Internal Research Opportunities and Funding

Are you interested in conducting research but don't know where to start? The best way to get involved with the research going on at Tufts is to speak with a professor directly. Review the following resources, particularly the faculty profiles, to find someone who is doing research on a topic of interest. Once you find someone, reach out to them! Send them an email, set up an appointment, or visit them during office hours. Also, be sure to look at the various research programs available during the summer.

Faculty Profiles

Profiles of faculty members are available online. If you see a faculty member conducting research you are interested in, contact them to see if they have available research opportunities.

Handshake

As a Tufts student, you can use Handshake, a recruiting platform, to connect with employers for jobs, internships and career events. You can search hundreds of opportunities and upload your resume for employers to view. 

On-Campus Research Opportunities and Funding

Below are some of the funded research opportunities and prizes available at Tufts. Please be sure to also check out external research resources as well. Do not hesitate to set up a meeting with Dr. Anne Moore if you have questions about the opportunities below.

Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize

This prize is awarded to second semester sophomores or juniors who undertake a research project, internship, volunteer activity, or plan of study in any field involving international issues. It encourages personal growth and independence, while increasing understanding of all people and encouraging commitment to the world community. 

Global Research Assistant Program

The Global Research Assistant Program provides the opportunity for Tufts undergraduate students to work with Tufts faculty members on international research and impact projects for a minimum of eight weeks during summer 2018. This is a new initiative sponsored by the AS&E Career Center and Summer Scholars Program, the Institute for Global Leadership, the Office of the Provost, and Tisch College. 

IR Research Scholars Prize

The IR Research Scholars Prize supports original, high-quality undergraduate international research. The award consists of financial support and faculty mentorship for intensive summer research work. This competitive program is aimed at IR majors (sophomore standing and above) who anticipate producing an upper-level research paper in their senior year.  

Laidlaw Scholars Program

The Laidlaw Scholars Program is a two-year independent research program that supports students to pursue independent research projects with a faculty member over the course of two consecutive summers for six weeks per summer. Laidlaw Scholars also participate in leadership development training and become part of a broader community of scholars at Durham University, the University of Oxford, the University of St. Andrews, the University of York, the University of Leeds, and the University College London. Students can apply in their first or second year, and can apply either individually or as part of a team working on a common research question.  

Lily Glidden Award

This award, managed by the Biology Department, provides up to $2500 in funding to support a student to pursue an opportunity in the U.S. or abroad to explore and learn about the interconnected life on our planet. Preference will be given to those who appear to be stepping out of their comfort zone with an experience unlike what they may have previously pursued.  

Shapiro Award

The Shapiro Award permits students working in the field of American Studies to seek opportunities for personal and academic growth that would not be available to them without the support of the award. Awards are often used for exploratory work that will form the basis of the student's senior special project or honors thesis, but this is not required. 

Summer Scholars

Summer Scholars is a university-wide initiative that offers research apprenticeships with faculty and clinical mentors to motivated Tufts undergraduates.  

Tisch Library Undergraduate Research Award

The Tisch Library Undergraduate Research Award (TURA) recognizes outstanding undergraduate use of Tisch Library resources and services in the production of an exemplary research paper or project. All currently registered undergraduates are eligible. Winners must agree to contribute materials to a Tisch display and to submit their entry to the Tufts institutional repository. 

Tisch Summer Fellows (TSF): International

This program supports undergraduate, graduate, and professional students working on creative, self-designed projects with an active citizenship theme. TSF provides financial support to help student groups bring their international initiatives to life. TSF projects are led by a group of two or more Tufts undergraduate, graduate, or professional school students. Both official and unofficial student groups are welcome to apply. Individuals with very strong proposals will be considered for TSF International. 

Tufts Institute of the Environment Travel Grants

The TIE Travel Grants provide travel grants to offset transportation costs and conference registration fees for Tufts students and faculty who are traveling for work or study and are presenting at environmental conferences or workshops; attending environmental conferences or workshops; or conducting data collection for environmental research projects. 

Tufts $100K New Ventures Competition

Since 2004, Tufts Gordon Institute’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program has sponsored this annual business plan competition that awards $100k in cash and in-kind services (legal and advisory services) to the winning teams. If you have a great business or social venture idea we want to hear from you!

VERSE (Visiting and Early Research Scholars' Experiences Program)

The VERSE program creates a cohort of underrepresented students through focused, culturally-competent mentoring. These students participate in a 10-week summer research immersion experience. The goal of this program is three-fold: 1) to enable students to connect to faculty mentors with active research labs and projects; 2) to gain valuable hands-on training that will build confidence in conducting future independent research; and 3) to inspire students to pursue doctoral studies at Tufts and envision research careers. Each summer VERSE enrolls underrepresented, undergraduate students who are paired with a faculty mentor, designated postdoctoral associate, or advanced graduate student during the program; develop valuable research skills, participate in team meetings and engage in research projects designed for them; and participate in professional development, leadership, and social events throughout the summer. 

Undergraduate Research Fund

Using the Undergraduate Research Fund, Students may request funding for senior theses and for other proposals emphasizing original research that is directly supervised by a Tufts faculty member. Funding may also be used for travel to a conference if you are presenting research. 

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

URSS is an annual Tufts tradition that celebrates the diverse contributions made by Tufts undergraduates to scholarship and research advances.

100 Projects for Peace

Undergraduates at approximately 90 colleges and universities, including Tufts, are asked to design a "grassroots project for peace" and to submit the application to a local review committee. Each participating university will nominate its first choice, which, subject to confirmation at the national level, will receive full funding. The Tufts selection committee will also forward an alternate proposal that will compete for one of the remaining awards. For more information, click here.