Summer Undergraduate Research Fund

Harvard's Solar Geoengineering Research Program (SGRP) has launched a Summer Undergraduate Research Fund to provide financial support for student research projects and activities related to solar geoengineering. The fund is currently open to Harvard students only.

This summer program will allow students to work remotely, and will support two types of research experiences:

  • Research Assistants: We encourage students to identify a faculty member who either needs support on a specific research project and/or other activities related to solar geoengineering.
  • Independent Research Projects: We also welcome proposals for independent student research on a solar geoengineering topic.

The deadline for all applications is Friday, May 29 at 12:00PM ET.

I. RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP

SGRP is accepting applications from students who wish to work with a Harvard faculty member on a specific research project or other activities related to solar geoengineering.

Students are encouraged to contact an individual faculty member about sponsoring a research assistant to help with a specific research project and/or broader set of activities, such as developing curricular materials related to solar geoengineering. The project and/or activities will be reviewed, and we will contact you and your faculty supervisor if there are aspects of the project that do not meet our requirements. Students in this category should email Lizzie Burns | eburns@g.harvard.edu and:

  • provide us with a description of the project or set of activities
  • tell us how the project or activities fits with their academic goals
  • let us know how long you would ideally like to spend on the project and any special financial circumstances that we should know about
  • ask the faculty member to confirm their approval by emailing Lizzie Burns | eburns@g.harvard.edu.

II. SELF-DIRECTED (INDEPENDENT) RESEARCH PROJECTS

SGRP is also accepting applications from students who would like to pursue an independent research project on a solar geoengineering topic. For example, if a junior is considering conducting their senior thesis on a solar geoengineering related research topic, they can propose the early part of their work here. In other words, the student can develop the research idea. She/he will still need a faculty advisor. Students in this category should email Lizzie Burns | eburns@g.harvard.edu and:

  • provide us with a description of the project and duration
  • tell us how the project fits with their academic goals
  • let us know how long you would ideally like to spend on the project and any special financial circumstances that we should know about
  • ask the faculty advisor to confirm their approval by emailing Lizzie Burns | eburns@g.harvard.edu.

FUNDING FORMULA

The intention is that all of these projects will require a minimum of 20 hours of work per week. Students with research assistantships are expected to have regular meetings with their faculty supervisor approximately twice a week.

We will offer a standard stipend of $1000 per month, and students can apply for a fellowship duration between 1 month and 2.5 months (in 0.5 month increments). Funds will be administered on a monthly basis, so if suddenly new opportunities open up for alternative summer activities due to a reduction in COVID-19 restrictions, we can easily accommodate terminating your fellowship early. Our intent is to fund research opportunities for undergraduates that are as flexible as possible, given the current situation.

QUESTIONS?

Lizzie Burns
Managing Director
Harvard's Solar Geoengineering Research Program
eburns@g.harvard.edu

Undergraduate Summer Research Assistants