• Getting Started
• Ethics & Compliance
• Research Directory
• Preparing for a Research Consultation
• Research Consultations
• Finding a Faculty Mentor
• Research Peer Advisors
• Research Grants
• Summer Opportunities
• Humanities Internships
• Community Service Opportunities
• Featured Projects
• Recent Recipients
• Undergraduate Research Journals

RSS Feed

Vagelos Undergraduate Research Grant

The Vagelos Undergraduate Research Grant (formerly the Nassau Fund Award) provides funds for students pursuing an independent scholarly project during the academic year. Funds can be used for costs of materials and supplies, toward travel costs, or for costs of the project. The Vagelos Grant is open to all undergraduates at Penn, and research in any field is eligible for support. Examples of funded projects can be found here. Students in the College should apply for the College Alumni Society Undergraduate Research Grant. Students in the College will also be considered for the Vagelos Grant as funds are available.

Applications and all supporting materials including Faculty recommendation due electronically to by 4:00pm, Friday, October 30

As a major research institution, the University of Pennsylvania believes that a research experience can make a significant contribution to an undergraduate student’s education. This Undergraduate Research Fund has been established to provide support for outstanding undergraduate research efforts. Awards are made on a competitive basis by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships and the Vagelos Grant Faculty Advisory Committee.

Research Support

Research support from the Vagelos Grant will be awarded in accordance with the following principles:

• Research proposals in all disciplines, as well as interdisciplinary efforts, are encouraged. Proposals may involve theoretical research or research with practical applications.
• Projects having no other funding source are particularly encouraged. When other funding sources can be identified, shared costs or matching funds will be encouraged whenever possible.
• Funds will be allocated on the basis of merit without regard to school enrollment. When all other factors are equal, representation by disciplines will be considered.
• Each project must have a Penn faculty advisor.
• Funds may be requested to support research during the academic year or during the summer. Normally, awards will not be granted in excess of $1,000 per student.
• Projects may involve more than one student.
• Examples of what may appropriately be requested in a budget include: research supplies, travel, and computer time. Books, software, and capital equipment are almost never funded. Items costing $500 or more with a useful life of one year or more must be purchased with a University purchase requisition and will remain the property of the University. Salaries, benefits, and overhead are not to be included.

Deadlines and Procedure for Application

Deadline: 4:00pm, Friday, October 30, 2009 (Recipients notified by December 22)

Applications will be evaluated by a faculty committee designated by CURF. Applications with late material risk being not considered.

Prepare your proposal in consultation with your faculty research advisor and with the undergraduate chair in your major department or your major program director. Prepare a single .pdf file that must contain the first four components in this order:

1. Short abstract (on a separate page; no longer than 100 words)
2. Objectives and Methodology (2 pages maximum)
   1. State the objectives and relevance of the proposed work in terms intelligible to an educated non-specialist.
   2. Evaluate existing knowledge and work in the area and provide a brief background summary to the proposed work.
   3. Describe the design and procedures to be employed and provide a timetable and implementation plan for completion of the project.
3. Itemized Budget, plus total (on a separate page). List each budget item in order of priority and justify it in terms of the work proposed. The amount given may be less than requested.
4. An electronic version of your Penn InTouch transcript (Create an electronic copy of your Penn transcript by copying and pasting your Penn InTouch transcript into a Word document and typing your name and Penn ID number at the top of the page and save it as a pdf.).

Once you have all these materials combined into a single .pdf file, fill out the application form here: Common Research Grant Application Make sure to upload your supplementary materials in the appropriate field.

In addition, your faculty research advisor must separately submit a supporting letter of recommendation on your behalf. In this letter, your faculty advisor should discuss the feasibility of the project and the adequacy of your preparation to undertake it. The letter should make clear the nature and extent of your contribution in formulating and carrying out the project. This letter should be sent directly to with the “Subject” line: “Vagelos Grant for YOUR LAST NAME.” Please provide your faculty advisor with an electronic version of the Recommendation form (including the optional waiver of your right of access to the letter). Advisor’s Recommendation Form

Requirements and Procedures for Receiving Funding

Funds will not be disbursed until students review CURF’s information on Ethics and Compliance and complete and submit all necessary forms, including the Research Experience Checklist and Waiver of Liability. Students receiving funding must submit a completed Research Experience Checklist and Waiver of Liability electronically to with the Subject line: “YOUR LAST NAME, Checklist Vagelos”

Once the Research Experience Checklist and Waiver of Liability has been submitted to CURF and approved, research funds and a copy of your budget will be sent to the Business Administrator (BA) of your major department. The BA will be asked to reimburse you for receipts you present which reasonably match the amounts and purposes you listed in your budget.

Research involving animals or hazardous materialsmust also be submitted at the same time for approval by the relevant University oversight committees. Students should consult with their faculty research advisors to correctly submit any necessary forms.