AX Application deadline: March 15, 2024

Open to undergraduates who are US citizens/nationals, from any college/university. The AX Summer Research Fellowship pairs students with unique, 10-week long research experiences at sites near Burlington, Vermont. Awards provide a $4500 stipend, on-campus housing, and all research expenses. 

Learn more about the program, participating faculty and their projects by clicking here. 

Deadlines & Instructions for Summer 2024

Curious about AX? Check out testimonials from alumni below! 

"Before AX, I'd always been really interested in food systems and food security and food production, but I'd never heard of agroecology until looking into this program. Focused discussions about agroecology really helped me understand it as more of a social movement and not just a way to farm. I also interviewed people, which I’d never done before. It introduced me to a whole new side of environmental studies. It has given me a lot of ideas to think about for my thesis."

"My major is food systems, and this was pretty reassuring to me to see that there are all sorts of things that I could do. It was interesting to learn about how cover crops interact with pests, how they're not just for the soil or for organic matter, and how it's not about farming to get a yield but about farming with the environment and with different people and cultures. In the short term, I want to do more research at UVM."

"This summer impacted my studies. I learned, gained skills, and built relationships. I had no idea that I’d be meeting so many people related to UVM, and in the community. This job that I applied to has allowed me to do all this, and the skills helped me get a new job on campus."

"I really enjoyed the fieldwork and research side of things. In the past, I hadn’t thought about how farmers and growers adopt practices. This summer helped me see how farmers and growers make decisions and talk to other growers through research. Now I see how academic research and practice combine. Academic research does help farmers with their decisions. It was helpful to see what extension is doing and to imagine what I could do in the future. It affirmed that this is the field I want to go into."

"Listening to everyone that came to speak about Extension was incredible. They talked about relationships that they had built with the farmers, and the information that they had learned from and shared with them. This experience has given me a more narrowed view of what I want to do. I haven’t made physical change to my major, but I have a narrowed view of what I am interested in and passionate about."

The Simon Family Public Research awards provide talented and motivated students with an opportunity to do community-based research that enriches their educational experience and contributes to the welfare of their community.

In recognition of the strain felt by community partners during the pandemic, there are two pathways for funding, Simon Fellowships and Simon Public Research Awards.

• A Simon Fellowships are awarded to 3-5 students engaging in community-based research projects. Students write the proposals, perform the research, and create the deliverables for their community partners. Each student receives $6000 (to be split between research expenses and a personal stipend). Get more information regarding the Simon Fellowship by clicking here.
• A Simon Public Research Award is a faculty-directed experience that seeks to enhance engagement with a community partner. As such, a faculty member submits a short proposal describing the educationally enriching experience ("research internship") they are creating for a student to assist in moving forward a relationship or project with a community partner in mind. Students receive a  $4000 stipend. For application download click here; for questions please contact us.

Deadlines & Important Dates for Summer 2025

All of This Year's Funding for Mini-Grants has been Awarded!

We will begin accepting and reviewing applications again in early July, 2024.

Mini Grants are available starting on July 1 of every year until we run out of money (usually in March).

Mini Grants are small awards used exclusively for research expenses. They may not be used to cover personal expenses, stipends, tuition costs, or any expenses related to a course. The average Mini Grant is $600 (domestic projects) to $1000 (international projects).

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed on the first of each month. The program runs until funds are exhausted. Because the money is available as needed (rather than by strict deadline), review does not begin until you submit ALL parts of the application.

Application Requirements & Eligibility

• You must have a UVM Faculty Sponsor/Mentor.
• All safety and ethics training must be complete at the time of application. If you are unsure of what training or paperwork you need to complete, we ask that you talk with your faculty and when necessary consult with Risk/Safety. This is the primary reason that slows the review process.
• If you need approval for human or animal subjects projects and you are the PI of the project, we may grant preliminary approval prior to your receipt of the protocol from the Research Protections Office. If you are NOT the PI, but instead working on someone else's protocol, we must have a copy of the key personnel list (indicating your name) before we will review your application.
• An itemized and complete budget is necessary for application. We strongly advise students consult us on Budget Creation & Management. This is the second highest reason that keeps an application from being accepted.
• If you are asking above the average grant amount, we require that you demonstrate an attempt to meet your additional need using alternative funding (through another grant, through your department, or through other means). You may receive funds from multiple sources to meet your budgetary need. Please indicate on your budget what items you ask FOUR to cover and which will be covered by the other funds.
• There are two types of Mini Grants sharing the same application: the standard (no indication on the application necessary) or the Honors College Thesis Mini Grant (indicate on Pg1 of application).
  • For the Honors College Thesis Mini Grant you must have a letter/email from your home college acknowledging acceptance of your thesis proposal. For more information, click here.

Application and supporting materials (Download to your computer before filling in content)

• Mini Grant application form (fillable PDF)
• Faculty Sponsor Form (fillable PDF)