Funding Opportunities

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) administers several different funding programs. Summary handout

UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowship Program – Change Grants

UConn Co-op Legacy Fellows engage in projects that represent the legacy of the UConn Co-op’s commitment to public engagement, innovation, and social impact, including service initiatives, creative endeavors, research, advocacy, and social entrepreneurship. Fellows receive up to $2000 to support project expenses. Applications are accepted from individuals and small groups working collaboratively on a project.

Health Research Program

The Health Research Program offers a pathway into undergraduate research for students with interests in health and the biomedical sciences. This program connects students with UConn Health researchers offering the opportunity to engage in a research project at the Farmington campus. Descriptions of specific summer research opportunities are posted in early January with application materials due in late January/early February. Selected students will receive a $4,000 stipend for a commitment of 360 hours of summer research (9 or 10 full-time weeks).

UConn IDEA Grants: Imagine / Develop / Engage / Apply

UConn IDEA Grants of up to $5,000 are available to support self-designed projects, including artistic products, community service initiatives, entrepreneurial ventures, creative endeavors and research projects. The Program is open to UConn undergraduates in all majors at all campuses, and applications are accepted from individuals and small groups. UConn IDEA Grant projects begin with an application, are developed during a period of planning, require a period of focused engagement, and end with public presentations.

OUR Conference Presentation Awards

OUR Conference Presentation Awards fund undergraduate researchers for up to $500 for expenses associate with presenting their research or creative projects at a professional conference, either online or in person. Awards may be used to pay for conference registration and for travel expenses (meals, travel, parking, and lodging), where permitted by University policy. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and awards are made until funds are exhausted. (In other words, apply early!)

OUR Research Travel Awards

OUR Travel Awards fund undergraduate researchers for up to $500 for travel to conduct research, where permitted by University policy. Awards may be used to pay for travel, parking, meals, and lodging while away from UConn. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and awards are made until funds are exhausted. (In other words, apply early!)

OUR Supply Awards

OUR Supply Awards fund undergraduate researchers for up to $500 for research expenses. Students may use award funds to cover costs associated with their research projects, such as laboratory consumables, art supplies, research participant incentives, and fees for time on shared equipment. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and awards are made until funds are exhausted. (In other words, apply early!)

SHARE Summer Research Apprenticeships

The SHARE Summer program provides undergraduates majoring in the social sciences, humanities, and arts with an opportunity to work remotely on a faculty mentor’s project over the summer. Students develop foundational research skills that they can build on as they progress through their academic career, in addition to establishing a mentorship relationship with a faculty member. This program prioritizes early career students with little to no prior research experience. Research apprentices earn up to $1,400 (via hourly wage) and faculty mentors receive a $500 professional development award.

SURF Awards (Summer Undergraduate Research Fund)

SURF awards support full-time undergraduate students who are engaged in summer research or creative projects under the supervision of a University of Connecticut faculty member. SURF awards are available to students in all majors at all UConn campuses. The deadline is early in the spring semester; awards are made for the summer. The maximum total amount awarded for SURF awards is $4,500 ($4,000 stipend for the student researcher and up to $500 for consumables associated with the project).

Additional Programs

BOLD Women’s Leadership Network

BOLD facilitates opportunities for women’s leadership on campus through scholarship funding, programming, and engagement in service/leadership projects. Cohorts of BOLD Scholars make a 2-year commitment to this program, which includes both collaborative campus transformation projects and individualized summer projects. We expect that women graduating in May or August 2026 will be able to apply to join the 7th cohort of BOLD Scholars in Spring 2024.

Work-Study Research Assistant Program

The Work-Study Research Assistant Program is a means of connecting students with federal work-study awards with opportunities to earn their awards by working as research assistants to UConn faculty. This program is restricted to students who have been offered and have accepted a federal work-study award as part of their financial aid package for the 2023-2024 academic year. See more information for students or for faculty.

External Research Funding

There is a huge universe of funding sources outside of UConn!  Usually your faculty advisor can suggest funding sources specific to your major, but we also have a list and links to some databases to help in your search.