Opportunities for Students

The Institute for Learning in Retirement

Click here to look at awards and applications available for both undergraduate and graduate students.

T Team- NIH Training Programs (T32)

UF has partnered with the NIH to provide training opportunities for the next generation of scientists (post doctoral, graduate, & undergraduate students). Dr. Ebner is a mentor in this program, specifically for the Cognitive Intervention program and Substance Abuse program. To learn more about this program and access the application, visit the T32 Program website.

Undergraduate Funding/Fellowship Opportunities

Our lab is interested in giving undergraduate students opportunities to realize their full scientific capabilities. This can be done through fellowship programs or other research programs. Because our lab receives funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), we are able to receive funding for the NSF program Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) as a supplement. Undergraduate students that participate in this program gain valuable research experience for the graduate level.

Some members of our lab who have worked under the REU program include:

Amber Heemskerk (Summer, 2019); Erin Tammi (Summer, 2019); Farha Deceus (Summer, 2019); Elisha Myers (Summer, 2018); Joseph Perez (Summer, 2018); Katherine Buzzanca (Summer, 2017); Sevilay Yumusak (Summer, 2017); Aliye Karakoyun (Summer, 2017); Jessie Somerville (Summer, 2017); Robert Rainer (Summer, 2016); Sebastian Marin (Summer, 2016); Dinia Salmeron (Summer, 2016); Melis Muradoglu (Summer, 2016)

University Scholars Program

One of the programs in which Dr. Ebner is involved is the University Scholars Program. This program enables students to work with UF faculty on selected research projects.

Here are a list of past undergraduate lab members who have competed in USP:

Royi Lynn (2018-2019); Dinia Salmeron (2017-2018); Paul Talty (2017-2018); Robert Rainer (2016-2017); Melis Muradoglu (2015-2016); Bailey Hofmann (2015-2016); Andrew Varan (2014-2015); Katie Dillon (2014-2015); Connor Volpi (2014-2015); Anand Desai (2013-2014); Reesa Lendry (2013-2014); Sondre Skarsten (2012-2013); Gaby Maura (2012-2013)

CLAS Scholars Program

The CLAS Scholars Program (CSP) gives undergraduate students an opportunity to work one- on-one with a CLAS faculty member on a research project. For more information, visit the CLAS website and apply today!

Here are a list of past undergraduate lab members who have completed this program:

Maya Kantor (2022-2023); Elisha Myers (2019-2020)

Emerging Scholars

The University of Florida encourages early undergraduate students who are interested in adding a research experience to their curriculum at the freshman or sophomore year to apply for this entry-level program. A $1,000 award will be disbursed in two parts for each semester of research. For more information and application deadlines, visit the Emerging Scholars Program website today!

Diversity Summer Research Awards

For undergraduates who would like to spend the summer working full-time in a research lab but do not have the financial means to do so. The summer research experience can be in a lab in which the student is already working at their home institution or in a lab at a different university. Visit the Scientific Research Network on Decision Neuroscience & Aging website for more details and application deadlines.

Summer Undergraduate International Research Program

The Summer Undergraduate International Research Program provides University of Florida undergraduate researchers with a life-changing opportunity to conduct research at a foreign institution. Previous Scholars have conducted research in Uganda, Argentina, France, Italy, and many other countries. University of Florida students in any discipline may apply for SUIRP. Students receive a summer international research award of up to $5000 to cover travel and living expenses. For more information on eligibility and application processes, visit the CUR International Research website!

McNair Scholars Program

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, The UF McNair Scholars Program supports undergraduate students from low-income, first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds in their future pursuit of a doctoral degree. During the summer, students participate in an intensive research program. They attend workshops on topics related to graduate study at the doctoral level such as the nature of academic life, standardized test preparation, writing and researching skills, and the graduate school application process. Also, McNair scholars receive a research stipend up to $2800 for the summer. Click here to learn how to apply!

Graduate Funding/Fellowship Opportunities

McNair Graduate Assistantship Program

The McNair Graduate Assistantship Program was created to provide support for students who have successfully completed the McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program as undergraduates. UF provides a limited number of research assistantships for McNair Scholars who are entering a Ph.D. program at this institution. This assistantship program provides a stipend, in-state tuition, fees, and health insurance for up to 4 years for a Ph.D. or up to 3 years for an MFA degree. As part of the program, each student will be appointed to a research assistant and expected to conduct research under faculty supervision. Click here to learn how to apply!

The McKnight Foundation

The McKnight Scholar Awards encourage neuroscientists in the early stages of their careers to focus on disorders of learning and memory. The awards support young scientists who hold the M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree, who have completed formal postdoctoral training, and who demonstrate a commitment to neuroscience. The Endowment Fund especially seeks applicants working on problems that, if solved at the basic level, would have immediate and significant impact on clinically relevant issues.

Trainee Enhancement Opportunities

The McKnight Brain Institute (MBI) at the University of Florida invites applications for funds to support Trainee Enhancement Opportunities (TEOs). Eligible individuals include those involved in either basic or clinical neuroscience research training, including students from Ph.D., M.D. and combined doctoral programs, as well as postdoctoral and/or clinical fellows. Candidates must be a member of the MBI for consideration. This new program is designed to support training opportunities that cannot be supported by the trainee’s normal program. Click here to apply!

