Application Information

The Biology Research Fellows Program funds top biology students in intensive two- or three-year research projects under the direction of a faculty mentor in the Department of Biology. Students work on their projects during the academic year and summer(s). This highly competitive program encourages students to publish and present at national conferences.

Program Requirements: Open to biology majors, in their freshman or sophomore years. Three students will be accepted annually. Students need pre-approval from faculty mentors before applying.

Award: $3,500.00 per year

Research Budget: $2,000 for laboratory supplies

Timeline: 2 or 3 year commitment, including at least 10 weeks during intervening summers.

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Recommendation from Faculty Mentor in Biology Department (requested through online application)
• Project Title
• Abstract
• Project Description
• Literature Cited
• Essay
• Transcript

Before Applying:

• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.
• Obtain approval from the faculty member who will serve as your mentor.
• Tell your proposed mentor their recommendation is due March 8 at the latest. 

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Dr. James Cheverud, Chair
Phone: 773.508.3681
Email: jcheverud@luc.edu

The Biology Summer Research Fellowship funds students who want to undertake a summer project with a faculty member in the Department of Biology. Students need pre-approval from faculty mentor before applying. You should not apply without prior approval from a mentor.  

Award: $2,000.00

Research Budget: $1,000 for laboratory supplies

Timeline: 10 weeks during summer-specific dates can be negotiated with the faculty member.

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Recommendation from Faculty Mentor in Biology Department (requested through online application)
• Project Title
• Abstract

Before Applying:

• Review Review the detailed list of required application materials above..
• Obtain approval from the faculty member who will serve as your mentor.
• Tell your proposed mentor their recommendation is due March 8 at the latest.

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Dr. James Cheverud, Chair
Phone: 773.508.3681
Email: jcheverud@luc.edu

The Carbon Fellowship Program offers a full two-year, interdisciplinary research opportunity for science and math majors to work closely with faculty mentors. This program is designed for students who plan to pursue research in graduate or professional schools.

Program Requirements: Open to undergraduate students majoring in Biology, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or Physics with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA. Students need pre-approval from faculty mentors before applying.

Award: $5,000.00 per year

Research Budget: up to $2,500.00 per year for research supplies and student conference travel

Timeline: 2 year commitment: scholars engage in program fall of junior year – spring of senior year

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Two Recommendations from Proposed Faculty Mentors (requested through online application)
• Project Title
• Abstract (1500 characters)
• Project Description (2-3 single-spaced pages)
• Literature Cited
• Budget
• (if mentor has them) Any Necessary Biohazard, Human Subject, Animal Subject, Radiation Approval Numbers

Before Applying:

• Read more at the Carbon Fellowship website.
• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.
• Obtain approval from the faculty members who will serve as your mentors.
• Be sure to tell your mentors to submit their recommendations by March 8.

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Christine Wolff
Phone: 773.508.2141
Email: cwolff1@luc.edu

Program Director: Dr. Christopher Peterson
Phone: 773.508. 2950
Email: cpeters@luc.edu

The Carroll and Adelaide Johnson Scholarship Fund offers rising juniors in the Gannon Scholars program opportunities to conduct interdisciplinary research, under the mentorship of a Loyola faculty, which is focused on women and leadership. Research should be related to a social justice issue and its impact on women.

Program Requirements: Loyola University and Gannon Scholar undergraduate students in their sophomore year who have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, who demonstrate financial need, and who are interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research that will advance the mission of the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership through addressing a social justice issue.

Award: $4,000 applied to the student’s tuition each year (half provided in the fall semester and the other half in the spring semester).

Additional Budget: Faculty mentors will have an annual $1,500 research budget.

Timeline: 2 year commitment: Scholars engage in program fall of junior year – spring of senior year.

