TURF Program
This fellowship is designed for students with limited access to research opportunities. Don’t miss your chance to get into physics or astronomy research with the support you deserve.
This program expands paid research experiences to undergraduates in physics and astronomy who face the starkest barriers to success, including African American students.
Applications will open in fall 2025.
This program expands paid research experiences to undergraduates in physics and astronomy who face the starkest barriers to success, including African American students.
Applications will open in fall 2025.
What does the fellowship include?
- A student stipend of $5,000 per semester or $8,000 for the summer directly to student researchers.
- An engaged research mentor and impactful learning experience throughout the year or summer for students.
- A fully funded undergraduate student researcher for Research Mentors.
- A mentor stipend of $4,000 for the academic year or $2,500 for summer research.
How It Works
Research mentor/student pairs will apply for program funding to support student research training during the academic year or, in some cases, during the summer.
Research mentors and student pairs will co-develop a project plan and milestones for the student to achieve during the fellowship.
Students will receive stipends at intervals, as they achieve milestones. The research mentors will also receive stipends.
Pairs who apply for student research funding will be required to attest that other sources of funding are not available to fund the undergraduate student’s academic year research.
Research mentors and student pairs will co-develop a project plan and milestones for the student to achieve during the fellowship.
Students will receive stipends at intervals, as they achieve milestones. The research mentors will also receive stipends.
Pairs who apply for student research funding will be required to attest that other sources of funding are not available to fund the undergraduate student’s academic year research.
Student Criteria
- Undergraduate physics or astronomy majors (closely related majors considered).
- Students at accredited U.S. colleges/universities (or recent grads) permanently residing in the U.S.
- Priority: students with no prior research experience and those facing the starkest barriers to success — including African Americans.
- Students committed to weekly engagement with the research and the research mentor.
Mentor Requirements
- Must be a scientist working in physics, astronomy, or a related field.
- Currently conducting research or have a solid research project outlined.
- Must attest that other sources of funding are not available to fund the undergraduate fellow’s research.
- Mentors may only support one student in this program per academic year or summer, but may work with other undergraduates supported by other funding. Students will be supported for one academic year or summer.
- Mentors committed to weekly support and engagement with the student fellow and the research.