Information about the Fellowship
The Frederick Honors College Health Sciences Research Fellowship (HSRF) recipients receive a stipend of $4,000 for the summer term (i.e., mid-May through early August) to enable them to dedicate themselves full-time to conducting an independent Health Sciences research project under the mentorship of faculty members in any of the six schools of the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences. Alternatively, students in a humanities or social science field, conducting research related to the Health Sciences, may also apply to this fellowship.
In addition to active participation in a research project, the Health Sciences Fellowship requires all Fellows to attend a weekly seminar during which Fellows present reports on their research and address questions from the other Fellows. Fellows also are expected to attend several professional development workshops throughout the summer. Research topics cover a broad range within the health sciences, from cell and molecular biology to public health and the medical humanities. Only rising juniors and seniors may apply. The expected number of Fellows is 10-12 with career interests in the health sciences.
Health Sciences Research Fellows are selected on the basis of their academic record, research project proposal, strength of the endorsement expressed in the letter of recommendation from their mentor, and the originality and promise of their proposed research project. Applicants should also show a willingness to participate in a community of scholars with cross disciplinary approaches to create innovative solutions to problems of human health and disease. Prior to applying, students must have identified a faculty mentor and selected a research project. Applications for this fellowship will be posted in Spring 2025. Admission will be decided roughly 30 days after the application deadline.
If you would like to apply for both the Brackenridge Summer Research Fellowship and the Health Sciences Fellowship, you must fill out two separate applications. They are distinctly different programs and your proposals should be substantially different for the two. While the Brackenridge consists of a variety of majors from across humanities, social sciences, professional schools, and natural sciences, the Health Science Fellowship is focused solely on health sciences research projects. You cannot be awarded both the Brackenridge and Health Science Fellowship.
Application Deadline
Applications for this fellowship will be posted in Spring 2025.
How to Apply
In consultation with the sponsoring faculty member the student must submit an application via the link below. Only rising juniors and seniors may apply. The fellowship program aligns with Pitt's 12-week summer semester and participants must be able to begin and end their participation during the first Tuesday of this semester. Recipients must attend in-person meetings over the summer.
All application materials must be received by the date specified above. No late applications will be considered. The FHC will evaluate the proposals and all applicants will be notified of the decisions within roughly 30 days of the application deadline.
The Awards
Application materials required:
- A Project Proposal
- A brief Statement of Interest in the Community
- An up-to-date Academic Transcript
- A Letter of Recommendation from your Faculty Mentor
It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide all materials mentioned above and to ensure that the faculty mentor’s letter of recommendation is submitted. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
If you have additional questions, please contact Abby Chen, Research Program Coordinator (apc60@pitt.edu), or Dr. Brett Say, Director of Honors Research Programs (bhs28@pitt.edu).