Funding for Experiential Learning Opportunities

Clark undergraduate students may apply for Experiential Learning funding for a secured, unpaid internship or research experience during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Funding is available to first-year, sophomore, junior, senior, and senior students in a 5th-year master’s program who have secured an unpaid internship or research experience.

This award provides financial assistance, up to $5,000, and is generously funded by Clark alumni, family, and friends.

The deadline to apply for this award is semester-based and cyclical:

Fall application deadline: October 15

Spring application deadline: March 1

Summer application deadline: April 15 

Complete information about this award and application instructions are here.

For questions, contact the Career Connections Center at opportunityfunding@clarku.edu.

Thanks to the generosity of the Theodore Barth Foundation, this award offers six Clark undergraduate students up to a $3,500 stipend to support unpaid, summer internships in the nonprofit sector.

This funded internship opportunity is open to first years, sophomores, juniors, and continuing seniors (graduating in December) who plan to complete an unpaid summer internship at a nonprofit organization.

The priority deadline to apply for this award is April 15. Applications received after this date will be reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are expended.

Complete information about this award and application instructions are here.

For questions, contact the Career Connections Center at opportunityfunding@clarku.edu.

Apply using the red Apply Here button at the top of this webpage.

The Lois and Robert Green Summer Internship provides funding for a student completing an internship in the city of Worcester and is open to all continuing undergraduates. The award provides up to $2,400 in funding. Students in the Urban Studies concentration receive priority in funding decisions and are strongly recommended to apply. 

Atupem ’82 International Internship Award in Memory of Gary S. Poor, Former Admissions Director, offers financial assistance of $2,500 to one student pursuing an unpaid summer internship. This student must be a member of the Clark Global Scholars program (regardless of country of origin) and/or a citizen of Ghana or another international nation.

This internship opportunity is open to first year, sophomore, junior, and continuing senior students (graduating in December) who plan to complete an unpaid summer internship.

Complete information about this award and application instructions are here.

The Harrington Fellowship Program funds research and/or unpaid internships related to politics, public policy, or service. Applications for up to $2,500 awards are open to political science majors and minors with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA; applicants must be continuing students who have completed two semesters at Clark.

Applications for Fellowships to support Spring Semester projects are due by noon on November 15. 

Applications for Fellowships to support Summer or Fall Semester projects are due by noon on April 15.

For questions, contact the Political Science department.

Download detailed application guidelines here.

The Jeremy R. Hastings ’01 Award in Political Science provides funding to support students carrying out an independent research project or doing an unpaid internship.  The internship or research project could take place over the course of one semester or over the summer.  Awards range from $500 to $5000.

The application can be found here.

Applications for Awards to support Summer or Fall Semester internships or projects are due by noon on April 15.

Applications should be submitted to the Political Science Department Managerial Secretary, Judith Barton at jbarton@clarku.edu and to your faculty sponsor at their Clark email address.

You may also email the Political Science Department Chair if you have any questions.

The History Department is able to offer up to three Clark undergraduates funds to support a summer internship in public history or in history fields beyond the academy. The internship must be unpaid, or paid so little that the student cannot undertake it. Each student will receive funds up to $5,000. This award is open only to Clark history majors. Students granted this award will be required to write a two- to three-page reflection paper at the end of their internship and participate in Fall Fest or Academic Spree day during the academic year.

Eligibility requirements and application instructions are here.

The deadline for this application is April 15.

For questions, contact the History department.

Apply using the Apply Here button at the top of this webpage.

Thanks to a generous donation from Harrison Mackler ’07, Clark University is able to offer one or more Clark rising juniors or rising seniors up to $2,500 to support a summer research project in biology or biochemistry. This funded opportunity is open to rising juniors or seniors with a biology or biochemistry major completing summer research working with a Clark faculty member in the field or in their laboratory. Alternatively, they may pursue an independent research project in biology or biochemistry under the supervision of a Clark faculty member. Students are not eligible to receive more than one Harrison Mackler ’07 Research award during their time at Clark. The research or project must be secured before the application deadline.

