Summer Research Fellowships

Applications Invited – Psychology Department Summer Research Fellowships

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee at the Georgetown Psychology Department is excited to announce the 2025 Summer Research Fellowships. 

Want to know what previous summer research fellows have to say about their experiences? Check out our testimonials page.

Purpose

These fellowships are intended to:

• increase access to research for students who may otherwise face barriers to obtaining research training; 
• remove common barriers to gaining research experience (e.g., lack of previous experience); 
• foster diversity in research settings. 

Overview

Recipients will:

• engage in mentored research with a psychology faculty member in Summer 2025
• be awarded EITHER $3,000 for part-time projects (~125 hours) OR $6,000 for full-time project (~250 hours); 

Timeline:

• Students may apply by Dec 1, 2024. 
• Recipients will be announced by February 2025
• Fellows may begin as early as May 2025.
• Fellows will complete their projects no later than August 2025. 
• Exact schedules are flexible; See FAQ for sample schedules

Who Can Apply? 

Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply:

• Georgetown psychology majors and minors  
• current sophomores and juniors (in the Spring of 2025)
• students in good academic standing 

What You Need to Apply

To apply, you will be asked to submit two brief statements:

1. Statement of Purpose answering the following three questions:
   • What are your short-term professional goals (next 1-2 years)? 
   • What are your long-term professional goals? 
   • Given your goals, what are you looking to learn/develop/get out of your summer fellowship experience?
2. Statement of Fit describing why you are a good candidate given the purpose of the fellowship, such as challenges and barriers you have faced and/or your contributions to diversity. Your statement may address any and all of the following, as well as other related factors as you see fit:
   1. personal experiences and challenges;
   2. socioeconomic background;  
   3. demonstrated ability and commitment to develop and support diversity and cultural understanding;
   4. cultural or family background (e.g., first-generation or first-in-family college student; parental level of education or income; and region of residence or high school attended).

What You Do Not Need to Apply

The purpose of the fellowship is to lower barriers to gaining research experience. Accordingly, unlike many other internships and summer projects, applicants for this fellowship:

• do NOT need to propose a research project
• do NOT need to have their own research ideas
• do NOT need to have previous research experience
• do NOT need to meet minimum GPA requirements
• do NOT need to solicit letters of recommendations

How to Apply

1. Take a look at the list of mentors and projects and identify projects/mentors you are interested in.
2. Contact the mentor or mentors you are interested in working with. You must hear back from at least one mentor before completing the application. Some mentors may ask that you meet with them first before completing the application. 
3. Submit your application using this online form.

FAQ

Please review the FAQ below and contact Dr. Kostadin Kushlev (kk1100@georgetown.edu), Chair of the DEIB committee, if you have any further questions. 

What would my schedule look like? 

As part of this fellowship, you will spend about 125 (for part-time fellowship) to 250 (for full-time fellowship) hours in the lab (this would include lab work, but also meetings with your mentor and the lab). The way you distribute these hours is flexible. For example, for the full-time fellowship, you can work 25 hours for 10 weeks,or some other combination that adds up to 250 hours. Talk to your mentor to develop a schedule that works best for you. 

Depending on the lab, your assigned tasks may include collecting and coding and analyzing data, searching for research articles, and recruiting and testing participants. You will also attend lab meetings and meet with your mentor.

Can I consider multiple prospective mentors? 

We encourage you to talk to all faculty that offer projects that are of interest to you. If you can see yourself working for more than one lab, mention these labs in your application. If you are selected for the fellowship, you will be asked to select one lab. If you work with a mentor not mentioned on the list (or are considering one), let us know.

Will I need to be in DC to participate? 

This may differ across mentors. Talk to your prospective mentor(s) to determine whether virtual and hybrid options may be an option for you.

Will I receive housing?

This fellowship does not provide housing. Recognizing that summer housing may be a considerable barrier to students to engage in this opportunity, we have compiled a list of options that provide additional funding and/or free housing.

How do I approach faculty members? Would this time frame give them enough time to connect with me? 

All faculty members on the list have agreed to be contacted. Do not hesitate to approach them. See sample language for contacting faculty about research opportunities below:

Subject: Prospective Mentee-Psy Summer Research Fellowship

Dear Dr. X, 

My name is X, and I am a [sophomore/junior/senior] psychology [major/minor]. I would like to apply to work in your lab as a Psychology Summer Research Fellow. I would appreciate an opportunity to talk to you. This week, my schedule is as follows: ______. 

Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!

Best, 

NAME

Are there any other psychology research funding opportunities aside from this fellowship?

Yes! Please check out the resources in this Research Funding document.