CLAS is looking for proposals from undergraduate students who are currently engaged in research to apply for the following funding opportunity for Fall 2025. Please share this information with undergraduate majors and faculty mentors in your departments.
John and Elsie Mae Ferentz Undergraduate Research Fund provides financial support to junior or senior CLAS undergraduate students who are currently registered for a research project, honors in the major, guided independent study, research-based capstone course, or BFA project. Students are eligible to receive the funds during the semester they are registered for the research project.
*Proposals must be made in advance of the need.

Funding Details

• Awards to students average $2,000
• Up to 8 students will be funded for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026

Eligibility

• Students must be registered for a research project, honors in the major, guided independent study, research-based capstone course, or for the BFA project during the spring semester.
• Students must have a minimum 3.33 UI cumulative GPA.
• Students must be listed as junior or senior CLAS students.
• Students must be working with a CLAS faculty member (as a mentor, advisor, or other capacity).
• Students must be enrolled in a CLAS degree granting program (major) and seeking first undergraduate degree.
• Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 s.h. during semester of award
• Students must not have current funding for research activities (i.e., in the semester applying for funding).
• Students must not be a current ICRU fellow (former ICRU fellows are eligible)

Application Process

1. Student Submits:
   1. An email to clas-schol-apply@uiowa.edu with their name and university ID number and the name of their faculty mentor (who should also provide an email)
   2. A one-page (maximum) description of the research project, including how the work advances their own research or creative goals
2. CLAS faculty mentor submits:
   1. An email to clas-schol-apply@uiowa.edu confirming that the student will be doing research under their guidance and a short statement of endorsement of the student and the research project (this does not need to be a formal letter of recommendation).

For proposals involving groups of students, please submit one proposal with each student’s name, email, and university ID number.

Deadline for Proposals

• Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, is the last day for students to submit a request for participation in research in Fall 2025.

Proposals should be submitted electronically to clas-schol-apply@uiowa.edu. Questions can be emailed to CLAS Scholarships.

Note: this memo was also published on Oct. 15, 2025.