Apply by midnight on March 13. Apply using the Apply Here button at the top of this webpage. For complete information about this award and application instructions, click here.

For questions, contact Natalia Serna in the Biology Department, NSerna@clarku.edu.

The Peter J. Condakes Research Fellowship supports undergraduate students who have an interest in environmental concerns and are conducting summer research with a geography faculty member. This fellowship is open to continuing undergraduate majors in geography, global environmental studies, and environmental science majors (earth system science track only). The recipients of this fellowship will receive a stipend of up to $1,500 to support a summer research project. Applicants must have already completed GEOG 141 at the time of applying.

How to apply: To apply for this award, you first need to discuss your research idea with a geography faculty member who is willing to work with you over the upcoming summer. Upon faculty approval, you may then complete an application.

The following materials will be required along with the application:

• A one-page statement summarizing your intended research
• A copy of your most recent unofficial academic transcript
• A letter or note of support from your intended faculty supervisor

This fellowship is made possible by a generous gift from Peter J. Condakes, a 1978 alumnus and geography major.

For questions, contact Yaa Poku, YPoku@clarku.edu.

The deadline for this application is April 15. Apply using the Apply Here button at the top of this webpage.

This $1000 award is given annually by the Political Science Department to a student who has secured an unpaid summer internship in Washington, D.C., either with an office of any branch of the federal government (executive, legislative, or judicial) or an organization that interacts with the government, such as a lobbying group or “think tank.” Interested students should submit the following:

• a one- to two-page statement describing the internship, your reasons for pursuing it, and how it connects to your Clark education thus far
• a proposed budget (the costs involved, such as travel, housing, etc.)
• your resume
• a copy of your unofficial transcript

For questions, contact Judith Barton in the Political Science Department, or visit the Political Science website.

The deadline for this application is May 15. Apply using the Apply Here button at the top of this webpage.

(Please note that graduating seniors are not eligible for this award.)

The Goulandris Summer Internship Award for Environmental Sciences offers financial assistance of $2,500 to one student pursuing an unpaid summer internship. This student must be an Environmental Science major or minor.

This internship opportunity is open to first years, sophomores, juniors, and continuing seniors (graduating in December) who plan to complete an unpaid summer internship.

The deadline for this application is April 15.

Complete information about this award and application instructions are here.

For questions, contact Steven Moon smoon@clarku.edu

Apply using the red Apply Here button at the top of this webpage.

The Plave Family Research Fellowship provides one student, with a declared major in Biology or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, up to $3,850 to support a fellowship centered on the pursuit of research in neuroscience—with a  preference for the fundamental science needed to understand, diagnose, and treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

The deadline for this application is March 13.

For complete information about this award and application instructions, click here.

For questions, contact Steven Moon at mailto:smoon@clarku.edu.

The Human-Environment Regional Observatory (HERO) program is a unique undergraduate-graduate- faculty experience that engages in research on human-environment relationships in Massachusetts. HERO Fellows conduct hands-on research under the mentorship of Clark University faculty. The research conducted by HERO Fellows often leads to scholarly publications, presentations at academic conferences across the USA, and awards and honors.

HERO Fellows analyze the causes and consequences of global environmental changes at local scales in faculty-led research projects. Each Fellow is paired with a Clark faculty mentor and other researchers on the HERO team. Fellows will learn how to use various research methods such as GIS, remote sensing, geostatistical modeling, interviews, and focus groups.

Based on a competitive application process, each year the HERO program selects a diverse group of undergraduate students to be HERO Fellows. HERO values students who demonstrate energetic and inquisitive minds, and who are fearless when charting new intellectual territory. Previous course work in research methods (Geog 141 or equivalent), and human or environmental geography — such as urban and population studies, GIS, landscape ecology, land-use planning, statistics, and remote sensing — is helpful but not required.

The HERO award funds each student $4560 for the summer semester.

