Students may be able to earn stipends, course credit, and more, depending on the nature and context of an undergraduate research experience. Forms can include:
Course credit – Students can earn course credit by taking a research-intensive course or by working with a faculty member and enrolling in a research project (-294, -494). To earn credit, talk with your faculty mentor and/or adviser in order to complete necessary paperwork.
Paid – Students may be paid for their work if their faculty mentor or department has funding available or if students have received a federal work-study award. This most often applies when a student joins a research team or serves as a research assistant.
Grant funding – Students may apply for grants or fellowships to support the costs associated with independent undergraduate research projects. See examples below.
Volunteer – If paid options and grant funding are not an option and/or earning course credit is not a priority, students can still gain research experience by volunteering for a project or team. Talk to your faculty mentor and/or adviser to discuss.
The following are examples of some of the grant, fellowship, and other resources available.
Explore resources at Penn State Lehigh Valley and across Penn State!
- Collaborative on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI)
- College of Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Research Awards
- Erikson Discovery Grants
- Student Engagement Network (SEN) Grant Program
- Funding may be available to support equipment or other needs for your research process, conference registration and travel to present your work, and more. Talk with your mentor for details.
Explore resources beyond Penn State!