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.
Contact the FHC Office of Research at fhcresearch@groups.pitt.edu for more information.
Applications are open for fall programs through Friday, May 30.
Applications for spring 2026 will open in mid-late fall 2025.
Applications for summer programs are closed for 2025 and are expected to reopen in January 2026.
Ongoing Opportunities
Sign up for the FHC Research Opportunities Canvas page to learn more about opportunities such as fellowships, funding, and professional development at Pitt and beyond!
Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review (PUR), the academic journal published by FHC:
- Submissions for the 2024-25 spring/summer issue are due by July 31.
- PUR is also accepting applications for Peer Reviewers & the Editorial Board. See the position descriptions here and apply here by July 11.
The FHC Travel Award supports FHC students presenting posters or orally at a conference as individuals, in groups, or on panels. Students may receive up to one award per academic year to defray the costs of presenting at academic conferences. Applications are accepted throughout the year as long as funds remain available. Apply here!
Annual Research & Creative Expression Symposium
FHC hosts the Research & Creative Expression Symposium each spring. It is an opportunity for 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. The Symposium is usually held in spring, with applications opening in January.
Congratulations to the 2025 Symposium Award Winners!
- Dean's Award: Owen May
- Director's Award: Shanmayee Devarapalli
- Community Impact: Tanisha Pagadala
- Health and Biological Sciences: Aashika Bhat
- Interdisciplinary Studies: Sahil Gandhi
- Social Sciences: Isabel Sichlau
- STEM Fields: Jesse Zhang
Academic Year Programs
Applications for fall 2025 programs are now open and due May 30.
Applications for spring 2026 will open in mid-late fall 2025.
Please note that fellowships for fall 2025 and beyond are now limited to current FHC students or students who commit to enrolling in an FHC program prior to beginning the fellowship.
- Learn more about our degree & distinction programs here.
- Discuss enrollment or application with an FHC Academic Advisor.
Apply for the Honors Degree by May 31.
- Chancellor's Undergraduate Research Fellowships
The Chancellor's Undergraduate Research Fellowship (CURF) supports undergraduate students conducting a research or creative project under the guidance of a Pitt-affiliated mentor during the fall or spring semester. Applicants may propose any form of research, scholarship, or creative work that is appropriate to the project's discipline.
For more information, download the information packet and apply here by May 30.
- Chancellor's Undergraduate Teaching Fellowships
The Chancellor's Undergraduate Teaching Fellowship (CUTF) supports undergraduate students working on collaborative teaching projects with a Pitt-affiliated professor or instructor during the fall or spring semester. Applicants may propose any form of creative or innovative educational project that is appropriate to the course that goes beyond tasks traditionally assigned to teaching assistants. Prior teaching fellows have developed projects including virtual and 3D study models, as well as curriculum enhancements such as study guides or discussion prompts. Teaching Fellows are also encouraged to include an educational assessment in their proposal, which may form the basis of a future research fellowship application.
For more information, download the information packet and apply here by May 30.
- Community Research Fellowship
The Community Research Fellowship (CRF) is designed to help students research and promote positive social change! You will have the opportunity to work with one of the FHC Scholar Communities, a nonprofit partner, or focus on an issue that you are passionate about by creating your own research project.
The CRF provides experiential learning to students as they engage with curricular concepts to create a socially responsible, mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources with community partners. Students will explore community engaged learning opportunities and build social responsibility and civic identity. It is ideal for students who seek to connect theory and better understand community-identified issues to inspire action.
For more information, download the information packet and apply here by May 30.
For more information, contact Dr. Catherine Cordova, the director of community engaged learning, at catherine.cordova@pitt.edu.
- Frederick Honors College Research & Creative Fellowship
FHC's Research & Creative Fellowship (RCF) supports undergraduate students conducting a research or creative project under the guidance of a Pitt-affiliated mentor during the fall or spring semester. However, students enrolled in an FHC program (BPhil, degree, or distinction) may be given priority. Applicants may propose any form of research, scholarships, or creative work that is appropriate to the project's discipline. This fellowship requires attendance at a weekly seminar on Mondays from 4:30 to 5:20 p.m. and provides 1 credit for participation.
For more information, download the information packet and apply here by May 30.
- Martinson Applied Projects
The Martinson Applied Projects (MAPs) are team-based research experiences sponsored by FHC and designed to provide small groups of honors students the opportunity to work on applied interdisciplinary research projects throughout the Pitt community. MAPs are led by Pitt researchers and allow students to gain experiential credit while working on projects that create new knowledge, inform action, and advance the public good.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, there are eleven projects. Six are returning as expanded and redefined projects with the same research leads as in the 2024-2025 academic year, and five projects are new. All of these projects incorporate multiple major fields of study including health care, sustainability, community focused with, and one project based at Pitt-Greensburg.
For more information, download the information packet and apply here.
Priority Application Deadline for New & Returning Students: May 30
Applications after May 30 will be considered for programs where space is available.
Summer Programs
Applications for summer programs are expected to open in January 2026.
- Brackenridge Fellowships
The Brackenridge Summer Fellowship supports undergraduate students conducting an independent research or creative project under the guidance of a Pitt-affiliated research mentor. 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.
- Community Research Fellowship
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.
- Creative Arts Fellowship
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. 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.
- Frederick & Keefe Public Service Internships
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.
- Health Sciences Research Fellowships
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.