The deadline for this application is February 15.

Please visit the website to learn more about the HERO Program. Apply using the Apply Here button at the top of this webpage.

The Edwin A. Weiller Summer Science Fellowship provides support for undergraduate students pursuing summer research in Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physics, and/or Environmental Sciences under the supervision of a Clark faculty member. Students pursuing research in Math and/or Computer Science may also apply for support if their proposed research has a strong nexus with one or more of the natural science fields listed above.

The amount of the award is up to $4,000, with the possibility of up to an additional $1,000 for costs associated with research or conference travel.

The deadline for this application is March 13.

For complete information about this award click here.

For questions, contact Steven Moon at smoon@clarku.edu

Apply using the Apply Here button at the top of this webpage.

The Erickson Research Award provides support for undergraduate students majoring in Math or Physics who are pursuing summer research in their field of study.

Twelve student applicants per year will be funded through the Erickson Research Award at $5,000 each. 

The priority deadline for this application is March 1.

For complete information about this award click here.

The Penn Research Award provides support for undergraduate students majoring in STEM fields or Computer Science who are pursuing summer research in their field of study. First year and sophomore students and students who identify as women/womxn or LGBTQIA+ are especially encouraged to apply for this award. 

Summer stipends through the Penn Research Award will fund students at $4,000 each. 

The deadline for this application is March 13.

For complete information about this award click here.

Apply using the Apply Here button at the top of this webpage.

In 2005, the family and friends of Clark alumnus David C. Steinbrecher ’81 created the Steinbrecher Fellowship Program with a generous gift that established a permanent endowment in memory of David that provides fellowships for Clark undergraduates to pursue original ideas, creative research, public service, or enrichment projects. The Steinbrecher Fellowship awards, given to 5-7 students each year, is up to $5,000.

The Steinbrecher Fellowship also seeks to create and maintain a vibrant community of learners by bringing Fellows together with each other and with a small group of faculty mentors to share ideas, experiences, and intellectual excitement at dinners and other special gatherings several times during each academic year.

Fellows have pursued a wide variety of creative, research, and public service projects. These have included:

• conducting experimental research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School on the role of an insulin receptor protein in regulating breast cancer metastasis;
• conducting research on how the characteristics of the Native American flute reflect the traditions, mythology, and perspectives on life and nature of the people who made and play it by taking flute lessons from local native players, attending concerts and tribal powwows, and participating in a week-long Native American Flute Workshop in Montana;
• touring and photographing the dramatic landscape in Iceland and preparing an exhibition and book with photos of Iceland;
• teaching at a school and an orphanage in Lilongwe, Malawi, and researching how HIV/AIDS has affected the lives of children there;
• working with the Climate Summer 2007 project, educating New Hampshire residents about global warming through town meetings, educational outreach, community-based discussions and presentations;
• examining Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in China by interviewing workers at Microsoft and China Telecom;
• examining the environmental impacts of high-tech gold mining underway in northern Finland.

Read about research and creative work by Steinbrecher Fellows:

• 2019 Fellows
• 2020 Fellows
• 2021 Fellows
• 2022 Fellows

Eligibility

Students who have completed (or will have completed by the end of the current academic year) at least two semesters at Clark and plan to return to Clark as an undergraduate student for the coming year are eligible for the fellowships.

The deadline for this application is 5 PM on February 15.

Complete information about this award and application instructions are here.

For additional questions, contact Prof. Nancy Budwig (nbudwig@clarku.edu).

Apply using the Apply Here button at the top of this webpage.

The Tamara Gay Walker ’75 Award offers financial assistance of $2,500 to one student completing a summer project whose field of study and summer project lie within languages, comparative literature, or the arts.

The deadline for this application is April 1.

For complete information about this award and application instructions, click here.

Apply using the Apply Here button at the top of this webpage.

NOTE: The 2023-2024 application deadline for the Zenovia Sochor Award has passed and applications will not be accepted until Fall 2024.

