Chan Stride Independent Projects

PBHA’s Priscilla Chan Stride Service Program (formerly known as Stride Rite) supports students of diverse economic and social backgrounds as they become leaders in their communities by providing reflection and skill development opportunities, mentorship, and financial assistance. Scholarships are awarded to income-eligible undergraduate students to support a consistent, year-round commitment to service. Program participants commit to service work year-round: 25 hours/week for at least 6 weeks during the summer, and an average of 8 hours/week during the academic year, in addition to small meetings and leadership development. Preference is given to applicants pursuing full-time projects for a minimum of 8 weeks over the summer. The program is open to enrolled College students. Compensation up to $5000 is provided for summer service. Additional financial support (up to $4,000) is provided to support term service work. Scholars who complete all aspects of the program are eligible for graduation awards to support transition to life after college.

Applications and Deadlines: Applications open in March and are due the first week of May. 

President’s Public Service Fellows

Harvard’s Presidential Public Service Fellowship (PPSF) program supports a broad range of summer opportunities that serve the common good, awarding grants to 12-16 applicants seeking support for innovative projects that affect communities across the United States. Students from Harvard College and from Harvard’s graduate and professional Schools are eligible to apply. The program takes place in a variety of locations across the US. Program dates for Summer 2021 are to be determined.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Visit the PPSF website for more information.

Mindich Service Fellows

Mindich Service Fellowships offer Harvard College students the opportunity to explore public service work for 10 weeks during the summer through partnerships with several leading public service organizations across the U.S. Participating fellows will receive a $4,000-$5,000 stipend (dependent on location) and will be matched with a mentor from CPIC’s alumni/ae network. The program runs in a variety of US locations and is open to Harvard College students who intend to enroll in Harvard College for Fall 2021.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Learn more about the program.

SPARK

SPARK is an immersive six-week public service program for incoming first-year students that deepens community connections between home and Harvard. Students develop a public service project at home while receiving funding and ongoing support from Harvard staff, faculty, and student leaders. The program is open to incoming first-year students.

Applications and Deadlines: Applications and deadlines are to be determined.

Harvard Clubs

The Harvard Clubs Summer Community Service Fellowship (SCSF) Program enables Harvard undergraduates to perform public service in one of several communities across the country. Local Harvard Clubs commit to funding a summer intern, who identifies an internship of their choosing with support from Center for Public Interest Careers (CPIC). Fellows are expected to devote 10 weeks of full-time involvement to their summer public service project. The program can take place in a variety of US locations, and is open to first-years, sophomores, juniors, and first-semester seniors planning to return to Harvard in Fall 2021. Graduating seniors can apply, but Clubs and SIGs may give nomination preference to returning undergraduates.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Visit the Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship page or the Harvard Clubs SCSF Fellowships document for application instructions, deadlines, and more information.

Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) Research and Internship Program

The Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) offers returning Harvard undergraduates the opportunity to participate in paid summer research and internship placements. These opportunities are ten weeks long and will run virtually from approximately June 7 – August 13, 2021. Students may also apply to HGHI for funding for their own projects or internships.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed.  Find more information about HGHI Summer Research and Internship Program.

IOP Summer Stipend Program

The Institute of Politics offers funding for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors accepting non- or low-paying summer internships in politics and public service. Eligible internships include: local, state, or federal government, public interest groups, non-governmental organizations, political organizations, advocacy work, direct service and education. Participants will receive a $4,000 stipend for 8 weeks of full-time work to take place between June 7 and August 13, in a variety of US locations. The program is open to all Harvard College undergraduates who intend to be enrolled at Harvard College in Fall 2021.

Applications and Deadlines: Applications are due on Sunday, April 4 at 11:59 pm ET through CARAT. Learn more about the program and application requirements.

IOP Director’s Internship Program

The IOP partners with high-profile organizations and elected officials around the world to provide substantive, career-oriented summer internships for undergraduate students interested in politics, government, and public service. These are fully-funded internships that allow students to gain experience in the public sector that may otherwise be difficult to obtain or finance. Students who are selected for the IOP Director’s Internship program will receive a $4,000 stipend for 8 weeks of full-time work to take place between June 7 and August 13, in a variety of US locations. The program is open to all Harvard College undergraduates who intend to be enrolled at Harvard College in Fall 2021.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Learn more about the program and application requirements.

