Funding for Research and Internships
Applied Policy Research Internship
During the spring semester, The Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy is pleased to provide resources to support one public policy or IAPA concentrator as an Applied Policy Research Intern at The Policy Lab at Brown University. The intern will receive a stipend of $2,500.
Successful Applied Policy Research Intern candidates will be intellectually curious and highly-motivated, with strengths in written and verbal communication, research, and quantitative analysis. Skills in one or more of the following are also highly favored: data cleaning, handling, and coding; quantitative analysis; project/time management; stakeholder engagement; policy analysis and report writings. We also require that interns are committed to an environment of diversity and inclusion.
Amount: $2,500
Eligibility: PLCY & IAPA Concentrators
Deadline: Spring term: December 10
Center for Contemporary South Asia Undergraduate Research and Internships
The purpose of undergraduate summer funding is to facilitate research for a senior thesis or to provide internship experience with an academic or civil society organization. Students are invited to propose work with any organization or indicate their interest in one of the Center’s partners by contacting our Center Manger. Students who are unsure of where they would like to intern or are interested in one of the initiative's partners are encouraged to discuss their interests with a faculty member as early as possible. Students who already have made contact with an organization are required to attach a letter of interest from the organization. Details about the Center’s partners, such as Janaagraha (Bangalore) and Centre for Policy Research (Delhi), and PRADAN (various) can be found on our partners page.
Amount: Up to a $5,000 maximum per project.
Eligibility: Sophomores and Juniors (Brown University Only).
Deadline: Monday, March 13, 2023 at NOON
Application requirements: A two page project proposal, unofficial transcript, resume, budget, and a letter from the organization (if proposing an internship).
China Initiative Undergraduate Summer Research Awards
China Initiative Undergraduate Summer Research Awards support thesis research by Brown undergraduates whose focus of study is Greater China. The awards support archival, library, and on-site field research in Mainland China or Taiwan; in exceptional cases, the awards might be used to research in other global locales relevant to the topic.
Amount: Grants of up to $5000 are awarded for one summer.
Eligibility: Undergraduate in their junior year (rising seniors) are eligible to apply for this opportunity to fund thesis research in the summer before senior year.
Deadline: Monday, April 15, 2022
Governor Frank Licht Internship
During the spring semester, two public policy or IAPA concentrators will be named the Governor Frank Licht '38 interns and will work with Rhode Island legislature.
The Licht interns will each receive a stipend of $2,500 through an endowment by the family of the late Governor Frank Licht '38.
Amount: $2,500
Eligibility: PLCY & IAPA Concentrators
Deadline: Spring term: December 10
Happy and John Hazen White, Sr. Internship
Stipends are awarded based on academic performance and on the proposed integration of the internship with future academic work. Preference will be given to students who have not already received a White award. You may apply for a White internship without having secured a definite position with an organization (you may list several options on the application).
Amount: $4,000
Eligibility: All Watson Concentrators
Deadline: Summer term: March 15
Jack Ringer Summer in Southeast Asia Fellowship
The Jack Ringer Summer in Southeast Asia Fellowship is made possible through the generosity of Jack Ringer '52, who served in Burma after graduating from Brown. The award supports summer travel to Southeast Asia to conduct research or work in an internship.
Amount: Up to $4,000
Eligibility: All Brown Undergraduates
Deadline: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
Contact: Anita Nester
John P Birkelund Fund For Diplomacy
The fund will support student internships related to foreign policy and diplomacy, research projects, symposia, and lectures on topics related to diplomacy.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Eligibility: All Brown Undergraduates
Deadline: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
Contact: Anita Nester
KoChon Fund
A permanent endowment administered by the Watson Institute, the KoChon fund is utilized for a wide variety of research and academic activities related to Korea. For undergraduates, the Institute accepts applications to advance student research interests on Korean topics, offering one to two awards per year, which include the option of pursuing field research in Korea.
Amount: Up to $4,000
Eligibility: All Brown Undergraduates
Deadline: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
Contact: Anita Nester
Language Study Grants
Financial support for off-campus language learning, with priority given to immersive language programs, and with special consideration given to the study of languages not formally offered at Brown.
Amount: Up to $10,000
Eligibility: IAPA Concentrators
Deadline: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
Contact: Anita Nester
Marla Ruzicka International Public Service Fellowship
The Marla Ruzicka International Fellowship supports the summer plans of one Brown undergraduate who displays the characteristics of compassion, determination, and selflessness in the pursuit of international human rights, post-conflict rehabilitation, or international public service in its most noble spirit, and whose summer plans reflect those traits.
Amount: up to $4,000
Eligibility: All Brown Undergraduates
Deadline: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
Contact: Anita Nester
Michael Bhatia Fund for Peace-keeping and Conflict Studies
Established in memory of Michael Vinay Bhatia '99, who died in May 2008 in Afghanistan, where he was working as a social scientist in consultation with the U.S. military, the Fund underwrites field work, study abroad, or thesis research by IR concentrators working on peace-keeping and conflict studies. It is awarded to a student who, like Michael Bhatia '99, hopes to deepen his/her understanding of a region or culture by traveling and studying there, with the ultimate goal of helping to promote cross-cultural understanding that might end or avert violence or military conflict.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Eligibility: IR and IAPA Concentrators
Deadline: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: August 31
Contact: Anita Nester
Noah Krieger ’93 Internship
This award provides a $4,000 stipend for an outstanding public policy concentrator who is particularly interested in public service to pursue an eight-week unpaid summer internship.
