The Trinity Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research (T-SUMR) Fellowship (formerly called the Deans’ Summer Research Fellowship (DSRF)) supports the engagement of Trinity undergraduate students in immersive research and inquiry over the summer as they work towards Graduation with Distinction. The goal of the T-SUMR Fellowship is to provide an opportunity to students for full-time research engagement for 6 or 10 weeks, either on or off campus.
Students can choose to apply for a 6-week fellowship of $3000 or a 10-week fellowship of $5000 for the educational enrichment opportunities that participating in research provides. Additionally, students doing research in Social Sciences and Humanities can apply for up to $1000 in funding towards research supplies or travel costs in order to conduct their research project.
T-SUMR Fellowships can support faculty-mentored research in any discipline in the humanities, social sciences and STEM fields and is open to Duke Trinity undergraduate students enrolled for the following fall semester. Preference is given to students whose research is directly related to their senior thesis projects. Those students looking for arts funding should apply to the Benenson Award in the Arts.
See "Application Information" below for Eligibility Information, Timeline, and Mentor Endorsement Information, and the "Frequently Asked Questions" tab for answers to questions.
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Application Process and Timeline
Here's an overview of the due dates, requirements, and eligibility of the T-SUMR Fellowship! This year, we have a priority review and a later review option. Regardless, all applications are due April 1, 2026.
Priority Review Timeline
- Student Application Due Date: March 6, 2026
- Faculty Letter of Support Due Date (Academic Recommender): March 10, 2026
- Notification of Application Status (acceptance, wait list, or rejection): The week of March 30, 2026
- Student Decisions Due: Week of April 6, 2026. Students must notify the URS Office if they accept or pass on the offer. If needed, we’ll move on to the wait list.
Later Review Timeline
- Student Application Due Date: April 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm
- Faculty Letter of Support Due Date (Academic Recommender): April 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm
- Notification of Application Status (acceptance, wait list, or rejection): Mid-April
- Student Decisions Due: A week from the offer. If needed, we’ll move on to the wait list.
Eligibility
- With the exception of graduating seniors, all undergraduates in Duke's Trinity College are eligible to apply for a Trinity Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research Fellowship.
- Note: Pratt students pursuing a second major in Trinity may also apply in support of on-campus projects if it is related to their second major with A&S faculty. Pratt students should consider applying for the Pratt Research Fellows Program.
- Students must have the support of a Duke faculty mentor whose area of expertise aligns with the student’s project. The mentor is expected to provide regular guidance and feedback and to meet with the student consistently throughout the research period.
- Preference is given to individuals whose research is directly related to their senior thesis projects.
- Students may not be enrolled in courses during the period they designate as their fellowship period.
Application Requirements:
- Complete Trinity Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research Fellowship Application
- Includes Research Project Proposal, Abstract, and Sources
- Mentor Letter of Recommendation
- In addition to the application, you will need to provide contact information for your Duke Faculty mentor (in the 'Academic Recommender' section) who will be asked to submit an endorsement on your behalf. This endorsement must be submitted by a faculty mentor that will be overseeing your research project. The faculty mentor will need to answer a series of questions demonstrating a strong relationship with you and their thorough knowledge of your planned research project. Your mentor should be doing research in a similar field and be able to address the scholarly value of your research project. They should be able to attest to your preparedness and relevant experience for completing the project, their commitment to providing oversight and feedback to your project, and assistance with resources.
- T-SUMR Fellowship Acknowledgement of Commitment to Participate
- Complete Duke Experiences General Questionnaire
- Your responses will be shared with any Duke experience you choose to apply. Please note that the 'Duke Experiences' application portal requests name and contact info for two references. You may list the same person who is providing your Mentor Endorsement (your 'Academic Recommender') and list one additional recommender. We will not contact them unless follow-up is needed.
- Please see the requirements for “Projects Involving Human Subjects” as detailed on our website if research includes human subjects.
Questions or concerns? Contact the URS Office Inbox at ursoffice@duke.edu
Funding Disclosure
Students will be expected to list any other grants or funding to which they are applying or have applied. The URS Office is willing to collaborate with other offices to meet, but not exceed, a student’s research budget needs. If additional funding is not disclosed, this can result in revocation of the T-SUMR fellowship.
Note that fellowships are reportable income by IRS rules.
Projects Involving Human Subjects
Projects involving interactions with human subjects (whether conducted in person or online) require approval from the Duke Institutional Review Board (IRB). Initial IRB applications must be submitted before applying for T-SUMR funding, as the IRB review process can take several weeks and often involves multiple rounds of feedback and revisions. The URS Office cannot disburse T-SUMR funds until IRB approval has been granted.
