Undergraduate Research at Northwestern University: Opportunities and Resources
Northwestern University is dedicated to fostering undergraduate immersion in demanding and focused research endeavors. Engaging in research offers students a chance to apply and expand the knowledge gained in classes, interact with faculty members in novel ways, and experience the complexities and rewards of generating new ideas. Student research at Northwestern takes many forms and is recognized in numerous ways.
Benefits of Undergraduate Research
Doing research provides an opportunity to apply and expand on the knowledge gained in your classes as well as to interact with faculty members in new ways. It lets you experience the complexities, frustrations, and joys of generating new ideas and knowledge. Research takes many forms and varies greatly from discipline to discipline.
Weinberg sophomore Pranav Inampudi, who studies neuroscience and global health, applied to URAP after reaching out to Feinberg Prof. “I really wanted to know about how the clinical and global health side of things works,” Inampudi said. Inampudi said the project helped him gain valuable skills, including data analysis, team collaboration and practical health research strategies that he hopes to take into his future career.
Types of Research Opportunities
Student research takes many forms and varies greatly from discipline to discipline. Some students work with faculty members to develop independent study projects based on personal interests. Some seniors with strong academic records graduate with department honors. One requirement for honors in every Weinberg College department and program is the completion of a substantial research project or other integrative type of work.
As an undergraduate at Northwestern, not only do you have the option to engage in scholarly research, regardless of your school, but your options for undergraduate research are almost endless.
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Independent Study Projects: Students can collaborate with faculty members to develop independent study projects based on their personal interests.
Honors Thesis: Seniors with strong academic records can graduate with department honors, which requires the completion of a substantial research project or other integrative type of work.
Working as a Research Assistant: Student research assistants take part in a range of research activities-from preparing materials and collecting data in science labs to conducting and summarizing library research to managing databases, conducting data analyses, organizing project records, and much more.
- Research Assistantships: Students can work as research assistants, participating in a range of activities such as preparing materials, collecting data, conducting library research, managing databases, and performing data analyses.
Showcasing Student Research
Student research is recognized in numerous ways at Northwestern. Each year selected students showcase their work at the Undergraduate Research and Arts Exposition sponsored by the Provost’s Office. Student research can also be a path to earning fellowships and awards from outside the University. For more information, see the Office of Fellowships.
Grants and Fellowships for Undergraduate Research
Northwestern University offers a variety of grants and fellowships to support undergraduate research across various disciplines. These funding opportunities can help cover living expenses, research expenses, and travel costs associated with conducting independent projects and presenting research at conferences.
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Undergraduate Research Grants: The Office of Undergraduate Research offers numerous services to support NU undergraduates including grants, advising appointments and workshops.
Ginsberg Undergraduate Research Grants: These grants support student-initiated research projects.
Summer Undergraduate Research Grants (SURGs): SURGs provide a $4,000 stipend to cover living expenses for eight weeks of full-time research on an independent academic or creative project, in all fields of study, under faculty supervision. Your project can be completed during any eight weeks of the summer term. SURGs may not be used for language study, established institutional research programs, or study-abroad programs.
Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants (AYURGs): AYURGs provide up to $1,000 to pay for your research expenses to do an independent academic or creative project, in all fields of study, under faculty supervision. The project must be connected to an independent study or thesis seminar for at least one quarter during the academic year. Many students conduct a portion of their projects over winter or spring break (for example, traveling to collect data), and they enroll in an independent study in the quarter afterwards to complete their project.
Circumnavigators Travel-Study Grant: A once-in-a-lifetime $10,000 grant to spend the summer travelling the world, researching a topic of your choice. The Circumnavigators Travel-Study Grant is jointly given by the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Chicago Chapter of the Circumnavigators Club, an external organization dedicated to promoting cross-cultural exchange through international travel. One winner a year is selected to travel to a minimum of 5 countries across at least 3 continents studying whatever it is that you feel should be studied around the world. Only students with junior class standing are eligible to apply.
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First-Year Research Experience (FYRE) Program: This grant program focuses specifically on serving first year students who identify as first generation, lower income, people of color, and/or marginalized. This grant focuses on providing opportunities for students to get started in research and/or creative activities in the arts, humanities, journalism, and social sciences - basically, research that doesn’t take place in a lab environment. Grant winners will be paid living expense stipends of $4,000 during both summers and $750 a quarter during the academic year.
Conference Travel Grants (CTGs): CTGs fund 50% of your expenses (up to $500) to present your research at conferences or exhibitions. CTGs can also be used to present original creative projects at juried competitions for performance based disciplines.
Weinberg College Summer Grant Awards: Awards from the Weinberg College Baker Program in Undergraduate Research are made to Weinberg College first-years, sophomores, and juniors and consist of a $4000 stipend to cover research and living expenses for a continuous eight-week summer period. Students in other NU schools who propose research with Weinberg College faculty are not eligible for this award.
Weinberg College 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.
Katherine L. Krieghbaum Scholarships: Katherine L. Krieghbaum Scholarships provide up to $4000 for senior-year research projects. Awarded by the WCAS Committee on Superior Students and Honors. Departments may nominate one candidate.
Program of African Studies Fellowships and Grants: This 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.
