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Unlock Your World

From laboratory study to archival research to investigations in the field, Harvard students engage in world-class research across all disciplines and make groundbreaking contributions to their fields.

With support from a variety of funding sources, students collaborate with renowned faculty researchers whose work has been featured in top journals and awarded prestigious grants. Whether you assist your professor or lead your own project, you'll receive guidance, support, and the benefit of their expertise.

Research Opportunities

Are there research opportunities for undergraduates.

Yes - available to students as early as their freshman year. You may find research projects through individual inquiries with departments and professors, through the  Harvard College Research Program  (HCRP), or through the  Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program  (MMUF). The  Faculty Aide Program , run by the Student Employment Office, links professors to undergraduates interested in becoming research assistants. Read more about HCRP and MMUF on the  Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships website , and find additional opportunities on the  Student Employment Office website . 

Expanding Our Campus

The state-of-the-art Science and Engineering Complex expands Harvard's campus with an additional 500,000 square feet of classrooms, active learning labs, maker space, and common areas.

Term-Time Research

During the academic year, you can conduct research for credit, as determined by the director of undergraduate study in each department.

Students can also receive funding from one of many sources. Additionally, many faculty members across academic departments hire students directly to serve as research assistants.

funding sources

Harvard college research program.

The  Harvard College Research Program  (HCRP) provides term-time and summer grants for students conducting independent research in collaboration with a faculty mentor.

Faculty Aide Program

The  Faculty Aide Program  (FAP) provides half of a student’s total wages when working for an approved faculty member as a research assistant.

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program

The  Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program  (MMUF) provides a term-time stipend, as well as the option for summer research funds, to a group of approximately 20 juniors and seniors, selected in the spring of their sophomore years.

Laboratories

Summer Research

Harvard offers many residential research programs for students staying on campus during the summer. In addition, funding is available to support independent research locally, domestically, and internationally.

Building Learning through Inquiry in the Social Sciences

Building Learning through Inquiry in the Social Sciences  (BLISS) is a 10-week program for students working with Harvard faculty on research projects in the social sciences. BLISS provides a stimulating, collegial, and diverse residential community in which students conduct substantive summer research.

Herchel Smith Undergraduate Science Research Program

The Herchel Smith Undergraduate Science Research Program is a competitive and generous award supporting undergraduate scientists conducting a substantive, independent summer research project in mathematics, engineering, life, physical/natural or computer sciences.

Program for Research in Markets and Organizations

The  Program for Research in Markets and Organizations  (PRIMO) is a 10-week summer program that allows students to work closely with Harvard Business School faculty on projects covering topics from business strategy to social media, and from innovation management to private equity.

Program for Research in Science and Engineering

The Program for Research in Science and Engineering  (PRISE) is a 10-week summer program that aims to build community and stimulate creativity among Harvard undergraduate researchers in the life, physical/natural, engineering, and applied sciences.

Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program

The  Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program  (SHARP) is a 10-week summer immersion experience in which students engage in substantive humanities- and arts-based research designed by Harvard faculty and museum and library staff.

Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health Program

The  Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health Program (SURGH) is a 10-week summer program in which students research critical issues in global health under the direction of a Harvard faculty or affiliate mentor. Participants live in a diverse residential community of researchers, attend weekly multidisciplinary seminars with professionals in the global health field, and make connections beyond the traditional health sphere.

Summer Program for Undergraduates in Data Science

The Summer Program for Undergraduates in Data Science (SPUDS) is a 10-week summer data science research experience that encourages community, creativity, and scholarship through applications across the arts, humanities, sciences and more fields. Students interested in mathematics, statistics, and computer science collaborate on projects with a Harvard faculty host.

Voyage of Discovery

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships helps students navigate the research opportunities available here on campus, in the Cambridge area, and around the world.

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Office of the provost, examples of undergraduate research.

Want to know what kind of projects happen through undergraduate research at VCU? See below for just a few examples of the work our students do.

‘She’s really come into her own’: How Glynis Boyd Hughes disrupted her story, and found her voice Her UROP project is an intricate comparison of the works of Zora Neale Hurston and Flannery O’Connor, two of her favorite authors. In particular, Hughes examines their views on religion and personal responsibility, noting differences and similarities that she has never seen addressed before.

Want to predict real estate market activity? Chris Morris has an approach for that Morris, a financial technology student, has developed a pluralistic method to apply math to real estate industry predictors.

Double major Caroline Meyers makes art from art history “The Biography of Marilyn Stokstad: Generating Radical Future Art Histories” chronicles the feminist contributions that Stokstad — an art historian and author of art history textbooks who died in 2016 — made to the survey of historic art inventory through a multimedia exhibition comprising art historical writing, sculpture and performance.

Vanessa Oppong studies the importance of ethnic identity in promoting sexual health The senior in VCU’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences is passionate about reducing health disparities, particularly those affecting African Americans.

An aspiring dentist discovers a passion for ecology Drashty Mody is examining saltwater intrusion in wetlands — and the James River's water quality — as an undergraduate researcher.

This VCU student is researching a poorly understood gene that might help treat ALS Richard Albright came to VCU to study music. Now he continues his passion for guitar as he pursues a degree in biology.

Celebrating Creative Thinkers From students doing research in women’s health to engineering students designing the next new gadget, from student artists exhibiting their work to business students pitching a new company, VCU was overflowing with displays of student talent, ingenuity and creativity at the 4th annual Student Research Weeks.

True Detectives Highlighting five undergraduate researchers who, thanks to fellowships from VCU’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program and guidance from faculty mentors, have been able to do very real, very hands-on research on projects they’re passionate about.

Student’s Civil War Music Ready for the Spotlight Allen Wittig received a grant from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program that allowed him to research music of the Civil War era up to the Battle of Gettysburg.

Virus Fighters Joanna Kettlewell a biology major and chemistry minor has explored what it means to be a scientist by studying one of the enzymes that gives HIV its bite.

Alien Invasion of the Trees Stephanie Roddy has been studying gypsy moth pupae at six locations across Virginia.

Overcoming Barriers Yeimarie Lopez examines the needs of non-English speaking cancer patients.

Becoming the Researcher MARC research training program offers Nisan Hubbard intensive research experience.

Mark Making Techniques in Indigenous Peoples Art, indigenous peoples and their cultures have always held a strong interest for Tobias Wilbur.

Smile, Pass it On Laura Peters is conducting a two-part, cross-cultural study on the facial feedback hypothesis.

Sharing the Joy of Art Victoria Hribar creates a device to give the visually-impaired a more personal experience of art.

Bringing Communities Together Through Art As long as she's teaching art in some fashion or another, Virginia "Ginnie" Driggers says she'll be extremely satisfied with wherever her career takes her.

English Major Creates 'Zine Honoring Richmond's Poetry Past and Present Addison Herron-Wheeler thought combining a verse miscellany with a 'zine would create a compelling product

Jazz Studies Major Alters his Perspective after Research Project When Samuel Sherman traveled to Brazil last summer to experience that country's music, he was surprised to discover that Brazilian music was more varied and less rigid than he had imagined.

Manipulating Mold "The best thing about research," said Krystina Cocco, "is that you're going to get an answer either way. Maybe you're not doing well as far as your hypothesis is concerned, but you're still going to get answers."

Solving Complex Problems Using Math Undergraduate student researcher Garrett Howe puts math skills to use to predict and solve homeland security problems