Starting the IRB process early ensures that approval is obtained in time to conduct research during the summer. Please note that a faculty mentor’s existing IRB protocol does not automatically cover a student’s project. Students should confirm this directly with the IRB. Throughout the review process, students are expected to stay in regular communication with their assigned IRB specialist.
To meet T-SUMR payroll deadlines, final IRB approval details, including the protocol number and expiration date, must be submitted to the URS Office no later than May 1 for payment on May 31. No exceptions will be made.
For additional guidance and resources, please visit the Duke Campus IRB website.
Download Lists of Past Deans' Summer Research Fellows:
Updated: 12/19/25
Can non-Duke undergraduates apply?
No, Duke’s T-SUMR Fellowship is for rising Juniors and Seniors who will be enrolled at Duke in the following Fall semester.
I have never done any research – will this hurt my chances?
Not necessarily - Students may have prepared for doing research through coursework or other co-curricular opportunities. Although the T-SUMR Fellowship prioritizes students preparing for senior thesis work and graduation with distinction, exceptional proposals from rising juniors are considered.
If I am awarded a T-SUMR, may I enroll in a summer course or work another job?
Yes, but the dates that you dedicate to the research funded by the T-SUMR fellowship may not overlap with time that you are enrolled in a summer course.
How many people apply for this program and how hard is it to get in?
We anticipate over 100 applications for 25 slots. This is a competitive program.
What is the timeline?
Applications are due TBD. Students will be notified of their application status by the week of TBD.
Is there a waitlist?
Yes, there will be a short, unranked waitlist.
Do you wait to accept students after receiving all applications, or is there a rolling admissions process?
Yes, the Committee reviews all completed applications after the deadline. There are no rolling admissions.
May I check whether my application materials have been received?
We try to minimize the number of emails we field about completed applications. If you receive a confirmation email that your materials have been submitted, then we have received them. If you have not received a confirmation email that your application was successfully submitted, then we have not received them.
How important is academic performance in the selection process?
Grades are reviewed during the selection process, but are not the only criteria.
When are endorsements from faculty due?
Faculty endorsements are due a week after the application closes.
Can students apply multiple times for a T-SUMR Fellowship?
Yes. If you do not receive funding one year, you are encouraged to apply again the next year. There is no guarantee that repeat applications will be funded and it is wise to get feedback regarding improvements to your first application. Rising seniors pursuing honors theses or graduation with distinction are given priority in the application review process.
URS encourages you to identify other sources of funding to pursue for your research project, if needed. However, this must be disclosed at the time of your application. You are encouraged to find other lines of funding such as competitive of end-of-year awards within your major/minor/certificate departments or programs, competitive awards outside of Duke, and others. If you do not know if your major/minor/certificate department or program has awards for student work, contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies or Program Coordinator for details. Some departments list competitive awards information on their website.
Can a faculty or research mentor from another university serve as my mentor for T-SUMR?
No. T-SUMR Fellowship recipients must be mentored by Duke Faculty. In some cases, Duke Faculty may collaborate with research mentors at other institutions, but your Duke mentor is ultimately responsible for advising you on the project.
What projects have been funded in the past?
You can browse previously funded Deans’ Summer Research Fellowship (DSRF) projects completed prior to 2026 on our website. The DSRF program was renamed T-SUMR for the Summer of 2026.
I’m an international student, can I apply for T-SUMR?
Yes, international students are absolutely eligible for T-SUMR and are encouraged to apply. But keep reading into the next question, because the tax burden for international students can be significant.
What kind of tax impact does the award have? Could it affect my financial aid?
T-SUMR fellowship award funds are taxable and reported to the IRS. Your tax liability will depend on your total income and many other things, but all applicants should consider it when budgeting.
For international students, the tax burden is likely to be especially large—from 10% to 40% depending on your country of origin. So, for example, you might receive a total grant of $3000 but only be able to use $2000 of it towards your project because the other must be paid for taxes. Read here for more information and support.
If you are concerned about how your funding at Duke will work in relationship this award or other summer programs/opportunities, contact your financial aid counselor for further information and advice.
Can T-SUMR funds be used for projects during fall or spring semesters?
No.
Must T-SUMR awarded projects be completed by end of summer?
The time effort towards T-SUMR funded research must be completed before the beginning of the fall term.
Students accepted into the T-SUMR fellowship program are expected to commit full-time to their research for no less than 3 weeks. This includes:
- Students must dedicate either 6 weeks or 10 weeks, depending on the award, exclusively to T-SUMR and should not take classes or hold other jobs during that time.
- Students must frequently meet and work with their mentor to keep their research on track.
- If a student encounters a conflict or unforeseen circumstances, open communication with mentor(s) and the URS office is expected to ensure transparency and accountability.