Undergraduate Summer Research Awards
2025 Announcement
AWARD INFORMATION
The College of Arts & Sciences is pleased to fund research activities for A&S undergraduate students to pursue special intensive learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting. Such opportunities may include, but are not limited to, summer lab research, fieldwork, internships, and archival research. Projects involving surveys and/or interviews, or human subjects in some other manner, require approval from the University’s Institutional Research Board. We welcome projects that take students beyond the University of Miami.
This year there are five categories of Undergraduate Summer Research Awards (formerly Beyond the Book) are:
- General Research: Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM fields [max. $4,000 stipend]
- Interfaith Relations and Dialogue [max. $4,000 stipend]
- Jewish Studies [max. $4,000 stipend]
- Entrepreneurship [max. $4,000 stipend]
- Data Science and Artificial Intelligence [max. $4,000 stipend]
See below for a short description of each category.
TO APPLY
To be considered, Arts & Sciences students must:
- Be a current first-year, sophomore, or junior
- Complete the application form (see below) available on this site
- Submit an unofficial copy of their student transcript (students can submit their DPR)
- Provide a description of up to 800 words of the proposed project
- Provide an approximate expense budget
- Provide a letter of recommendation from a faculty member (ordinarily one involved in supervising the proposed research).
The project description should be labeled according to whether it falls into General Research, Interfaith Relations and Dialogue, Jewish Studies, Entrepreneurship, or Data Science and AI. If your project falls into one of the latter three categories, the connection between the proposed research and the relevant topic should be expressed clearly in the project description.
At the completion of their research activities, participants are required to submit a 3-5 page report to the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. Students may receive only one “Undergraduate Research (Beyond the Book)” award during their undergraduate academic career.
Recipients of this award may not receive any other summer support such as PRIME, Summer Research Program for Underrepresented Minorities and Women, Honors Summer Research Program, or the Lois Pope Neuroscience Summer Scholarship, etc. Moreover, recipients are not permitted to take any courses or have a job during their research period.
*Applicants should be aware that this award will be considered a component of their financial assistance package during the calendar year in which the award is received.
Application Deadline: Friday, March 28, 2025. Hard copies will not be accepted.
Awards Announced in mid-April 2025.
ALL RESEARCH MUST BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN MAY 15, 2025 AND AUGUST 15, 2025. The report detailing research activities should be sent to the Dean’s Office no later than Monday, September 15, 2025.
For additional information, please contact 305-284-4021 or visit the Dean’s Office in the Ashe Building, Room 130. For questions, please email Sr. Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, Chantel Acevedo at cxa75@miami.edu.
RESEARCH CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
(1) General Research: Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM fields
Undergraduate students are encouraged to apply for research support in the areas of the humanities, sciences, and the social sciences, which can take place in laboratories, field settings, or archives.
(2) Summer Research Awards in Interfaith Relations and Dialogue
Summer Research Awards in Interfaith Relations and Dialogue aim to support and empower undergraduate scholars who are committed to building bridges of understanding and cooperation among diverse religious communities. Students who apply are encouraged to explore research that fosters a deeper appreciation for the complexities of religious diversity and to encourage constructive engagement across religious and cultural boundaries.
Projects that students might considering exploring include:
- Examining the impact of globalization on interfaith relations, including the role of technology or migration in shaping cross-cultural encounters and religious identities.
- Exploring the intersection of interfaith dialogue with issues of social justice, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
Exploring representations of interfaith relations and dialogue in literature, film, visual art, and music. For example, analyzing how authors or filmmakers depict interactions between characters from different religious backgrounds or examining artwork that explores themes of religious pluralism and coexistence.
(3) Jewish Studies
Research aims to support undergraduate students exploring topics related to Jewish history, culture, religion, or society. This award supports original research projects that contribute to a deeper understanding of Jewish experiences across different time periods and regions.
(4) Entrepreneurship
This award provides funding for students developing solutions—whether new or improved products, services, or artistic concepts—that address technical or social challenges, promote sustainability, or generate creative value. Recipients may also receive support for the commercialization of their idea or turn their research into real-world impact.
(5) Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
This award provides funding for research in data science and Artificial Intelligence. Research projects could explore machine learning, data analysis, and AI applications across fields such as (global health, democracy, sustainability, digital humanities, art and design etc.). Research may involve working with large datasets, developing predictive models, or investigating ethical considerations in AI.
