At John Carroll, undergraduates don't just learn about research—they do it. Since 2016, undergraduate research fellowships have supported 20–25 students each year, working one-on-one with faculty mentors on original projects across all disciplines. These experiences build the credentials that lead to graduate school, professional careers, and lives of purpose.
Two Ways to Get Involved
Summer Research Fellowship (SURF)
10 weeks · Full-time · Paid
Spend your summer conducting original research alongside a faculty mentor. SURF fellows work full-time for 10 weeks, then present their findings at DISCOVER, JCU's annual research showcase.
Who: Rising juniors and seniors in all CAS majors
Deadline: February (see below)
Academic Year Fellowship
Fall or Spring · Up to 10 hrs/week · Paid
Continue or begin research during the semester. Work up to 10 hours per week with your faculty mentor while balancing your coursework.
Who: Undergraduates in all CAS majors
Deadline: May 1 (Fall) or November 1 (Spring)
Summer 2026 Fellowship (SURF)
Deadline: February 6, 2026
$4,200 stipend · 10 weeks full-time · Open to rising juniors and seniors
Eligibility
To be eligible for an undergraduate research fellowship, students must:
- Be an undergraduate in the College of Arts and Sciences
- Have a faculty mentor willing to supervise the project
- For SURF: Be a rising junior or senior, registered for classes the following fall
How to Apply
Work with a full-time faculty member to develop your research proposal. Your mentor must approve your application before you submit. Applications are reviewed by the Associate Dean of Natural & Social Sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences and department chairs; preference is given to students and mentors who have not received support in the previous year.
Questions? Contact Associate Dean of Natural & Social Sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences Chrystal Bruce.
Our Supporters
Undergraduate research fellowships are made possible through the generosity of multiple donors and endowments:
The Colleran-Weaver Endowment
The Richard M. Weaver '78 and Jeanne M. Colleran '76 College of Arts and Sciences Student Internship Endowment
John Carroll alumni Jeanne Colleran '76 and Richard Weaver '78 established this fund to ensure every JCU student can access hands-on research—regardless of major or financial background.
Dr. Colleran served as Professor of English, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Interim President of John Carroll University. Richard Weaver became a distinguished attorney. Together, they created an endowment that supports both summer and academic year fellowships.
Additional support provided by the Pawl Fund, the Keresman Fund, the Comcast Fund in Support of Ethics in Political Journalism, and the Barrett Fund.
Fellow Spotlights
Since 2016, undergraduate research fellowships have launched JCU students into Ph.D. programs, published research, and careers across every discipline. These students worked alongside faculty mentors, presented at national conferences, and produced work that contributes to their fields.
Mara Sidloski ‘27
Biology major, minors in Peace, Justice, and Human Rights and Chemistry. Worked on three poison frog research projects with Dr. Ralph Saporito, including fieldwork at a biological station in Costa Rica.
Devon Skufca '25
Double major in Sociology and Peace, Justice, and Human Rights; Arrupe Scholar. Now a sociology Ph.D. student at the University at Buffalo. Won first place at the 2025 North Central Sociological Association conference for research with Dr. Gloria Vaquera.
Grant Donnelly ’19
Physics major, math minor. Now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toledo, published in The Astrophysical Journal. Grant's SURF research on variable stars launched his doctoral work on interstellar dust and black hole environments.
Mara Sidloski ‘27
Biology major, minors in Peace, Justice, and Human Rights and Chemistry. Worked on three poison frog research projects with Dr. Ralph Saporito, including fieldwork at a biological station in Costa Rica.
Devon Skufca '25
Double major in Sociology and Peace, Justice, and Human Rights; Arrupe Scholar. Now a sociology Ph.D. student at the University at Buffalo. Won first place at the 2025 North Central Sociological Association conference for research with Dr. Gloria Vaquera.
Grant Donnelly ’19
Physics major, math minor. Now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toledo, published in The Astrophysical Journal. Grant's SURF research on variable stars launched his doctoral work on interstellar dust and black hole environments.
DISCOVER
Every fellow presents their work at DISCOVER—John Carroll's annual celebration of innovation, scholarship, and creative expression.
