The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) administers several different funding programs to support research, scholarship, and creative activity.
UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowship Program – Change Grants
UConn Co-op Legacy Fellows engage in social impact projects that reflect the Co-op’s commitment to public engagement and social innovation. Projects may include service initiatives, creative work, applied research, advocacy, or social entrepreneurship. Fellows can receive up to $4,000 to support project expenses. Applications are open to individuals and small groups collaborating on a shared project.
The Caxide Scholars Program awards $5,000 to support student-designed and student-led projects, including creative endeavors, community service initiatives, entrepreneurial ventures, research projects, and other original and innovative projects. The program is open to second year fulltime UConn undergraduates in all majors at all campuses with a 3.4 GPA and higher. Caxide Scholars will present projects during the fall semester at the Caxide Scholars Symposium and at a future presentation to a relevant audience.
Barbara C. Setlow Health Research Program
The Barbara C. Setlow 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 mid-February. Selected students will receive a $5,000 stipend for a commitment of 360 hours of summer research (9 or 10 full-time weeks).
UConn IDEA Grants: Imagine / Develop / Engage / Apply
The UConn IDEA Grant program awards up to $6,000 to support student-designed projects across a range of areas, including creative and artistic work, community service, early-stage entrepreneurship and prototyping, and research. The program is open to undergraduate students of all majors at all UConn campuses, with applications accepted from individuals and small teams. IDEA Grant projects progress through several stages: application, planning, focused project work, and a final public presentation.
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 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 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!)
Research Apprenticeship Program
The Research Apprenticeship Program, RAP, provides early career undergraduates with an opportunity to work closely with a graduate student mentor on a research project over the fall semester. These meaningful learning experiences allow students to develop foundational research skills that they can build on as they progress through their academic career, as well as to establish mentoring relationships with graduate students.
SHARE Virtual Summer Apprenticeships
The SHARE apprenticeship program offers undergraduates in the social sciences, humanities, and arts the opportunity to work remotely with a faculty mentor on a summer project. Through this experience, students build foundational research, creative, and technical skills while developing a mentoring relationship with faculty. The program prioritizes students with little to no prior experience. SHARE apprentices receive a fellowship of up to $1,540 for a 90-hour summer apprenticeship.
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 $5,500 ($5,000 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 2028 will be able to apply to join the 9th cohort of BOLD Scholars in Spring 2026.
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 2026-2027 academic year. See more information for students or for faculty.
External Research Funding
There are many funding opportunities available beyond UConn. Your faculty advisor can help identify options specific to your field of study, and we also provide links to funding databases to support your search.