Office of Career Services (OCS) Internships

OCS maintains the Crimson Careers (Harvard-only) and UCAN (consortium) databases, listing internships and short-term projects posted by Harvard alumni and employers around the globe. Many of these opportunities are paid experiences funded directly by the employer, and represent diverse fields and sectors. OCS advisers are also able to help you brainstorm ideas to identify your own independently-sourced internship.

Office of Career Services (OCS) Independent Internships (International Focus)

If you are interested in pursuing an internationally focused internship or research assistantship with a duration of approximately 8 weeks, you can apply for OCS funding for an independent research assistantship or internship. The funding is open to all Harvard College students enrolled in the Spring term who also plan to enroll in the Fall 2021 semester. Currently, Harvard University has suspended university-related domestic and international travel, thus funding for summer 2021 will be offered for virtual experiences with an international focus.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Information and instructions are available on the OCS independent internships page.

Internships through Harvard’s International Centers

The FAS Office of Career Services (OCS) partners with many of Harvard’s international centers to fund their summer programs. More information about these programs is available on the OCS funded opportunities page.

Applications and Deadlines: Applications and deadlines vary by summer program. See the OCS funded opportunities page for a list of affiliated summer programs.

Summer Urban Program (SUP)

PBHA’s Summer Urban Program, or SUP, is a network of 10 summer camps at 11 different sites across Boston and Cambridge. The duration of each camp is seven weeks each summer. The Summer Urban Program is run by 130 college students who serve as directors and senior counselors, or teachers, in each camp. The program takes place in Boston and Cambridge and runs from June 1, 2021 through August 20, 2021. The program is open to all Harvard undergraduate students, including graduating seniors.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Contact the Summer Urban Program at sup@pbha.org for more information.

Adult ESOL

Join a team of students teaching roughly 300 low-income, adult immigrant learners each week in the Boston area to develop English language proficiency. Classes are free to participants and are offered in Chinatown, Dorchester, and Chelsea. Full-time and part-time roles are available for the summer. Two Program Directors are selected to supervise the program. Directors earn $4,700 for ten weeks of summer programming. During the summer they are responsible for developing lessons, teaching classes, supervising the staff, communicating with clients, and evaluating the program. Lessons focus on developing practical conversational, reading, and writing skills useful for everyday situations. Directors volunteer during the spring semester to prepare for the summer. Spring work includes hiring 4 part-time instructors, fundraising for the program, working with community partners to recruit learners, and developing training for staff. Part-time instructors develop and lead online classrooms. Total commitment of classroom instruction and curriculum development is 25 hours per week. Program will run for ten weeks between June 1- August 10, 2021.

Applications and Deadlines: Interested applicants should email aep@pbha.org and kerry@pbha.org with a cover letter and resume. Priority will be given to applicants who apply by February 15, 2021. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after February 15, 2021.

Y2Y Harvard Square

Serving in the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter has defined the college careers for thousands of Harvard undergraduates for nearly 40 years. With the opening of Young Adults Uniting to End Homelessness (Y2Y), a homeless shelter in Harvard Square for youth aged 18-24, students can immerse themselves in meaningful and life-changing work. Serve and connect with guests at Y2Y alongside fellow students and community members. Shifts vary from greeting guests with homemade breakfast and coordinating daily cleaning, to dinner and evening shifts including relaxed time to visit with the guests, to the rewarding overnight shifts. An estimated 1 in 10 young adults in the U.S. experiences homelessness, with many not comfortable staying at adult shelters. Y2Y volunteers share that connecting with the guests is like connecting with any other peer and that together, they can create sustainable pathways out of homelessness and develop skills for long-term success for youth experiencing homelessness. Y2Y Summer Directors work full-time. Their roles are a combination of direct supervision of evening and overnight shelter shifts and administrative duties. Summer Directors are compensated between $4,700-5,000.

Applications and Deadlines: Applications will be posted in early March on the Y2Y Harvard Square website. If you are interested or would like additional information, contact the Y2Y Staff Directors at: staff@y2yharvardsquare.org.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity hires one Director to supervise a team of volunteers as they prepare for and conduct annual stuff sales. The director works closely with staff at the Harvard Recycling and PBHA. Due to COVID-19, plans for this position are in development. The program takes place on campus. Responsibilities run from May 2021 through September 2021.

Applications and Deadlines: If you are interested in more information, email habitat@pbha.org or Laurie Chroney at laurie@pbha.org.