Professor Zenovia Sochor taught comparative politics courses at Clark for almost two decades before her untimely death in 1998. She was known by students and colleagues as a gifted scholar, a valued friend, and a caring mentor. Alumni, friends, and colleagues have created the Zenovia Sochor Memorial Fund to provide support to Clark students for study abroad. The $500.00 Sochor award is given to a student each year.

For more information on this award, view the poster here.

The deadline for this award is October 31 at 12:00  noon EST. 

Career Connections Cash is a program that reimburses students for expenses associated with a pre-approved career-readiness or professional development-related day excursion or opportunity. All undergraduate students can apply to receive up to $100 per academic year. 

List of Generally Approved Costs:  All costs are subject to review and approval by Clark Career Connections staff, but can include:

• Public and private transportation to and from the opportunity
• Parking not to exceed $25 per opportunity
• Cost of job fair, conference, or event admission
• Food and beverage

The deadline to submit applications for reimbursements for the 2025-2026 academic year is Monday, May 11, 2026.

Apply for Career Connections Cash here.

Learn more about the program here.

Schedule a Connections Cash Funding Appointment on Handshake.

The Albert, Norma, and Howard Geller ’77 Endowed Research Awards fund independent research that promotes environmental and resource sustainability. This award, of up to $2,500, is open to undergraduate and graduate students. Funds can be used anytime between January 2 and December 31.

Questions may be directed to Dana Bauer, Assistant Director of the George Perkins Marsh Institute, dbauer@clarku.edu.

Application due date: 

Visit the Geller Student Research Award website for more information. For questions contact Dana Bauer at DBauer@clarku.edu.

This is an invitation for all undergraduates on our campus to design grassroots projects for peace anywhere in the world.

The selected submission will be funded at levels up to $10,000 and implemented during the summer.  Project proposals may take on any focus that student applicants choose — although the fundamental purpose is to use creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in developing ideas designed to build peace in the 21st Century.

Individuals or teams (within Clark) are eligible to apply. All undergraduates (including seniors) are eligible.

Proposal Q&A, Deadlines and Calendars, Budget Template Forms and more are found here: http://www.davisprojectsforpeace.org/qa.

Review criteria will include 1) evidence of student preparation, 2) ability to implement the project effectively, and 3) the sustainability of the idea.

Questions and completed proposals should be sent electronically to the Dean of the College’s office.

The deadline to apply is January 15, 2026.

The Dean of the College will convene a committee consisting of faculty and staff to review student proposals. The committee will review all submissions and finalists (1-2) will be forwarded to the Davis UWC Scholars Program in early February. Final selections will be announced in March. Alternate selections (if any) will be announced in April.

The Endowed Student Research Fund in Honor of Denis A. Larochelle provides research grants to undergraduate and fifth year students in the Biological Sciences, including Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This award provides up to $3500 for up to two students per year.

The deadline for this application is March 13.

How to apply: submit a research summary and a description of future goals, along with courses taken (maybe a transcript) to Prof. Larochelle at dlarochelle@clarku.edu.

For questions contact Prof. Larochelle at dlarochelle@clarku.edu.

Thanks to the generosity of Human Rights and Genocide Studies donors, we offer $3,500 stipends to support undergraduate summer experiences in the United States and abroad.

To be eligible for this internship, a student must be a first-year, sophomore, or junior Clark University undergraduate.

The deadline for this application is  5 PM pm March 1.

For full application details, click here.

For questions, contact Professor Ken Maclean at kmaclean@clarku.edu.

The Robert J. S. Ross Social Justice Summer Internship stipend is open to Clark Undergraduate students (Classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029). The recipient of the Fellowship will receive a $3,500 stipend to support a summer internship in a social justice organization.

To be eligible for this internship, a student must be a first-year, sophomore, or junior Clark University undergraduate.

 Interested students should plan to attend the info session on 2/19/26 at 12:00 in Jefferson Academic Center, Room 400.  