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Project Title
• Project Abstract (1500 characters)
• Recommendation from Faculty Mentor (requested through application)
• Research Proposal (2-3 pages)
• List of Activities, Honors, and Community Based Service Learning Experiences
• Personal Statement

Before Applying:

• Read more about the Johnson Scholarship here.
• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.
• Obtain approval from the faculty member who will serve as your mentor.         
• Tell your proposed mentor their recommendation is due March 8 at the latest. 

Contact: Janet Sisler, Carolyn, Director, Gannon Center for Women and Leadership
Phone: 773.508.8435
Email: jsisler@luc.edu

The Joan and Bill Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage (CCIH), in support of the Catholic Studies minor, offers a one-year research fellowship to undergraduate students who are currently enrolled in the Catholic Studies minor program. This fellowship is dedicated to support for CCIH-funded faculty research projects.

Program Requirements: Applicants MUST be enrolled in the Catholic Studies minor program.

Award: $1,800 for academic year

Research Budget: up to $500 for research supplies (for faculty mentor's project)

Timeline: Academic Year

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Recommendation (requested through online application)
• Essay

Before Applying:

• Read about the CCIH and the CCIH research fellowship at the CCIH website.
• Read here for more information about the Catholic Studies Minor.
• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.         
• Tell your letter of rec writer their recommendation is due March 8 at the latest. 

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Michael Murphy, PhD
Phone: 773.508.3822
Email: mmurphy23@luc.edu

The Community Research Fellowship connects undergraduate students with community partners and faculty members to participate in research. With the community partner and faculty member serving as guides, this unique fellowship allows students to participate in community-based research with the community.

Students who engaged in a service-learning course or an academic internship may continue working with their community partner site through this research fellowship. Drawing from research inquiries that address the assets and pressing needs of our communities, the research questions often emerge from the community and experiences of students in the community. This fellowship encourages the use of creative methodological approaches that honor the knowledge and experience of community members as a source of knowledge. Students may engage in various research paradigms and methodologies based on the community partner research questions. For example, students may help community organizations evaluate programs (evaluation research), conduct community asset-mapping, or facilitate interviews for narratives.

For example, a community partner Taller de José (www.tallerdejose.org) is a community resource center offering services of accompaniment. Based in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, our clients are predominantly Latino, and many are immigrants from Mexico and Central America. Taller de José is interested in collecting narratives from the individuals we serve to learn more about their experiences. Taller de José would work with students to collect narratives from clients, utilizing an interview protocol. In working together with the student(s), Executive Director of Taller de Jose, and a faculty mentor, you would collaboratively identify themes and respond to the identified research questions around client experience. Students must be proficient in English and Spanish. 

Students are encouraged to identify their community partner and faculty mentor on their own, as well as their research question and methodological approaches in the application. Apply to the Community Research Fellowship online. 

The Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL) Fellowship is intended to facilitate involvement of students in collaborative research projects with community-based organizations, social service agencies, health care providers, businesses, and government in Chicago's city and suburbs. Through their research and learning projects, fellows are active participants in the university's efforts to improve the quality of life of all members of the Chicago metropolitan community. Involvement in the work of CURL can help students develop a foundation for future graduate programs, community development, or volunteer service.

Program Requirements: Open to any undergraduate with sophomore standing or above from any of the undergraduate programs at the university. Those students from the social sciences and humanities are strongly encouraged to apply. Students who qualify for work-study money are also strongly encouraged to apply.

Stipend: Hourly pay; Total earnings up to $2,500.00 per year

Research Budget: Funding available through grants, sponsored research, etc.

Timeline: Applications received in the spring are generally considered if and when opportunities become available in the fall, and those received in the fall are generally considered if and when opportunities become available for the spring. CURL's award decisions are dependent on financing, and are not announced on the same timeline as the other LUROP fellowships. It is recommended that after submitting an application, you stay in touch with David Van Zytveld via e-mail regarding the decision timeline.

