Funding
All awards provide a $4500 stipend (rather than paying a wage) and students may request up to $500 for research expenses.
Prior to receipt of a SURF Award, students will need to be enrolled in a summer course. That course can be a standard class, or awardees may choose to enroll in a 1-credit summer research internship credit (SINT course)*. As part of that program; students will be required to virtually attend a SURF Orientation Session, participate in a virtual Mid-Summer Check-in, and submit all final project documantation to the FOUR office in order to recieve a passing grade. All SURF Program partcipants and their faculty mentors will also be invited and encouraged to join FOUR for an "End of Summer SURF Party!" where there will be opportunities to learn about all of the amazing undergraduate research that had been happening over the summer, eat delicious food, and chat with peers and colleagues about the research they have been doing!
*Students who need to enroll in the SINT course will have their registration fee covered by the FOUR office. Apply for a 2025 SURF Award NOW!
Below is a list of this summer's awards; please note that some carry specific requirements (major, college, and/or research topic).
FOUR Summer Research Award (SRA)
This award comprises the largest number SURFs. It is open to all UVM undergraduates in any major. There are 20 SRAs, each of which include a $4500 stipend. Additional funds are available for research expenses up to $500.
Brennan Summer Research Fellowship
This alumni-funded grant is awarded to the strongest 4-5 applications each summer. Click here for more information on the Brennan Family and this generous donation.
Carl Reidel Summer Award
This single award is available to one Patrick Leahy Honors College student engaging in a project that aims to understand, communicate, and resolve environmental challenges, no matter the discipline. Click here for more information about Dr. Carl Reidel and this generous donation.
Green Mountain Scholar
This award was created as a collaboration between FOUR and the Center for Research on Vermont. It is given to a student who has crafted the best proposal focusing on Vermont. Learn more about the CRVT.
Gund Institute Summer Research Award
Established in 2018, these two awards are available to students studying environmental topics. Any discipline may apply as long as the research has an environmental component and the support of a Gund faculty sponsor. Click here to learn more about the Gund Institute for Environment.
Special Collections Summer Scholar
This award provides funding for work in special collections, archives, museum collections, etc.
Justice Research Center Summer Scholar
This award provides funding for students working with UVM's Justice Research Center.
Our Common Ground Award
Two awards to fund individuals whose research embodies and/or promotes the tenets of UVM's "Our Common Ground".
RESPECT. We respect each other. We listen to each other, encourage each other and care about each other. We are strengthened by our diverse perspectives.
INTEGRITY. We value fairness, straightforward conduct, adherence to the facts, and sincerity. We acknowledge when things have not turned out the way we had hoped. As stewards of the University of Vermont, we are honest and ethical in all responsibilities entrusted to us.
INNOVATION. We want to be at the forefront of change and believe that the best way to lead is to learn from our successes and mistakes and continue to grow. We are forward-looking and break new ground in addressing important community and societal needs.
OPENNESS. We encourage the open exchange of information and ideas from all quarters of the community. We believe that through collaboration and participation, each of us has an important role in determining the direction and well-being of our community.
JUSTICE. As a just community, we unite against all forms of injustice, including, but not limited to, racism. We reject bigotry, oppression, degradation, and harassment, and we challenge injustice toward any member of our community.
RESPONSIBILITY. We are personally and collectively responsible for our words and deeds. We stand together to uphold our common ground.
Sustainability Summer Fellowship
Any field/discipline, but topics related to energy, water, responsible investment, transportation, food, waste, green tech, etc.
Application and Deadline Information
Application Information
SURFs are awarded to students who have an interesting research question, a well-conceived plan, and clear faculty support. Students are expected to focus full-time on their research project for 8 weeks during the summer.
Successful applicants will show promise of a quick start (meaning all trainings are completed and research protocols are expected by the start of the summer) and potential to complete their project within the proposed timeline. If projects are part of a larger program or thesis work, then it must be clear to the reviewers that the summer will be spent on specific tasks that otherwise would be difficult to accomplish during the academic year.
Below are additional criteria that reviewers prioritize when evaluating proposals:
- Students must be in good academic standing. Generally, a 3.00 GPA is needed to be in strong contention for these awards. Shortcomings in GPA must be addressed in the personal narrative. An upward trajectory or steady improvement is valued more than a declining or uneven one.
- Academic record (courses taken), particularly how these show the student’s ability to complete the proposed project. Students should highlight courses that are applicable to their projects (e.g., a methods course, foreign language training, etc.).
- Preference given to students with some experience in their proposed area of research and with their faculty sponsor.
- The project proposal is judged on its overall merits and strengths including feasibility, research objectives, methodologies, and it's projected outcomes and impacts. For students working on ongoing projects with their faculty mentor, the student’s role in the larger project must be clear.
- The proposal must be written by the student applicant. While it is important that the faculty sponsor review and advise in the writing of the proposal, it must be clear that the student has written the proposal, understands the project, and explains it clearly. Think of your faculty as an editor, not a co-author.
- The letter of support from the faculty sponsor impacts the decision of whether to fund a proposal and must include how the faculty knows the student applicant, for how long, and in what capacity. Faculty who are sponsoring more than one student should note that we will fund only one student per faculty member.
- Students must be degree-seeking undergraduates at the time of the project to receive a grant. You may not graduate the spring prior to application.
- Previous/Current Mini Grant funding does not affect your chances for the summer research funding, but those who have received a prior SURF will be given a lower priority. You may only receive two of the major awards from FOUR (involving $4000+ stipends) during your undergraduate career.
- Students who are offered a SURF Award and also win other substantial university summer awards (APLE Summer, Binter, Barrett, departmental research awards, etc.) will be expected to choose between the two so that additional students may benefit from summer research opportunities.
Deadlines and Important Dates
- SURF 2026 Application Opens: January 14th, 2026
- Application Deadline: March 2nd, 2026
- Awardees Notified By: April 10th, 2026
- Award Acceptance Deadline: April 17th, 2026
- Mandatory Award Orientation: May 6th, 2026
- Document Submission Deadline: May 13th, 2026
- Award Start Date (1st day of summer session): May 18th, 2026
- Mid-Summer Check-in: June 29th, 2026
- Project End and Deadline for Final Reflection (Last day of summer session): August 7th, 2026
- SURF Celebration!: Friday September 11th from 11:00am - 1:00pm in University Heights South