Toffler Leadership Awards

These awards recognize excellence in neuroscience research and/or education by students enrolled in a Ph.D., M.D. or combined doctoral program at the University of Florida. $2,500 per year is dedicated in support of this program and it is anticipated that up to three awards will be given annually. Submissions are from September-October 2022, click here to apply.

Tofffler Research Award

Through funding provided to McKnight Brain Institute by the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust for Neuroscience Research and Education Fund, the MBI established the Toffler Research Awards to provide summer research funds for M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. students in neuroscience. Applications are now being accepted!

Jacquelin Goldman Dissertation Fellowship

The dissertation award is one-year fellowship (not to exceed 12 calendar months) to support outstanding doctoral students conducting dissertation research focused on developmental questions with the expectation that this work will make a significant contribution to advancing an understanding of development in the Fellow’s field of research. Click to learn more!

Jacquelin Goldman Spring Scholarship

The spring scholarship award will be made annually to support outstanding doctoral student(s) conducting research in the field of Developmental Psychology through the summer months. These awards are made in the spring of the academic year and constitute summer funding.

Jacquelin Goldman Research Grant

This research grant supports outstanding doctoral students for research expenses related directly to carry out a research project in the field of Developmental Psychology.

Gerber Developmental Psychology Research Award

The research should make an empirical contribution that advances knowledge and theory about development within a given phase of development, or across the life span. Studies of any aspect of psychological development are appropriate, as are studies of the biological, social, and cultural factors that affect development. Laboratory-based experimental studies, studies employing other rigorous qualitative or quantitative methodologies, such as ethnographies, field research, and secondary analyses of large data sets are all acceptable. Research may be a conference paper, a poster, a manuscript submitted for publication, or a published empirical study. For more details about materials application, click here.
Materials should be submitted electronically to dkertes@ufl.edu

APA Dissertation Research Award

The Science Directorate of the American Psychological Association sponsors an annual competition for dissertation research funding. The purpose of the Dissertation Research Award program is to assist science-oriented doctoral students of psychology with research costs. The current program includes 30-40 grants of $1,000 each, along with several larger grants of up to $5,000 to students whose dissertation research reflects excellence in scientific psychology.

APA Psychological Science Research Grant

This grant provides support for graduate students conducting psychological science research studies, with additional funding reserved specifically for diversity-focused research.

Gerontological Society of America Fellowship Program

This program allows for ten graduate or upper level undergraduate students to conduct projects regarding care to elderly people in various residential settings. Work closely with a faculty preceptor and agency liaison to conduct agency-based research.

MBI Research Fellowships

The MBI anticipates awarding one-year fellowships to two doctoral students and one fellow. Awards for doctoral students will be up to $25,000, and post-doctoral fellows and clinical fellows will be up to $40,000 which can be used for salary, fringe and tuition as needed. Individuals who have received at least $10,000 in MBI funding within the past fiscal year are not eligible to apply for this award. Click here to apply!

APAGS/Psi Chi Junior Scientist Fellowship

APAGS and Psi Chi are committed to promoting psychological science and the needs of research-oriented students. The Junior Scientist Fellowship provides support for students entering their first year, or the first semester of their second year, of a research-oriented graduate program.

Graduate Travel Awards

MBI Travel Awards

The MBI will accept requests to offset the faculty and trainee costs associated with presenting at conferences with a primary focus on central and peripheral nervous system function.Attendees and if appropriate, primary mentors, must be MBI members, and be a presenting author at a national or international academic conference. The MBI will support no more than $1,000 travel per trainee in one fiscal year and no more than $3,000 over a three-year period per faculty member; however, this can be divided over multiple conference requests. Students must have exhausted funding from other University of Florida sources and both fellows and students must have applied for travel awards from the conference itself, as available. Click to learn more!

Student Travel Funding Request

If you are the presenting author, you are eligible for at least $300 per fiscal year. The students of faculty who contribute to the Center for Biomedical Sciences Research and Training (CBMSRT) will be eligible for up to $1,000/year in travel to a meeting, depending on mentor contribution. Click here to learn more.

University of Florida Graduate Student Council

The Graduate Student Council has travel funds up to $250 available, regardless of your year of study.

Graduate School Doctoral Research Travel Award

The Graduate School Doctoral Research Travel Award provides support for research related travel expenses for PhD students primarily in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. This one-time awarded program provides support for students with inadequate funding to conduct doctoral dissertation research away from UF.

UF Office of Research Graduate Student Request for Travel Funds

The student should have passed their qualifying exams, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Upon acceptance, the Office of Research will provide travel awards up to $400 per trip and require matching funds from the department and/or college. These funds are primarily for assistance with the cost of travel, particularly airfare. These grants may be awarded to Graduate Students for traveling once per fiscal year.

APA Graduate Student Research Presentation Award

This award supports graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds as well as those graduate students who are conducting research to benefit underrepresented populations by increasing the affordability of APA’s Annual Convention for presenters, through reimbursement up to $600.

Other Opportunities for Graduates