Numerous opportunities exist for undergraduate students to pursue research and scholarly or creative work in their disciplines. In addition to financial and logistical support from Binghamton University, a wide variety of grants, fellowships, awards and internships from external sources is available, including support provided by museums, libraries, archives, laboratories and research foundations. These experiences can be fully or partially funded or pursued on a volunteer basis. Some occur during the summer, while others may take place during the academic year or over the winter break.
Start your search by reviewing the internal and external resource listings at the links below, or schedule an appointment with a research and scholarship advisor to discuss opportunities.
Undergraduate Research Center Programs
The Source Project
The Source Project is among the very few programs in the nation that offer research experiences in the humanities and social sciences to first-year students. Guided by experienced faculty, students have the opportunity to select from a wide range of diverse research streams dedicated to addressing broad and impactful global topics. Students produce original research and learn how to communicate and disseminate the relevance of what they have found.
Summer Scholars and Artists Program
The Summer Scholars and Artists Program (SSAP) awards Binghamton undergraduates in research, scholarship or creative activities during the summer. Students conduct primary research or creative activities with faculty mentors. The fellowships are intended to support the student's original research or creative projects, not to support research assistance for a faculty member's research project. Proposals from all academic disciplines are welcome. Support for the awards comes from the divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. The fellowships support undergraduate students in eight weeks of full-time scholarly activity. Each fellowship consists of a $3,500 student award and a $1,000 faculty award.
Campus Research Opportunity Program
Undergraduates looking to gain hands-on research experience can search CROP to identify and apply for positions to assist faculty, post-doctoral fellows and advanced graduate students in their research, scholarly or creative activity. Research opportunities may be paid, for credit (i.e. independent study) or volunteer.
Partner Programs
Smart Energy Scholars (SES)
The Smart Energy Scholars Program is a scholarship program funded by the National Science Foundation designed to assist low income, academically talented students currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in chemistry, physics, or mechanical engineering. Students will participate in an early research experience, a 1-credit seminar, faculty mentorship development, industry internship, and middle school outreach opportunities to learn more about how they can make a difference in our communities through smart energy solutions.
McNair Scholars Program
The McNair Scholars Program is designed to increase the numbers of low-income, first-generation and/or underrepresented minority students attending graduate school and earning their doctorate. The program prepares participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. Participants are from disadvantaged backgrounds and have demonstrated strong academic potential. Among many benefits, the program provides a funded summer research internship and undergraduate research with a professor during the academic year.
Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP)
CSTEP is a program funded by the State Education Department to increase the number of students from under-represented groups who are pursuing professional licensure and careers in mathematics, science, technology and health-related fields. CSTEP provides academic enrichment and research experience in STEM content areas.
Center for Israel Studies Undergraduate Research and Creative Work Grant
This grant, awarded through the Center for Israel Studies, is designed to support students' independent research or creative work. The Center supports research in the history, politics, literatures and cultures of Israel. To qualify, your project must be supervised by a Binghamton University faculty member, and you must enroll in independent study credit (2 or 4) or honors thesis credit at Binghamton (exceptions may be granted if a student has exceeded the maximum number of thesis or independent study credits allowed by their college). Funding is competitive and award amounts range from $200-700.
Dickinson Research Team (DiRT)
The Dickinson Research Team (DiRT) is a residential community-based research program that is the first of its kind in the United States. Founded by Dickinson Collegiate Professor, Kimberly Jaussi as part of an effort to provide every undergraduate student living in Dickinson Community with a research experience, DiRT is open to students who are interested in research, regardless of major and prior research experience.
Contact Rob Holahan (rholahan@binghamton.edu) for more information.
Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH)
The Independent Undergraduate Research in the Humanities (IURH) program offers qualified Harpur College students the opportunity to pursue an independent research project in or about a topic relevant to the humanities (academic disciplines and interdisciplinary programs that study the stories, ideas, words, and symbols that have been and are being used by people to give meaning to, make sense of, and apprehend some aspect of the human experience and human condition). Students in the program work both in a seminar and with a Binghamton faculty mentors as they develop their ideas, pursue their research, write a paper, and prepare and present in a poster session.
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
LSAMP is an intellectual community of undergraduate engineering and science scholars dedicated to the educational and professional development of African American, Hispanic American, Native American and Pacific Islander students. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the primary goal of LSAMP is to significantly increase the number of minority students earning baccalaureate degrees each year in STEM fields from the program's participating universities and to prepare these students for entry into graduate programs.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in Renewable Energy Generation and Storage
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program.
Summer Research Immersion Program (SRI)
The Summer Research Immersion (SRI) program provides students intending to major in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields with a one-of-a-kind research experience. Working alongside faculty and fellow students on cutting-edge research projects, students tackle weighty world issues, build powerful relationships and set a course for college and career success.