Institute for Policy Research (IPR) Summer Undergraduate Research Assistants (SURA) Program: The program gives students first-hand experience in the conceptualization and conduct of policy-relevant social science research. The SURA program starts off with a one-day training session, and students spend the rest of the time working on real-time research projects with IPR faculty. Compensation: $18.00 per hour, for up to 35 hours per week, typically for 10 weeks (a total of 350 hours).
Franke Undergraduate Fellowships: The Kaplan Humanities Institute offers Franke Undergraduate Fellowships for students who have devised innovative and promising humanities projects for their senior year. For this highly selective capstone experience, Franke Undergraduate Fellows will have the opportunity to enhance their projects by playing a significant role in the interdisciplinary community of the Humanities Institute. They will discuss vital issues and ideas with faculty and graduate students at weekly lunch colloquia; meet renowned scholars and artists; and present their work at the annual Future Directions Forum.
Jane Guyer African Studies Research Grant: Named after PAS Director Jane Guyer, this grant is for students to develop and lead a research project or program related to African Studies. Students develop, manage, and complete a project examining an issue in African Studies related to the student's academic interests and program(s) of study.
Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) Fellowships: The Center’s fellowship program seeks to generate and support research that is responsive to and engaged with Native communities and organizations and NAI research. Fellows will present their work at the annual CNAIR research symposium, and join a community of scholars dedicated to research by and for Indigenous people.
Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) Summer Travel Grants: LACS invites undergraduates interested in conducting research in Latin America or the Caribbean to apply for our Summer Travel Grants.
Cognitive Science Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships: These summer fellowships provide an opportunity for sustained full-time involvement with faculty-sponsored research. Students will propose a specific research project to be supervised by a Northwestern faculty member affiliated with the Cognitive Science program.
Summer Internship Grant Program: The Summer Internship Grant Program was established to support current Northwestern undergraduate students with a demonstrated financial need who are participating in unpaid internships.
Eligibility for Grants
Eligibility criteria vary depending on the specific grant or fellowship. However, some common requirements include:
- Being a current Northwestern University undergraduate student
- Maintaining good academic standing
- Enrolling in an independent study or thesis seminar
- Not graduating before a specified date
- Having a faculty advisor
- Submitting a research proposal
Eligibility for SURG: They must be an undergraduate student at Northwestern University and not graduating any earlier than the end of the Fall 2025 term. They may not be enrolled in summer classes or completing an internship during the eight-week research period. These weeks do not need to be consecutive. They must not accept any other research grant that covers the eight-week research period.
Eligibility for AYURG: All current Northwestern University undergraduates (including SPS students working towards completion of an undergraduate degree and NUQ students). Students who have not previously been awarded an AYURG through the Office of Undergraduate Research. To receive the AYURG, the student must take an independent study, honors thesis, or other capstone course during the academic year in which they receive the grant.
Eligibility for Circumnavigators Travel-Study Grant: Applicants must be full-time Northwestern students with junior standing who will be returning to campus next year.
Eligibility for First-Year Research Experience (FYRE) Program: Northwestern first year undergraduate students who identify as first generation, lower income, people of color, and/or marginalized, including international students. Northwestern first year undergraduate students who want to explore research or creative work in non-lab environments: arts, humanities, journalism, social sciences, etc.
Eligibility for Summer Internship Grant Program: Current Northwestern full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students will/will be: Enrolled for at least fall quarter of the following academic year in one of the following schools/colleges: Bienen, McCormick, Medill, NU-Q, School of Communication, SESP or Weinberg; Demonstrate financial need; Pursuing an unpaid or low-paid internship in a traditionally unpaid field or role. Low-paid is defined as less than $1500 for the summer; Priority is given to applicants with financial need pursuing unpaid internships.
Research Across Disciplines
Northwestern University encourages undergraduate research across a wide range of disciplines.
Under Feinberg Prof. Saavedra said her preconceived notion of research centered around wet labs - experimental labs that work with chemical substances. “It really just changed what research meant for me,” Saavedra said.
Weinberg senior Asiyah Arastu studies creative writing and MENA studies with a minor in Arabic. Arastu’s advisor, English Prof. Brian Bouldrey, has played a supportive role in the process. She said she values independence in planning and executing her research.
Adbelhalim, a member of NUSTARS - NU’s rocketry club - said the club typically purchases pre-made engines and didn’t have many opportunities for research.
I’m working on a research project to develop the chemical vapor deposition of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides for applications in nanoscale photonics and solid-state devices.”Spencer Park, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science Dual-Degree Program: Trumpet Performance & Materials Science and Engineering; Business Institutions Program minor
I recently had an Undergraduate Research Grant to research indigenous language maintenance within the Lepcha community of India. My research advisor is helping me put my research into the bigger picture of language revitalization work.”Steffi Brock-Wilson, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Economics major; Certificate in Civic Engagement
I’m working in a lab with Dr. Beverly Wright. I am being considered a peer among faculty members. It's an amazing opportunity to get started on research very early in my undergraduate experience.”Simran Chadha, School of Communication Communication Sciences and Disorders major; Global Health and/or Political Science minor
I worked with a professor to research and edit a textbook on social media.
Resources and Support
The Office of Undergraduate Research offers numerous services to support Northwestern undergraduates, including grants, advising appointments, and workshops.
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