Application Deadline: Though many students apply before the March 1 deadline, applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Required for Application:

• Essay
• Resume
• Faculty Recommendation (requested through application)

Before Applying:

• Read more about CURL and the fellowship at the CURL website.
• Review ‌the detailed list of required application materials above.

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an automatic request through the online application system)

Contact: David Van Zytveld, CURL Associate Director
Phone: 773.508.8504
Email: dvanzyt@luc.edu

The focus of the IES Undergraduate Research Fellows Program is for students to conduct interdisciplinary research on issues related to unsustainable natural resource uses in the greater Chicago land region. The Institute encourages research projects to combine elements of ecosystem structure and function, impacts on human health, public policy, behaviors, and other environmental factors. Students need pre-approval from faculty mentor before applying.

Award: $1,000.00 per year

Research Budget: Up to $1,000.00

Timeline: Summer Session (May – August) or Academic Year (September – May)

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Faculty Recommendation (requested through the online application system)
• Project Title
• Project Abstract
• Project Description
• Literature Cited
• Budget       
• (if mentor has them) Any Necessary Biohazard, Human Subject, Animal Subject, Radiation Approval Numbers

Before Applying:

• Read more about the program at the Institute Fellowship website.
• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.
• Obtain approval from the faculty member who will serve as your mentor.
• Tell your proposed mentor their recommendation is due March 8 at the latest. 

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Christine Wolff
Phone: 773.508.2141
Email: cwolff1@luc.edu

Program Director: Dr. Christopher Peterson
Phone: 773.508. 2950
Email: cpeters@luc.edu

The Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship connects undergraduate students with two faculty members in different disciplines on a research project that engages multiple disciplinary lenses. In an effort to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, this fellowship was created to provide a pathway for students to engage directly in interdisciplinary research. With support from two faculty mentors from different disciplinary perspectives, students are encourage to engage in research that demonstrates how knowledge creation is enhanced with multi-disciplinary approaches.

Students are encouraged to identify their faculty mentors on their own, as well as their research question and methodological approaches in the application. Apply to the Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship online. 

The Loyola University Chicago McNair Scholars Program prepares qualified undergraduate students for graduate study at the doctoral level. Students participate in scholarly activities during the academic year and over the summer. The McNair Scholars Program is rigorous and requires that Scholars take their educational commitment seriously. An integral component of the McNair Scholars Program is the Summer Research Internship where students conduct research under the tutelage of a faculty mentor. It is a federally funded program and is strictly for students interested in graduate study at the doctoral level and students must apply during their sophomore year.

Check out the McNair Program website.

Award:* There is a $2,800 stipend for conducting research during the Summer Research Internship which is the summer following the student's junior year. *As a federally funded program, students who participate in the McNair Program are exempt from LUROP's policy of only having one fellowship at a time. Thus a student participating in the McNair program can also obtain another LUROP fellowship and receive funding from that, in addition to the McNair program. The McNair program also does not count towards a student's three LUROP fellowships maximum

Timeline: A Student's junior and senior academic years and the summer between these years.

Application Deadline:March 1

Required for Application:

• 2 Letters of Recommendation (requested through online application)
• Personal Statement
• Official Transcripts
• Most Recently Filed Income Tax Forms
• Proof of Citizenship or Permanent Residency

Eligibility:

• Read more about the program at the McNair website
• You are either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.
• You are presently in your sophomore year at Loyola University Chicago
• You have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• You plan to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. or other terminal degree
• You are a member of at least one of the following groups:
  • Low-income and first-generation college student
  • Member of a group under-represented in graduate education

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your letter of rec writers will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Eilleen Rollerson, Ph.D. Director, McNair Scholars Program
Phone: 773.508.3501
Email: Eroller@luc.edu

Contact: Marcela Gallegos, M.Ed. Assistant Director, McNair Scholars Program
Phone: 773.508.3403
Email: Mgalle2@luc.edu

Description:  Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on earth. They play a critical role in driving evolution in bacteria and shaping bacterial communities. This includes bacteria that call us home (such as those that live in our gut) to bacteria in our environment. Despite their importance, very little is known about viral genetic diversity.  This fellowship will take a dive into the unknown, exploring viral diversity.

