School of Arts and Sciences
Environmental Studies Program

Funding and Awards

Student Funding Opportunities

ENVS Funding

  1. Environmental Studies Professional Development Fund
    Deadline: February 1st, October 1st or rolling until funds run out. This year's deadline to apply is Friday, February 21st.
    This endowed fund supports declared ENVS students pursuing internships and/or research opportunities all year round. Students may apply for a $1600 stipend for unpaid work, or request reimbursement for project-related expenses, such as equipment, travel to conferences, or field work. Local transportation to and from the internship/research site is not eligible for coverage. For eligibility requirements and instructions on how to apply, see the application form.
     
  2. Environmental Studies Career-Building Awards
    Amount: Up to $100 | Deadline: Rolling
    The Environmental Studies Program offers up to $100 to help declared Environmental Studies majors pay for costs to attend local conferences, workshops or any other event relevant to the student's career goals in the context of the Environmental Studies major. To apply, send the application to environmentalstudies@tufts.edu.

For additional ENVS funding, see the Career Center Summer Internship Grant Program and Tufts Summer Scholars sections below.

Funding for Unpaid Internships 

  1. Career Center Summer Internship Grant Program 
    Amount: $4,500  |  Deadline: March 
    The Summer Internship Grant Program supports students through funding, materials, resources, and support before, during, and after their summer internships, with the goal of helping students prepare for, and thrive, during their summer experience. During the program, students will attend a pre-internship orientation, receive biweekly newsletters, participate in career advising, conduct informational interviews, update their resumes, participate in supervision, and engage in formal reflection. Additionally, 3-4 grants offered through this program, including The Norton Nickerson Endowed Internship Grant, specifically fund declared ENVS majors to pursue environmental internships.

    Norton Nickerson Endowed Internship Grant:
    This is an endowed internship grant to honor the memory of the late Prof. Norton Nickerson, founder of the Tufts Environmental Studies Program (est. 1984). This internship will provide $4,500 for students undertaking unpaid summer internships, both in the U.S. and abroad. Preference will be given to ENVS majors conducting work in the area of environmental science but those working in other environmentally-related areas are encouraged to apply. Students must apply through the Career Center.

    Norton Nickerson Application & Deadlines

    Recipients:

  2. Borghesani Prize
    Amount: $1000-4000 | Deadline: February
    The Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize enables recipients to undertake a research project, internship, volunteer activity, or plan of study in a field involving international issues. Sophomores and juniors with a minimum 2.8 GPA from all departments or majors are eligible to apply.
     
  3. Lily Glidden Award
    Amount: Up to $2,500 | Deadline: February
    The Lily Glidden Award is awarded each semester to help students from pursuing a dream, in the U.S. or internationally, to explore and learn about the interconnected life on our planet. Open to all majors.
     
  4. Tisch Summer Fellows 
    Amount: $5,250  |  Deadline: January/February  
    This program offers full-time, 10-week fellowship positions that address a broad scope of social issues and interest areas. Opportunities are based in greater Boston, New York City, Providence, RI, and Washington, DC with the capacity for in-person work. Remote opportunities will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and might not be available during the 2023 program period.
     
  5. Udall Scholarship 
    Amount: Up to $7,000  |  Deadline: February 
    Each year, the Udall Foundation offers funding for sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment. The Foundation also provides assistance with career counseling, internship placement, graduate school admissions, and professional development.

Funding for Research

  1. Undergraduate Research Fund 
    Amount: Up to $450 | Deadline: Rolling
    Students may request funding for senior theses and for other proposals emphasizing original research that is directly supervised by a Tufts faculty member. You may request funding for expenses such as supplies, travel, library cards, and payment of research subjects. The fund will support travel to a conference if you are presenting research.
     
  2. Tufts Summer Scholars
    Amount: $3,500 living stipend + $1,000 research stipend + $1,000 faculty stipend
    Deadline: March
    The Summer Scholars program funds rising juniors and seniors to pursue ten-week independent research projects. As part of the program, you will work closely with a faculty mentor to create a poster to present at a poster session in the fall. The Farmanfarmaian and Terry Family scholarship specifically funds declared ENVS majors to pursue research in the environmental field through this program.
     
  3. Laidlaw Scholars
    Amount: ~$4,200 living stipend + ~$1,300 research stipend
    Deadline: January/February
    This program seeks to cultivate tomorrow’s leaders across all disciplines through independent research and leadership development programming. All scholars will develop, pursue, and report on a research question along with their faculty mentor over the course of at least one summer. Students are encouraged to explore faculty websites and speak with faculty that they are interested in working with as soon as possible.
     
  4. Visiting and Early Research Scholars’ Experiences (VERSE) Program
    Amount: A scholarship that provides a summer stipend, meal plan, and on-campus summer housing.
    Deadline: February
    The goals of the VERSE program is to offer a 10-week summer mentored research and scholarship experiences for undergraduates who may not have previously had the opportunity to conduct research and to inspire students to pursue doctoral studies at Tufts and envision research careers. For more information, students are encouraged to contact Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Ashon Bradford.

Awards

In addition to the awards below, learn about other General and Departmental Awards at Tufts.

  1. The Nancy W. Anderson Award for Environmental Sustainability 
    The Nancy W. Anderson Award for Environmental Sustainability is awarded to a junior or senior in Environmental Studies whose work in the natural, and social sciences, engineering, or humanities promotes the integration of those subjects in informing public policy decisions that may protect endangered natural resources while promoting sound social and economic development. Recipients of this award are chosen by the Environmental Studies Program. This award is sponsored by the Tufts Institute of the Environment.
     
  2. Annual Undergraduate Environmental Photo Contest 
    The Tufts Environmental Studies Program supports an annual Environmental Photo Contest. The contest is open to all Tufts undergraduate students and includes prizes for 1st place ($150), 2nd place ($100), and 3rd place ($50).