Student Research

Most departments offer research assistantships with individual faculty members. Opportunities vary by department, so consult your advisor or department chair for details about research assistantships in your area of interest. These special donor-funded research programs and fellowships are additional ways to get research experience unique to your discipline. 

• James L. Fredericks Fellowship
  Based in the Department of Theological Studies but open to all students, the James L. Fredericks Fellowship supports student-faculty research projects that address an interfaith theme.  
• Knott Fellowship
  English majors are eligible for a pre-professional fellowship to fund a special writing project for fiction writers, journalists, and dramatists. Knott Fellows have used the funding to support pre-professional internships, while others have used it to conduct bold research and writing projects. Ask the English Department for application information.
• Archaeology Student Enrichment Fund
  The archaeology program in the Classics and Archaeology Department sends qualified students on international archaeology digs, funding up to $2,500 per student for travel and expenses. Ask the archaeology program for details about this unique opportunity.

• BCLA Undergraduate Research and Travel/Conference Funding
  Research mini-grants cover up to $500 worth of research/travel costs for a faculty-supervised research project.
• Rains Research Assistantships
  Paid positions working with a professor to support their research. Faculty hire research assistants directly, so speak with faculty about opportunities.
• Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)
  UROP offers work-study funding or academic credit for students engaging in faculty-mentored research
• Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
  SURP supports students engaging in faculty-mentored research during the summer. Earn up to $1,500 and on-campus housing.

You've finished your research project, so now what? Show off your findings to students and faculty at a symposium or conference. Ask your department chair or advisor for ideas in your department or discipline. Students have presented at political science conferences, Chicana/o Studies conferences, and others. Some other resources to help you get started:

• Many BCLA departments and programs feature annual student presentations, generally during the spring semester. Additionally, undergraduate students who complete research projects between January and April (e.g. January 2017- April 2018) are eligible to apply for the Undergraduate Library Research Award. Students can win up to $1000 for both individual and group projects.
• LMU Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS)
• National Council On Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
• Southern California Conferences On Undergraduate Research (SCCUR)