Program Requirements: Open to undergraduate students at Loyola with interest in molecular biology and/or computer science. Interest and expertise in both biology and computer science is not required. In particular, students who do not intend to apply to medical or dental school are encouraged to apply.

Award: $2,000

Timeline: 12 weeks of the summer break, from late May to early August.

Number of Fellowships Available Annually: 2

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Letter of Recommendation
• Biography
• Essay

Before Applying:

• Read more information about this fellowship at the Putonti lab website’ and have website be a hyperlink to: http://www.putonti-lab.com/

• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.     
• Tell your letter of rec writer their recommendation is due March 8 at the latest. 

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Dr. Catherine Putonti, Department of Biology
Phone: 773-508-3277
Email: cputonti@luc.edu

The Mulcahy Scholars Program is designed for College of Arts and Sciences majors in the hard sciences, who are interested in working on an individual project with a faculty mentor, serving as a research assistant, or engaging as a member of a collaborative research team to support ongoing faculty projects throughout the academic year. Students need pre-approval from faculty mentor before applying.

Award: $1,000.00 per year

Research Budget: Up to $1,000.00

Timeline: Academic Year (September – May)

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Letter of Recommendation from Faculty Mentor (requested through online application)
• Project Title
• Project Abstract (1500 characters)
• Project Description (2-3 single-spaced pages)
• Literature Cited
• Budget
• (if mentor has them) Any Necessary Biohazard, Human Subject, Animal Subject, Radiation Approval Numbers

Before Applying:

• Read more about the program at the Mulcahy Scholars website.
• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.
• Obtain approval from the faculty member who will serve as your mentor.
• Tell your proposed mentor their recommendation is due March 8 at the latest. 

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Connie D'Agostino, Dean’s Office of the College of Arts & Sciences
Phone: 773.508.3500
Email: cdagostino1@luc.edu

Program Director: Dr. Arthur Lurigio, Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences

The Provost Fellowship is designed for undergraduate students in any academic discipline who are interested in either establishing an individual project with faculty mentorship or working with a faculty member on their ongoing research as a research assistant.

Program Requirements: Open to students from all academic disciplines and schools at the university. Students in the humanities and the professional schools are especially encouraged to apply. Students in the hard sciences are only eligible for the Provost Fellowship during the summer; for an academic-year fellowship, they should apply for a different opportunity, such as the Mulcahy Scholars Program.   Students need pre-approval from faculty mentor before applying.

Award: $1,000.00 per year

Research Budget: Up to $1,000.00

Timeline: Summer Session (May – August) or Academic Year (September – May)

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Letter of Recommendation from Faculty Mentor (requested through online application)
• Project Title
• Project Abstract (1500 characters)
• Project Description (2-3 pages, single-spaced)
• Budget
• (if mentor has them) Any Necessary Biohazard, Human Subject, Animal Subject, Radiation Approval Numbers

Before Applying:

• Read more about the fellowship at the Provost Fellowship website.
• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.
• Obtain approval from the faculty member who will serve as your mentor.
• Tell your proposed mentor their recommendation is due March 8 at the latest. 

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Kevin Kaufmann, Ph.D.‌
Phone: 773.508.3886
Email: kkaufm2@luc.edu

The Research Mentoring Program (RMP) is designed to partner graduate students who are working on their dissertation research with undergraduates who are interested in participating in research. This summer program is designed to support doctoral students in their dissertation research while providing an opportunity for undergraduates to learn more about graduate studies and graduate-level research.

Program Requirements: Open to current undergraduates available to work during summer and interested in attending graduate school.