*Please note that the extent of the residential components of the Harvard Summer Undergraduate research Village (HSURV) programs are dependent on pending university policy decisions on summer campus/residential occupancy. The program dates are tentatively June 7, 2021 to August 12,2021. The programs are open to returning students in good standing in the College.

 

Build Learning through Inquiry in the Social Sciences (BLISS)

BLISS is a 10-week summer residential* program that provides undergraduate students with a formative, substantive social science research experience.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Program information and application instructions are available on the URAF website and the BLISS website.

Program for Research Science and Engineering (PRISE)

PRISE is a 10-week residential* research program for undergraduate researchers in the life, physical/natural, engineering, and applied sciences. 

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Program information and application instructions are available on the URAF website.

Program for Research in Markets and Organizations (PRIMO)

PRIMO is a 10-week residential* research program that provides a select group of undergraduate students with exposure to business research on a variety of cutting-edge ideas. 

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Visit the application page for complete instructions.

Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program (SHARP)

SHARP is a 10-week residential* research program that allows undergraduate researchers to work on research projects in the arts and humanities with Harvard-affiliated faculty, researchers, and senior library and museum staff. 

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Program information and application instructions are available on the URAF website.

Summer Undergraduate Research in Global Health (SURGH)

SURGH is a 10-week residential* summer program that allows a small cohort of undergraduate students to work on global health research projects with Harvard-affiliated faculty and researchers. 

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Visit the SURGH website for more information.

Summer Program for Undergraduates in Data Science (SPUDS)

SPUDS is a new 10-week residential* research program for undergraduate students conducting research in data science. SPUDS will support fellows with interests in computer science, mathematics, and statistics, including those who are interested in data science applications across the arts, humanities, and sciences. We also encourage SPUDS projects that focus on or emphasize ethical practices in data science research. 

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Program information and application instructions are available on the URAF website.

Harvard College-Mindich Program in Community-Engaged Research (PCER)

PCER is a 10-week immersive experience that allows undergraduate students to focus on community-engaged inquiry projects and learn about engaged scholarship. This year’s project will be with Professor Walter Johnson and the Commonwealth Project in St. Louis, MO. The project will be entirely remote. The program dates are to be determined. The program is open to continuing students in good standing in the College.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Program information and application instructions are available on the URAF website.

Harvard-Cambridge Summer Fellowship

The Harvard-Cambridge Scholarship Committee offers summer scholarships to undergraduates for supervised research or study at Cambridge University. Harvard College sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply. Applicants are expected either to arrange for their own advisor for a research placement or to select from a list of provided projects.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Program information and application instructions are available on the Harvard-Cambridge Scholarships site.

Harvard College Research Program (HCRP)

HCRP provides funding in support of student-initiated, independent scholarly research undertaken with guidance of a Harvard-affiliated faculty mentor. HCRP welcomes projects in any discipline, and the length of proposed projects may vary. The program is open to continuing students who are in good standing with the College.

Applications and Deadlines: The Summer HCRP deadline is Thursday, April 1 at 12:00 pm ET. Application instructions are available on the URAF website.

The Harvard College-Mindich Independent Research and Community Engagement Award (RCE)

RCE provides funding in support of undergraduates who are conducting an independent summer project that combines community-engaged service with student-initiated scholarly research. The project must involve the guidance of a Harvard-affiliated faculty mentor and be highly substantive: a minimum of around six weeks in duration, full-time in commitment, and exhibiting some autonomy in the development, direction, and execution of the project. The program is open to continuing students who are in good standing with the College.

Applications and Deadlines: The RCE deadline is Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 12:00 pm ET. Application instructions will be available on the URAF website near the start of the spring term.

Herchel Smith

Herchel Smith is an award supporting high-potential undergraduates who are conducting summer research projects in mathematics, engineering, life, physical/natural or computer sciences. Projects must be at least 10 weeks long and may take place at Harvard or other institutions. The program is open to continuing students who are in good standing with the College.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Visit URAF website for more information.

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program (MMUF)

MMUF selects ten sophomore undergraduates to join a tight-knit research community during junior and senior years to conduct independent research in close collaboration with a faculty mentor. Fellows attend regular meetings with the cohort to discuss their projects and engage in academic and pre-professional seminars on topics such presenting research, applying to graduate school, and more. The program is open to sophomores concentrating in the humanities and social sciences who are interested in pursuing graduate school—specifically, doctoral (PhD) studies in the humanities and social sciences, where people of color have been underrepresented.

Applications and Deadlines: The application deadline has passed. Visit the URAF MMUF website for more information.