Funding opportunities for undergraduate research
There are several ways for students at Northern Arizona University to obtain funding for research-based, scholarly, or creative projects. Learn about some of our available grants, awards, and scholarships that support undergraduate student projects at Northern Arizona University.
New! Urdea Undergraduate Research Award
The Urdea Undergraduate Research Awards fund interdisciplinary projects between students in the College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences and the College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences. Teams of 2-5 students may apply to receive up to $5,000 to support their work. Learn more about the Urdea Undergraduate Research Award.
Interns-to-Scholars (I2S) program
I2S is a program designed to enable undergraduates, especially sophomores, to work as assistants on faculty scholarly, creative, or research projects in all disciplines. Interns are paid for participation. Find out more about the I2S program.
Hooper Undergraduate Research Award (HURA)
This annual grant funds student-designed projects in all disciplines. Learn more about HURA.
OURCA Research Mini-Grants
The OURCA Research Mini-Grants are designed to encourage research, scholarly, and creative activities between undergraduate students and faculty mentors. Undergraduate students may submit a proposal for a student-led research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. OURCA Research Mini-Grants provide financial support up to $500 for consumable materials, training expenses, and/or travel expenses related to completing the project. Learn more about OURCA Research Mini-Grants.
Student Travel Award program
Funding is available for undergraduate students to represent Northern Arizona University at conferences. Receive a grant to support your trip through the Student Travel Awards program.
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
NASA Space Grant
The NASA Space Grant provides research opportunities for full-time NAU undergraduate students. Through this program students are able to conduct meaningful research that furthers NASA’s mission with the help of a mentor while getting paid. Learn more about the NASA Space Grant.
Global Learning Research Scholarship
The Center for International Education funds the Global Learning Research Scholarship. This scholarship is intended to support undergraduate student engagement in research activities that address the themes of global learning. Students are expected to propose research topics from any discipline but these topics must substantially engage with (or reflect dimensions that address) at least two of the three themes of global learning, and one of these themes must be global engagement.
The three themes of global learning include:
- diversity
- sustainability
- global engagement
Awards of up to $1,000 are available for NAU undergraduates conducting research that meets the criteria. Learn more about the Global Learning Research Scholarship.
Henry O. Hooper Sustainability Cash Prize
This annual award recognizes Northern Arizona University undergraduate and graduate students who have made an extraordinary effort to enhance the culture of sustainability on the NAU campus and surrounding community. Read more about the Henry O. Hooper Sustainability Cash Prize.
Watershed Research and Education Program (WREP)
Find out more about WREP at Northern Arizona University, which provides student research in all fields related to environmental biology and resource management in the watersheds, riparian areas, streams, and rivers of Northern Arizona.
Departmental scholarships
Visit these colleges to see what scholarship opportunities are available:
- College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences awards and scholarships
- College of Social and Behavioral Sciences scholarships
- Department of History scholarships
Alejandra Quesada
Alejandra Quesada (in red hard hat) gets some help from her friends building a concrete beam to determine whether steel fibers could replace stirrups for certain situations. A US Federal Highway Administration Eisenhower Undergraduate Fellowship provided support for her project.