Challenge, Innovation, Exploration, Experience, Self Discovery...

About the Fellowship

The Peter J. Eloranta Fellowships are awarded to MIT undergraduates for interesting and novel research student-initiated ideas developed outside the normal curriculum.  In making awards, the selection committee looks for engaging proposals that are well-written, original, and workable.

Each individual fellowship is $6,000.  The Eloranta Summer Fellowship Committee makes the award based on its review of submitted proposals.  In making awards, the selection committee looks for the WOW quality: Well-written, Original, and Workable.  The stipend may be used to cover living expenses, travel, or materials and services costs.

Eligibility

All MIT undergraduates (including seniors planning to graduate in June) are eligible to apply for the summer research fellowships.

Basic Proposal Requirements

• Proposals should dynamically capture your research idea and the attention of the review committee; help us understand your goals and your passion for this research.  Remember that your written proposal is what will be used to determine the viability of your project; so creative, graceful style and persuasiveness are essential.       
  
  
• The planned research project or study may be in any field: science, engineering, the arts, the humanities, or the social sciences.  There is no requirement that it be in your major.  (Please see the Prior Fellowship Recipients section for examples of exemplary projects).
  
  
• The research project must be student-originated and/or student-directed.  The proposal should describe your own plan, not a faculty member's research, nor the continuation of a laboratory's work. The research plan may have been inspired by or may have grown out of previous work, perhaps a UROP project, but the proposed research project must be your project. The project may be wholly original, or may be one suggested by someone else, but should be pursued in an independent, original or unusual way.
  
  
• This research project is expected to be a full time summer occupation.  It should be possible either to complete the entire work during the summer or at least complete the majority of the work then. Following the summer's work, award recipients will give a public presentation of their projects.
  

• An MIT faculty member need not supervise fellowship work; however, in some situations, faculty supervision or consultation may be advisable or even necessary to a project's successful outcome. 
  

• The proposal should present evidence that the project is a feasible one and has a chance of success.

See Additional Submission Requirements for more information.

See Proposal Format for complete proposal guidelines.