URS Assistantship Grants

Applications for Fall 2024 URS Assistantship Grants are currently closed. The application period for Spring 2025 grants will reopen on Wednesday, January 8, the first day of spring semester classes.

Earn Wages as a Research Assistant Through Work-Study!

You can earn wages as a research assistant using your work-study award! Awards are typically $1100 per semester, but the amount awarded can vary on a case-by-case basis. 

It's important to note that financial aid does not cover 100% of your work-study award for your employer/research mentor. The remaining percentage is usually expected to be covered by your employer, but this isn’t always financially feasible for some research mentors. That's where our office steps in. At URS, we believe that wages for employment as research assistants are a vital way we can enhance undergraduate research engagement. When a research mentor can't cover the gap that financial aid doesn't provide for work-study awards, our grants help cover the cost. This allows you to use your full work-study award, ensuring your research mentor can keep you on payroll without any cost to them. 

We prioritize sending funding to research mentors that lack the funding to cover this gap. Please continue applying for assistantship grants whether your lab is well-funded or not — our job is to work with your mentors to ensure you receive the full amount you deserve.

NOTE: URS cannot provide assistantship grants to hire hourly workers working outside of North Carolina, because our office is not set up to be in compliance with other states’ non-exempt payroll and tax laws.

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for a URS Assistantship Grant

I. Identify a Faculty Mentor:

Find a faculty mentor conducting research that interests you and who agrees to hire you as a research assistant. You can connect through MUSER, cold emailing, or other methods.

II. Submit Your FAFSA Form:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), even if you think you may not qualify for financial aid.
  • Most Duke students become work-study eligible by submitting the FAFSA.
  • Eligible students can earn up to $1,100/semester in wages through a combination of work-study and URS Assistantship funds.
• For students who would be eligible for work-study but haven’t submitted a FAFSA:
  • The maximum URS Assistantship amount is $400. Research mentors may or may not be able to fund wages beyond the $400.  
• For students who truly do not qualify for work-study, such as international students or students who have scholarship(s) where work-study would interfere with their funding:
  • If you’re truly ineligible for work-study, we can award the equivalent of a work-study award which is $1,100.

III. Complete the URS Assistantship Application:

In your application, you will include your faculty mentor’s name and email. Your application will trigger an email to your mentor with a form they must complete to confirm your role as a research assistant.

IV. Wait for Application Review:

Allow two weeks for application processing. You and your mentor will be notified of the outcome via email.

V. Start Working:

Once approved, work with your department’s payroll representative to complete hiring paperwork. URS funding will be sent to your department to cover your wages.

Key Details:

Eligibility:
Open to all currently enrolled Duke undergraduates in any discipline. The research assistantship must be separate from any course or for-credit work.

Work-Study and URS Awards:
URS Assistantships cover gaps in wages not funded by work-study awards, typically contributing $275-$550 per semester.

For Non-Work-Study Students:
If you’re truly ineligible for work-study you may still qualify for an assistantship. 

Summer Terms:

• Enrolled Students: Work-study eligibility applies, and URS covers the employer’s funding gap (25–50% of wages). This amount will vary for the summer term for each student.  Students should work with financial aid to understand their summer work-study awards. 
• Non-Enrolled Students: Eligible for a $400 URS Assistantship for summer. For larger awards, consider the Deans’ Summer Research Fellowship.

Note: URS Assistantships are wages for employment and not academic fellowships. Departments are responsible for hiring students and managing payroll.

For more details, resources, and assistance, email the URS Office. We’re here to support your research journey!

Updated 12/19/24