Undergraduate Research
MMUF Program Life and Benefits
Program Life
Students selected to be a Mellon Fellow will be required to participate in the following activities both during two summers and two academic years:
- Conduct research projects under the supervision of a faculty mentor.
- Attend workshops and seminars designated to aid student research and writing skills and to assist in preparation for graduate school.
- Present research on campus and at conferences.
- Attend social gatherings and meetings.
- Complete a research paper to be developed over the course of the program. Students will also be required to submit a paper to the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Journal.
- With approval, fellows may spend their second summer away from campus to conduct their eight weeks of research.
Benefits
Benefits of participation in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) begin at the undergraduate level during the two summers and two academic years at Oberlin, and continue through a student’s pursuit of a PhD in a MMUF-eligible field and beyond.
The benefits of participating in the MMUF program are both personally and academically rewarding. If you're still unsure about applying to become an MMUF fellow, consider the ways in which the program might benefit you.
Undergraduate Benefits
- A $4,500 stipend (before taxes) annually for eight weeks of full-time research during the summer program
- Summer housing on campus covered by the fellowship
- An $4,000 stipend (before taxes) annually for part-time research during the academic year
- $800 annually for scholar development, including research travel, books, and research supplies related to the fellow’s project
- Annual travel expenses paid to participate in the Mellon Mays Midwest Regional Conference to present research and network with Mellon fellows from Carleton College, Grinnell College, Macalester College, Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and Washington University in St. Louis
- On- and off-campus research presentation opportunities
- Personalized research mentorship from a faculty member whom the student identifies at the time of application to the program, including weekly one-on-one meetings with the faculty mentor
- Graduate school preparation through GRE training, professional development, and assistance with application fees to MMUF-eligible PhD programs
Postgraduate Benefits
Postgraduate mentoring and PhD program application support through the Institute for Citizens & Scholars Mellon Mays Graduate Assistance Program
Graduate Benefits and Postdoctoral Benefits
MMUF’s support for fellows continues as they enter graduate school and into their postdoctoral and faculty careers, through grants to two nonprofit organizations with extensive experience administering academic programs: the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) and the Institute for Citizens & Scholars (IC&S)
Loan Repayment
Upon completion of a PhD in an MMUF-eligible field fellows are eligible for repayment of up to $10,000 of undergraduate student loans. Questions about loan repayment should be directed to Oberlin MMUF staff.