Eligibility: All Watson Concentrators
Deadline: Summer term: March 15
Richard C. Barker '57 LHD'09 hon., P'03, P'05 Award for International and Public Affairs
Financial support for undergraduate students concentrating in International and Public Affairs for senior thesis research, research related to independent work, conference participation, internships, and/or travel.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Eligibility: IAPA Concentrators
Deadline: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: July 31
Contact: Anita Nester
Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia Winter Research & Travel Funds
Subject to university guidelines regarding spending and travel, the Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia would like to offer winter research and travel awards of up to $3,000 to graduate and undergraduate students of Brown University. Students in any discipline whose research develops knowledge about South Asia may apply. Pending university guidelines funds may be used for travel to visit archives or conduct fieldwork where possible, attend conferences virtually or in person, language training, unanticipated research expenses due to COVID-19, or other non-travel efforts to further one's research during these challenging times. It is highly recommended that students review current university travel policies as it may be necessary to submit your travel plans for university review in October or early November, even before the committee has reached a decision about awards. Please reach out to stephanie_abbott@brown.edu with questions.
Amount: Up to a $3,000 maximum, students may apply for smaller amounts.
Eligibility: Undergraduate and Graduate Students (Brown University)
Deadline: Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at NOON
Application requirements: Up to a one page project proposal including budget (a paragraph may be sufficient), unofficial transcript, and resume.
Stone Inequality Initiative Funding
The Stone Inequality Initiative invites undergraduate and graduate proposals for internships, research grants, collaboration with faculty or other student projects. The funds are available to students from any discipline. Work should be focused, broadly, on the issues surrounding great wealth in American society, on the American gilded age(s). Ten awards are available.
Please submit a letter in which you describe the proposed project, your proposed budget and the name of a faculty mentor or committee chair.
We will accept applications immediately and make the awards on a rolling basis.
Please send applications or inquires to alberto_alcaraz_escarcega@brown.edu.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Eligibility: Available to students from any discipline.
Deadline: We will accept applications immediately and make the awards on a rolling basis.
Contact: Alberto Alcaraz Escarcega
Watson Research and Travel Grant
Awards that support academic activities for IR students—for example, senior thesis research, research related to independent work, conference participation, internships, and special projects. Students must complete an online application, including resume, transcript, and personal statement, secure an internship that is unpaid or pays $1,000 or less (includes salary, housing, and transportation) if the application is for an internship, and complete post-award requirements.
Amount: Up to $2,000
Eligibility: All Watson Concentrators
Deadline: Spring term: Nov 30; Summer term: Mar 31; Fall term: July 31
Contact: Anita Nester
Student Conferences
Air Force Academy Assembly Conference
Eligibility: IR Concentrator or by Faculty Recommendation
Application period: Dec 15-Jan 15
Contact: Anita Nester
Mellon Simulation Project
Eligibility: IR Concentrator or by Faculty Recommendation
Application period: Nov 1-Dec 15
Contact: Anita Nester
Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference (NAFAC)
Eligibility: IR Concentrator or by Faculty Recommendation
Application period: Jan 15-Feb 25
Contact: Anita Nester
Student Conference on U.S. Affairs (SCUSA)
Eligibility: IR Concentrator or by Faculty Recommendation
Application period: Sep 15-Oct 17
Contact: Anita Nester
Fellowships
Middle East Studies Undergraduate Fellowship Awards
Eligibility: Rising Seniors writing a Thesis for MES Concentration Credit
Application period: Jan 1-Apr 15
Contact: Barbara Oberkoetter
Taubman Center Undergraduate Research Fellowship on Political Underrepresentation
The Taubman Center for American Politics and Politics is pleased to provide resources to students interested in research on political underrepresentation at the city, state, or federal level. This fellowship of $2,500 will be awarded to five students per semester, and will provide research funding to undergraduate students who have experience in, or a commitment to, working with issues relating to underserved communities.
Application Deadline: February 15th
Contact: Samantha Griffin
Additional Sources of Information
Part of President Paxson’s plan to increase student access to internships and research positions, BrownConnect allows students to search for real-world opportunities while still on campus. By bringing the Brown community together to support students, BrownConnect enables undergraduates to follow their own paths beyond the classroom.
Brown in Washington
The Brown in Washington Program offers students a semester in Washington, D.C. during their junior or senior year, interning with public and nonprofit sector agencies and completing coursework that complements their internship placements. The program is the product of a partnership between the Swearer Center and the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs.
The Watson Institute welcomes applications from undergraduates for the Institute's hosting, promotion, or funding of on-campus student activities.
The Dean of the College has a small budget to fund undergraduate research projects that fall outside the boundaries of other research award programs. Students will normally have exhausted all other University grant sources before seeking support from the Dean. Special requests of all sorts are considered, but projects that incorporate an international or global component are especially encouraged.
Fellowships at Brown represent university-sponsored programs including nationally competitive fellowships that fund faculty-student research collaborations, unpaid internships, independent research and travel, and post-baccalaureate work or study both in the United States and abroad. Here you will find information about the range of opportunities at Brown as well as selected external awards of potential interest to Brown students.
Priority will be given to requests that demonstrate an effort to advance the inclusion of the international community on campus and beyond, and/or that contribute to academic research and scholarship.
UFunds coordinates applications for funding from offices at Brown. You will find opportunities here for members of the Brown community, including undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty.
Brown sponsors a number of fellowship and grant programs that support undergraduate research during the summer or the academic year. Many of the awards are specifically designed to facilitate faculty-student research collaborations, including Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards and Royce Fellowships.