Your application should include:

(1) A cover letter that:

• Identifies possible internship site(s).
• Discusses the mission of the host organization and its commitment to social, economic or environmental justice.
• Details what steps you have taken to secure the internship, including contacting staff or any letters of intent. Final arrangements for the internship are not required at the time of application.
• Discusses the internship in relation to your academic curriculum and/or career aspirations.

(2) A copy of your current unofficial academic transcript.

(3) A recommendation letter from a faculty member (you will enter their name and email in the online application)

The deadline for this application is 5 p.m. March 20, 2026.

For questions contact Professor Rosalie Torres Stone at rtorresstone@clarku.edu

To apply, please click the red “Apply Now” button at the top of this page.

For details about the award and application, click here.

The Sara Bickman Music and Arts Summer Internship Award was established by James Bickman, a member of the class of 1939, and his sons Martin and David Bickman, in memory of his wife and their mother, Sara Bickman. The fund is used to support summer internships for undergraduate students majoring in the visual and performing arts. Awards are made to students in their junior year for projects to be conducted between their junior and senior years.

The deadline to apply is noon, March 24.

Proposals should be sent to the department administrator, Christina McGovern at ChMcGovern@clarku.edu.

For questions contact Christina McGovern at ChMcGovern@clarku.edu or Hugh Manon at hmanon@clarku.edu.

To learn more about the award and how to apply please see the full description.

The Jason Michael Simpkins Memorial Endowment for Screen Studies was established by Larry J. and Michelle Simpkins in memory of their son, Jason Michael Simpkins, a member of the class of 2005. The award is to assist undergraduate students with the expenses incurred in completion of a film and/or a piece of written research. The recipients should possess high academic ability in screen studies and exceptional character, with an intention to pursue a career or higher education in screen studies.

The deadline for applications is April 1 at 12 pm.

To learn more about the award and how to apply please see the full description.

The Student Sustainability Fund is expressly for student-led, student-designed collaborative projects that will measurably improve the campus’s environmental footprint. (For example, water bottle filling stations that reduce plastic bottle waste.) It does not fund research, salaries or travel, or anything non-tangible. All the information and documents about the SSF are available on the Sustainable Clark website here.

Applications are accepted and awarded on a rolling basis by the student SSF Committee.

For questions, contact the student SSF Committee, at SSF@clarku.edu.

The annual venture competition, Clark Tank, funds entrepreneurs and their ventures. This award provides $100 of seed money at the beginning of the process to invest in the student’s venture. Then, at the end of the process, students present the outcome of their investment and other venture growth to a panel of alumni judges for the chance to be awarded up to an additional $5000. Applications open in October.

For more information, or to apply, go to: www.clarkstudentventures.com/clarktank

The Elaine’ 65 and Barry D. Epstein’ 62 Pre-Law Award is given annually to a pre-law senior or fifth-year student with high academic standing who has been active in the programming offered by The Elaine’ 65 and Barry D. Epstein’ 62 Pre-Law Society. The award was established in 2016 through a generous gift from Barry Epstein in honor of his late wife, Elaine Epstein.

• Required application documents:
  • Transcript
  • Responses to the following four questions:
    1. Are you planning to attend law school next year? If so, describe the programs to which you are applying.
    2. What do you plan to do with your law degree?
    3. Have you been active in the Pre-Law Student Association? if so, describe your participation.
    4. Describe any law-related volunteer opportunities, internships, or other activities you have taken part in during your time at Clark.
• Criteria for selection

GPA and academic achievement, the nature of their plans for law school, involvement in the Pre-Law Society. Students must be planning to attend law school the following year.

• Application deadline

       November 15th the preferred deadline to submit your application.

Contact information:

• Ed Cohen, Pre-Law Advisor, edcohen@aalario
• Bob Boatright, Political Science faculty pre-law advisor and Law and Society co-director, rboatright@clarku.edu rboatright@clarku.edu
• Nina Kushner, History faculty pre-law advisor and law and Society co-director, nkushner@clarku.edu