Get funding for your research, community-based, or creative work
The David C. Frederick Honors College (FHC) supports undergraduate students conducting a independent creative, community-based, public service, and research projects. Depending on the project, students will identify mentor affiliated with Pitt or an FHC partner program. While some programs are only open to FHC students, others are open to Pitt undergraduates from any major, field, or campus. See below for individual program information.
Applications are open for summer programs and the FHC Research Symposium through Wednesday, February 26.
2025 Research & Creative Expression Symposium
The David C. Frederick Honors College (FHC) 2025 Research & Creative Expression Symposium will be held on Friday, March 28 at the University Club on the Pittsburgh Campus. It is an opportunity for all Pitt undergraduates, especially FHC students and recipients of FHC administered research, creative arts, and community research fellowships to present their work to peers and faculty from a variety of fields across the university.
Contact the FHC Office of Research at fhcresearchinfo@groups.pitt.edu for more information.
Apply here by Wednesday, February 26.
Academic Year Programs
Applications for Fall 2025 programs will open in late Spring 2025.
Applications for Spring 2026 will open in Fall 2025.
- Chancellor's Undergraduate Research Fellowships
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The Chancellor's Undergraduate Research Fellowship is intended to support student involvement in independent research under the direction of a faculty mentor. Awards of up to $800 are offered to encourage the enrichment of the students' experience in defining objectives and selecting methodologies appropriate to original research in their chosen field of study. The fellowships are available for one term, either fall or spring, and are open to all Pitt undergraduates.
- Chancellor's Undergraduate Teaching Fellowships
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These fellowships are offered to encourage the enrichment of course offerings and to improve teaching through the collaboration of faculty members with students in the planning and implementation of creative teaching projects. The fellowships are available for one term, either fall or spring. Approximately ten $800 undergraduate teaching fellowships, awarded for joint student-faculty teaching projects and administered by the Frederick Honors College (FHC), are available for each term and open to all Pitt undergraduates.
- Community Research Fellowship
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The Community Research Fellowship (CRF) supports undergraduate University of Pittsburgh students who are working with a community leader and faculty mentor to develop a research project that explores various issues of importance to the community. The mission of the CRF is to provide an experiential learning opportunity to students as they engage with curriculum concepts to create a socially responsible, mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources with community partners, to foster civic engagement. Students can work with a nonprofit partner or focus on an issue which they are passionate about. The results of the research are intended to inform actions for positive social change surrounding a specific issue or on a broad scale.
For more information, contact Dr. Catherine Cordova, catherine.cordova@pitt.edu.
- Frederick Honors College Research Fellowship
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Take the lead on your own independent research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. It can be any research, scholarship, or creative work related to your studies, or even an interdisciplinary project. You'll be part of a community of Honors research scholars from different fields and gain a broad perspective of what research looks like across disciplines. Each week, you’ll develop your research skills by learning foundational research concepts, attending group meetings, and sharing your work with other fellowship awardees. FHC RFs award up to $1,000 per semester and require enrollment in a 1-credit seminar.
- Martinson Applied Projects
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The Martinson Applied Projects (MAPs), formerly known as research hubs, are team-based research experiences sponsored by the David C. Frederick Honors College (FHC) designed to provide small groups of undergraduate honors students across disciplines the opportunity to work on applied research projects throughout the Pitt community. Led by Pitt researchers across disciplines, research MAPs allow students to gain experiential credit while working on projects that create new knowledge, inform action, and advance the public good.
Summer Programs
Applications for summer programs are due Wednesday, February 26.
Contact the FHC Office of Research at fhcresearchinfo@groups.pitt.edu for more information.
- Brackenridge Fellowships
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The Brackenridge Summer Fellowship supports undergraduate students conducting an independent research or creative project under the guidance of a Pitt-affiliated research mentor. The Brackenridge Fellowships are open to Pitt undergraduates from any major, field, or campus. Applicants may propose any form of research, scholarship, or creative work that is appropriate to the project’s discipline.
Applicants to the Brackenridge may elect to be considered for these special awards that are jointly administered by FHC and the sponsoring program.
- Brackenridge Sustainability Scholars, for projects incorporating sustainability.
- Dick Thornburgh Undergraduate Fellowship Program, for projects researching issues of governance and making use of the Dick Thornburgh archive.
Contact the FHC Office of Research at fhcresearchinfo@groups.pitt.edu for more information.
Apply here.
- Community Research Fellowship
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The Community Research Fellowship (CRF) supports undergraduate University of Pittsburgh students who are working with a community leader and faculty mentor to develop a research project that explores various issues of importance to the community. The mission of the CRF is to provide an experiential learning opportunity to students as they engage with curriculum concepts to create a socially responsible, mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources with community partners, to foster civic engagement. Students can work with a nonprofit partner or focus on an issue which they are passionate about. The results of the research are intended to inform actions for positive social change surrounding a specific issue or on a broad scale.
For more information, contact Dr. Catherine Cordova, catherine.cordova@pitt.edu.
Apply here.
- Creative Arts Fellowship
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The Creative Arts Fellowship supports undergraduate students producing creative work under the mentorship of a Pitt-affiliated faculty or project mentor who works in a medium or discipline relevant to the project. The Creative Arts Fellowships are open to Pitt undergraduates from any major or campus. Applications are welcome for projects for any artistic endeavor, and interdisciplinary projects are encouraged. Past projects have included one or more elements including: exploring connections between art and science, creative writing, film, performing arts, and studio arts.
Contact the FHC Office of Research at fhcresearchinfo@groups.pitt.edu for more information.
Apply here.
- Frederick & Keefe Public Service Internships
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Participate in civic engagement and build civic identity by taking part in public service. FHC students may apply to receive up to $6,000 for a summer Congressional internship or other public service internship at a nationally recognized non-profit or government agency. Applications for Summer 2025 are TBA. Check out our 50+ partners that you can intern with in our Civic Engagement Catalog.
For more information, contact Dr. Catherine Cordova, catherine.cordova@pitt.edu.
Apply here.
- Health Sciences Research Fellowships
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The David C. Frederick Honors College (FHC) Summer Health Sciences Research Fellowship (HSRF) supports undergraduate students conducting an independent research project under the guidance of a Pitt-affiliated research mentor in a project related to the health sciences. The Health Sciences Fellowships are open to Pitt undergraduates from any major or campus.
Contact the FHC Office of Research at fhcresearchinfo@groups.pitt.edu for more information.
Apply here.