Science Research
Participating in research experiences as an undergraduate is an excellent way to add depth to your science understanding and actively engage with what you are learning in the classroom. By doing so, you further develop your laboratory, analytical, and problem-solving skills, and you start to build your network with faculty members. Research experiences are valuable components to your resume, and they can make you more competitive for both graduate school and industry opportunities.
Undergraduate Research Fellowships
This page is a resource for students looking for fellowships to support undergraduate research (you can also check out our resource on language and study abroad).
“I’m glad I decided to pursue Fulbright. It gave me an opportunity to share my unique experience as an immigrant and first-generation college student, not only with my Chinese colleagues, but also with other international students at Northwest University, who rarely meet Chinese Americans.“
“I previously had dreams to be an author, but found myself called by the combination of logic, mystery, and truth in science.”
National Institutes of Standards & Technology Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (NIST SURF) (students)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) at NIST laboratories in Gaithersburg, MD; Boulder, CO; and Waimanalo, Hawaii. The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship is designed to inspire undergraduate students to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through a unique research experience that supports the NIST mission. Eligible are currently enrolled undergraduates who are US citizens or permanent residents, majoring in chemistry, computer science, physics, engineering, materials science, fire research, nanotechnology, information technology, mathematics, biology, manufacturing, statistics, or another STEM discipline.
“Listen to your heart and use your head. Math and science ignited my imagination for as far back as I can remember.”
“For me, the Watson was not about a year-long adventure but about learning to see the possibilities available in the world and realizing that I am capable of pursuing any of them I want.”
Writing a Personal Statement
A personal statement is a narrative essay that connects your background, experiences, and goals to the mission, requirements, and desired outcomes of the specific opportunity you are seeking. It is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program. It gives the selection committee the best opportunity to get to know you, how you think and make decisions, ways in which past experiences have been significant or formative, and how you envision your future.
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at Wellesley College (sophomores and juniors)
The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded at 187 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. McNair participants are first-generation college students with financial need, and/or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate education for students from underrepresented groups. At Wellesley, the McNair Scholars Program is STEM focused, and applications are typically due in November each year.
Graduate School Preparation Mini-Grants
The Graduate/Professional School Preparation Fund, funded by a generous grant from the Wellesley Students’ Aid Society, is intended to help current Wellesley students with expenses related to graduate or professional school preparation.
Carnegie Junior Fellows Program (seniors & graduates)
The James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program supports a year's work at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC. Eligible are graduating seniors and recent graduates who are eligible to work in the US for a year. Campus application deadline typically in November.
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship (sophomores and juniors)
Supports one or two years of undergraduate study in the fields of mathematics, engineering, and natural sciences. Eligible are college sophomores or juniors who are US citizens, permanent residents, and nationals intending to pursue research careers in STEM fields. Campus application deadline typically in late November/early December.
Liliane Pingoud Soriano ’49 Curatorial Fellowship at the Musée du Louvre, Paris (seniors)
The Soriano Fellowship program between the Davis and the Musée du Louvre allows a Wellesley student to work for four months as a research Fellow at the Louvre in Paris. In addition to working at one of the world’s great museums, the Soriano Curatorial Fellow can attend courses and programs at the Ecole du Louvre. Only graduating seniors may apply.
Environmental Studies
There are many career options for environmental studies majors/minors. Career paths will differ depending on whether one wants to focus on law and policy making, on teaching and communication, on more advanced research, or another intersection of environmental studies and another discipline.
Standardized Tests for Graduate School Resource
Many, if not most, graduate school programs will require standardized test scores as part of the application for admission. Which test you will need to take will vary based on the institution and degree program. This resource will help you to research the programs to which you intend on applying to determine which test(s) will be required.
Physics
The contemporary study of the physical universe encompasses systems ranging from the microscopic — atoms, nuclei, and elementary particles, to the very large — planets, stars, and galaxies, and the Wellesley Physics department introduces students to the study of all that falls along that spectrum. Since physics covers such a broad band, students of physics develop concrete and transferable skills that can be applied in a number of different settings — academia, industry, research, government, nonprofits, and more.
A Brief Introduction to Fellowships and Scholarships
Fellowships and scholarships offer funding to support a range of purposeful activities, including undergraduate research, language study/other study abroad, self-designed projects, teaching and service, graduate or professional study, or even internships and professional placements. They can open doors for you to things you might not be able to pursue otherwise.
There are opportunities for students and graduates of every nationality and at every stage of their careers. What might be the right fit for you?