Providing students with opportunities to be involved in independent inquiry is central to the mission of our research University. We aim not just to convey knowledge but to produce it and to teach others how to learn throughout their lives.
Through the generosity of parents, alumni, and friends of the College, an endowed Fund provides grants to assist a student's own research, whether to help with the gathering of data and information, or in the presentation of the results at an academic conference. Selection by a faculty committee is competitive. Since 1996, over 3,000 student research projects have been awarded over $2.7 million in research scholarships. List of 2017-18 DURF recipients (PDF: 130 KB). Students apply to the College; forms and instructions are available online.
Spring 2021 Application Deadline (for all materials) is Friday, April 2 (11:59PM) (online application now open!)
COVID-19 Considerations:
- Projects should be either fully remote or fully remote ready to account for both present and any changing conditions:
- In-person lab work is permitted on a case-by-case basis as labs reopen and PIs obtain appropriate permissions to have undergraduates in the lab;
- In-person lab work is permitted on a case-by-case basis as labs reopen and PIs obtain appropriate permissions to have undergraduates in the lab;
- Travel funding:
- Travel outside NYC will not be funded;
- Travel within the 5 boroughs can be funded if other criteria laid out here are adhered to;
- Fieldwork should be limited to site visits (e.g., libraries, special collections, archives, museums) within the 5 boroughs and in accordance with site-specific guidelines (e.g., reserved entry, timed visits);
- In-person participant work may only be conducted with IRB approval and/or under the auspices of a lab;
- Students must at all times adhere to City, State, and University health and safety guidelines when planning and conducting their research.
We strongly encourage all students to work closely with their mentors to determine the scope and appropriateness of their projects given the current health situation around COVID-19.
DURF Peer Advising:
Beginning spring 2021, we will offer students the chance to chat with DURF Research Ambassadors, current DURF Grant recipients and active researchers, about any question related to undergraduate research or the DURF program no matter how big or small! If you're wondering how to get involved in undergraduate research, how to find a faculty mentor, how to apply for DURF funding, how to email potential mentors, or even just about what undergraduate research looks like, sign up for a quick appointment! Our Research Ambassadors will be happy to answer your questions and share their experiences with research and the DURF program.
More information about available appointments can be found on the DURF Peer Advising calendar.
Can't make any of the available hours? Feel free to email us at cas.durf@nyu.edu or submit your question/inquiry via this Form, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!
DURF Drop-Ins:
In order to provide more support to DURF applicants, we are pleased to offer a series of Drop-In sessions where applicants can receive feedback and suggestions for improving their DURF proposal. Staff from the NYU Writing Center as well as peer undergraduate researchers will be on hand to answer questions and provide feedback. Whether this is your first time submitting a DURF proposal, you just have a few questions, or you’d like another perspective, you can benefit from the Drop-In sessions. No appointment necessary! Just stop by and drop in!
Unfortunately, we will not be able to host Drop-In sessions in Fall 2020.
Dean's Undergraduate Research Funds for Global Initiatives
CAS is proud to recognize outstanding student work on topics of global relevance through the following named Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund grants. These and other named DURF grants are awarded to DURF applicants based on the exceptional quality of their project as described in their DURF proposal. All DURF applicants working on relevant topics are automatically considered for these honors. No separate application is needed:
Robert A. Fowkes Research Scholarship — recognizing outstanding student research on European culture (or at a European NYU academic center)
Arthur Frommer Research Scholarship for Travel and Global Studies — recognizing outstanding student research in the field of international travel, or research involving multidisciplinary international study at a Global NYU Center
June Schlesinger Katz International Research Scholarship — recognizing outstanding student research on a foreign culture or nation
S. Okamura Research Scholarship — recognizing outstanding student research on East Asian culture or history
Drs. Mayank and Amita Patel Research Scholarship — recognizing outstanding student research on South Asian culture, with a focus on religious studies
Herman J. Wechsler Award for Study and Travel in the Fine Arts — recognizing outstanding student research on European fine art or art history by a student who will study or has studied at one of NYU's European academic sites