Sponsored Summer Research Programs | Undergraduate Research Office

Everything you need to know to prepare your application is outlined on each funding program's webpage. Remember: if you have questions, you always can email us at ugresearch@case.edu.

Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

The Undergraduate Research Office sponsors three funded summer undergraduate research programs. Only Case Western Reserve University students may apply to these three funded programs. (Summer opportunities for Non-CWRU students may be found here.)

Students must identify a faculty project mentor prior to completing any of the three Summer programs applications. All CWRU students who will continue as full-time undergraduates in Fall 2025 are eligible for Sponsored Summer Research Funding. Please note: applicants are not required to have an independent project idea; students, especially in STEM and many areas of the social sciences, may work on faculty projects.

Eligible faculty mentors include our affiliates at the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the VA Hospital, University Circle museums and other affiliated institutions. The Undergraduate Research office is available for assistance in identifying a faculty mentor and project.

Housing: Recipients of URO summer research awards must arrange for their own summer housing. Students may use the summer research award to pay for housing.

All students participating in funded summer research programs must follow the Undergraduate Research Office Summer Course Policy:
Students who are awarded full Summer Research scholarships ($4,000.00) cannot enroll in more than one summer class (up to 4 hours) during the summer. Please note that funded students may not enroll in physics 115, 116, 121, 122, 123 or 124 and participate in a full-time Summer research experience. If students wish to take a physics course or enroll for more than one summer class over the summer they must apply as a part-time STEM or AHSS applicant. PSURG is only a full-time experience.

In addition to financial support, awardees are supported in their research and creative endeavors through weekly research educational programs. All funding recipients are also expected to write a final paper and present their work at Intersections.

Provost Summer Undergraduate Research Grant (PSURG)

PSURG is a full-time summer program that supports CWRU students specifically in the biological, chemistry and social sciences (especially psychological sciences and anthropology). This 10-week program offers students a $4,500 research award. Recipients may use the funding as they want, including for summer housing and food. Students who apply to PSURG are automatically considered for STEM or AHSS funding as well and do not need to apply to both programs. (Please do NOT apply to both programs.) PSURG awardees are expected to be on-campus and participating in their projects during the entire 10-week period.

Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

CWRU undergraduates conducting research related to Science, Engineering, Technology or Mathematics (STEM) are eligible to apply for STEM funding. Please note, the decision to apply for STEM or AHSS is based on the project and not students' majors. That is, a psychology major working with a genetics project will apply for STEM. Students participate in research for up to 10 weeks. The maximum funding award for a 10 week experience is $4,000. Recipients may use the funding as they want, including for summer housing and food. This program allows for reasonable and limited flexibility in the start and stop time of the project, remote/virtual considerations, and students may propose part-time projects.

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS)

CWRU undergraduates conducting research or participating in creative endeavors in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) are eligible to apply for AHSS summer funding. Students participate in projects for up to 10 weeks. The maximum funding award for a 10 week experience is $4,000. Recipients may use the funding as they want, including for summer housing and food. This program allows for reasonable and limited flexibility in the start and stop time of the project and students may propose part-time projects. Please note, the decision to apply for STEM or AHSS is based on the project and not students' majors. That is, a biomedical engineering major working on a bioethics project will apply for AHSS.

Summer Undergraduate Research in Energy and Sustainability (SURES)

For summer 2025, the Undergraduate Research Office will consider research topics about energy and sustainability within the PSURG, STEM, or AHSS applications. The weekly SURES education program that engages students, staff, faculty and community members in discussion and debate of energy issues will continue.