Award: $1,000.00 for doctoral student mentors; $1,000.00 for undergraduate students

Research Budget: Up to $500.00 for research costs

Timeline: 6-8 weeks during the summer session

Application Deadline: March 1 for undergraduate applications

Required for Application:

• Letter of Recommendation (requested through online application)
• Essay

Before Applying:

• Explore the list of RMP projects for the upcoming summer.
• Consider your top two choices for research projects.
• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.
• Tell your letter of rec writer their recommendation is due March 8 at the latest. 

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Dr. Jessica Horowitz, Assistant Dean of the Graduate School
Email: jhorow@luc.edu

The Ricci Scholars Program is an innovative research and cultural immersion program organized around the theme of the meeting of East and West. The program awards selected students with scholarships for travel, research and exploration during a junior year of study divided between two of the world’s most important cities: Rome, Italy, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Financial Award: Includes one roundtrip ticket for a group flight between Chicago and Rome; and one roundtrip ticket/group flight between Chicago and Ho Chi Minh City. Also includes: research assistance; research-related travel while in Rome and Ho Chi Minh City; and faculty support. Ricci Scholars are expected to pay tuition and room and board at Loyola University Chicago during their junior year, adjusted according to rates for the Rome Center and the Vietnam program. Normally, institutional aid from Loyola University Chicago as well as financial assistance apply to enrollment at the Rome Center and the Vietnam program.

Academic Credit and Designation: Students who successfully complete all aspects of the program will receive a total of 6 credit hours for their completed project and for participation in program seminars. At graduation, they will be specially designated as Ricci Scholars.

Timeline: Applications due fall semester of the sophomore year. Junior year: Students study and research in Rome during the fall semester and in Bejing during the spring semester.

Application Deadline: Applications due fall semester of the sophomore year

Required for Application:

• Completed Ricci Scholars Application
• Letters of Recommendation from Academic Advisor/Dean and Faculty Mentor
• Research Proposal (one page)
• Copy of Passport

Before Applying:

• Learn more about the program at the Ricci Scholars website.
• Obtain approval from the faculty member who will serve as your mentor.

(to apply for the Ricci Program, visit the Ricci website directly)

Contact: Linda Ho
Email: lho1@luc.edu

The Rudis Fellowship provides scholarships to students whose research focuses on the comparative study of constitutions. Recipients of the scholarship will write a 20-25 page research paper during the academic year under the guidance of a faculty member in the Department of History or the Department of Political Science.

Academic Credit: Accepted students must enroll in a 3-credit Directed Reading course in the spring semester, under the direction of their faculty mentor.

Award: A $2,000.00 scholarship is awarded directly towards the student's tuition, $1,000 for the fall semester, and $1,000 for the spring semester

Timeline: Academic Year (September – May)

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Recommendation from Faculty Mentor (requested through online application system)
• Project Title
• Project Abstract (1500 characters)
• Project Description Essay

Before Applying:

• Read more about the program at the Rudis Fellowship Site.
• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.
• Obtain approval from the faculty member who will serve as your mentor.
• Tell your proposed mentor their recommendation is due March 8 at the latest. 

(apply via LUROP online application only)
(your recommender will receive an electronic request when you apply)

Contact: Dr. Peter Schraeder, Department of Political Science
Email: pschrae@luc.edu

Women in Science Enabling Research (WISER) is designed for undergraduate women seeking to explore research science, work closely with faculty, learn how laboratory work is conducted, and build a sense of community.

Program Requirements: Open to novice and experienced undergraduate women interested in engaging in faculty-guided research, who do not intend to apply to medical or dental school.

Award: $2,000.00

Timeline: 8 week session from June – July

Application Deadline: March 1

Required for Application:

• Essay

Before Applying:

• Read more about the program at the WISER Program website.
• Review the detailed list of required application materials above.

(apply via LUROP online application only)

Contact: Dr. Anne Grauer, Department of Anthropology
Phone: 773.508.3480
Email: agrauer@luc.edu