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ICTAS Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Open to Virginia Tech Students Only

The ICTAS Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program supports early career undergraduates involved in mentored research at Virginia Tech. The goal of the program is to enable students to extend their current research projects and experience a step further with independent funding, so that they can devote additional time to their project, under the supervision of their chosen mentor. Research can be in any field of study and students from all majors are eligible for the program.

Each spring, one student will be selected to receive the $1,250 award, payable as a fellowship or used to cover other approved expenditures (such as project supplies, research-related travel, use of specialized research services, etc.) over the course of one semester or a summer. Please note that, per VT policy, students cannot receive a research fellowship and academic credit at the same time for that same research. The intent of this fellowship is to allow students doing research to extend their research work beyond their first project period.

Application review begins on November 10, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. and faculty endorsements due November 14, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Decisions will be made and applicants notified in January 2026. Awards are to fund projects in the spring or summer 2026.

Eligibility

  • First or second year VT undergraduate student in any major who is participating in mentored undergraduate research at Virginia Tech.
  • Current or previous participation in mentored undergraduate research at Virginia Tech for credit, with the same faculty mentor who will guide student’s work in this program.
  • Commitment from a Virginia Tech faculty member to continue supervising the proposed project.

Expectations

Students participating in the ICTAS Undergraduate Research Fellowship program must:

  • Present their research project at the Dennis Dean Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Conference in April or the Summer Research Symposium in July.
  • Submit a one-page summary of the completed research project, along with a statement of how the fellowship contributed to career, personal, and professional growth.
  • Deadline: November 10, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

Please direct any questions to Keri Swaby.

This program is funded by the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science.

Apply Now!

  • Name
  • Email
  • Graduation semester
  • Transfer student?
  • How long have you been at VT?
  • College of primary major
  • Major (s)
  • Minor(s)
  • Cumulative GPA
  • Upload a copy of your unofficial transcript
  • Faculty Information
  • In laymen terms, describe your current or recent past research project, which you are now seeking to continue through the ICTAS Undergraduate Research Program. Include a description of the goals and greater impact or importance of the project and any results you have already achieved.
  • What do you hope to gain by continuing this project?
  • How will this funding help to advance your work on this project?

Previous Winners

  • 2024 Joshua Farnsworth, Psychology
  • 2022 Yannick Pleimling, Physics