Quad Summer Undergraduate Research Scholars

Quad Summer Undergraduate Research Grants (formerly the College Summer Research Scholars Program) are competitive, open-discipline awards intended to enhance the educational experience of University of Chicago College students by supporting summer scholarly undergraduate research and creative inquiry experiences through active participation in faculty-driven research.

Students who receive a Quad grant will be recognized as Quad Summer Undergraduate Research Scholars. Scholars will be supported by annual CCRF programming designed to enhance the scholars' experience and build a cross-disciplinary research community. 

Applications are accepted once per year – in mid April each year. Candidates must apply by the stated deadline; these are not reviewed or awarded on a rolling basis. The grants are for $5,500 in total and disbursed in one installment at the beginning of the summer research appointment. Awards will not be made to recent graduates or for use the summer after graduation.

*Quad Summer grants will support a University of Chicago full-time summer research experience, as well as at any other domestic institution of higher education or academic research environment (libraries, archives, university-affiliated research labs or institutes).* Quad Summer grants do not fund appointments in private industry, non-profits, or government.

Read more about the eligibility, scholar benefits and expectations before applying to the Quad Undergraduate Research Scholars Program:

• Eligibility
• Scholar Benefits and Expectations
• Application

What is scholarly undergraduate research? Undergraduate research is a faculty-mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge; it is a meaningful scholarly activity that is guided by a faculty mentor or other research mentor(s), aids in the development of research tools, and enriches the student's academic experience by helping them develop a greater understanding of their chosen discipline(s) and its research methodologies.

Activities that are not considered eligible for undergraduate research funding through Quad: independent or exclusively student-driven projects or study; professional internships, externships, job shadowing, career treks, "micro-" or short-term experiences that are less than 30 days, student activities, course practicums, long-essays produced for courses, or administrative employment positions. 

The application will open approximately one month before the deadline.

Application deadline: April 1, 2024

Questions or concerns? Please contact a member of our undergraduate research team at ccrf-research@uchicago.edu.

The Quad Summer Undergraduate Research Scholars Program is made possible by our generous donors including the Hoeft family, as well as through the Dean's Fund for Undergraduate Research and the College. The program is managed by the College Center for Research & Fellowships (CCRF).