The program includes a $5500 stipend, free housing, all meals, and the travel cost of one round trip to Harvard Forest. This program is open to not only Harvard undergraduates, but also students from all colleges and universities in the United States.

The online application system opens in December.

Deadline: February 7, 2014

Harvard University Center for the Environment Undergraduate Fund – Two types of funding are available: 1) Funds for independent research (preference given to rising seniors seeking funds for senior honors thesis research) and 2) Research Assistantships (directed summer research experiences under Harvard faculty guidance)

Deadline: The deadline for 2015 will be posted in January.

Harvard School of Public Health Summer Program in Biological Sciences - This intensive 9 week laboratory-based biological research program is for undergraduate students during the summer following their sophomore or junior year.  Interns apply state-of-the art technology in their own research projects, which focus on biological science questions that are important to the prevention of disease, under the direction of a Harvard faculty member.

Interns receive a generous stipend, travel allowance and free dormitory housing.

Deadline: February 1, 2014

STARS - Summer Training in Academic Reseach Training and Scholarship - STARS provides underrepresented minority (URM) medical and undergraduate students an opportunity to engage in exciting basic, clinical and translational research projects during the summer at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS). Housing and stipend provided.

Deadline: January 22, 2015.

Radcliffe Institute Research Partnership Program

Funding for Research Away from Harvard

Harvard College Research Program (HCRP) - Funding is now available for WinterSession research conducted outside the United States. 

Deadline: December 9, 2013 before 5 pm EST.

Harvard Global Health Institute Summer Undergraduate Fellowship (I-SURF) For students engaged in scholarly research with a faculty mentor at a participating laboratory or research site.

Deadlines: International Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (I-SURF) February 3, 2014; other funding requests TBA.

The Office of Career Services (OCS) awards funding for research abroad, including both Harvard Summer School Study Abroad and non-Harvard International programs.  The David Rockefeller International Experience Grant, which is a need-based grant aimed at students who have not previously received Harvard international funding, supports many of these awards. Award amounts vary. The purpose of the grant is to afford all students the opportunity to take part in a significant international experience, regardless of financial background. See the Office of Careers Summer Funding webpage for more information.

Deadline: February 12, 2014 for non-Harvard programs

Herchel Smith-Harvard Undergraduate Science Research Program – Primarily directed toward students intending to pursue research-intensive concentrations and post-graduate study in the sciences. Undergraduate research either at Harvard or elsewhere, including internationally. Applications from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.

Deadline: February 2014

Weissman International Internship – Research abroad for returning Harvard undergraduates. Average award ~$4000. More information and applications available through OCS.

Deadline: See the Office of Careers Summer Funding webpage

Booth Fund Fellowship - For seniors to engage in a program of travel, study, research or observation that will further expand and challenge an existing interest in a particular field. 

Organization for Tropical Studies - Both semester and summer options available. Summer program in Costa Rica focuses on evolutionary ecology of plants and animals in tropical ecosystems, while that in South Africa concentrates on global health issues in South Africa. Open to all undergraduates who have completed at least one year of college-level biology.

Deadline for Summer Programs: Rolling admissions. Applications available in mid-autumn for the upcoming summer. Early application is strongly encouraged. Applications close March 1, 2014 for summer 2014.

RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering) – This summer research program in Germany gives rising juniors and seniors the opportunity to conduct summer research in biology, chemistry, engineering, physics or earth sciences.  Participants receive a stipend and housing assistance. Open to non-U.S. citizens.

Deadline:  January 31, 2014

The Pasteur Foundation Undergraduate Summer Internships – Paris, France. Applicants need to have completed three full years (six semesters) of college course work by the time that the internship begins (be a rising senior). Open to U.S. citizens only.

Deadline: December 13, 2013

Amgen Scholars Program for Summer Research - The Amgen Scholars Program is sponsored by grants from the Amgen Corporation. Undergraduates conduct biology-related research in laboratories at 10 major U.S. research universities. Stipend, housing, travel and food allowances depend upon the host university.

Deadline: Early February 2014 for most U.S host universities. The program at the California Institute of Technology has a mid-February deadline.

Cold Spring Harbor Undergraduate Research Program (URP) - June 3 – August 9, 2014 at Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island, New York.  Room, board and a $5000 stipend. Students who are sophomores or juniors at the time of application are eligible.

Deadline: January 15, 2014

NSF REU Program

The National Science Foundation funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An REU Site may be at either a US or foreign location. By using the web page, Search, you may examine opportunities in the subject areas supported by various NSF units. Also, you may search by keywords to identify sites in particular research areas or with certain features, such as a particular location. Students must contact the individual sites for information and application materials. NSF does not have application materials and does not select student participants. A contact person and contact information is listed for each site.

Deadlines: vary according to research site.

NSF REU in Biological and Physical Sciences at Brandeis University - From May 28 to August 1, 2014, Brandeis University will have two NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs: Cell and Molecular Visualization and Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). Participants will receive $5,000 stipends plus allowances for housing costs and meals.

Deadline: February 15, 2014

NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research - Summer programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide an opportunity to spend a summer working side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research.

Deadline: March 1, 2014.

The Columbia University IGERT on Optical Techniques for Actuation, Sensing, and Imaging of Biological Systems (BioIGERT), a National Science Foundation IGERT program, will support outstanding undergraduates as Summer Research Fellows . This program provides a stipend for each successful candidate and campus housing in which you are expected to reside. Those selected will have an opportunity to participate fully in the interdisciplinary research activities of the BioIGERT faculty across the Departments of Physics, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, and includes collaborative research with industry including IBM Yorktown Heights.

Deadline: TBA for 2014; the 2013 deadline was February 14.

 

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