The Ethics Research Fellowship (ERF) Program provides training for up to 10 Notre Dame second-year undergraduates who are passionate about research for the common good. ERFs develop their research and communication skills and expand their scholarly and professional networks–all within the interdisciplinary community of NDIAS. In the first semester, ERFs attend weekly ethics research workshops and take a fully-funded research vision trip to London over fall break. During the second semester, ERFs are connected with a Notre Dame faculty mentor with whom they’ll work as a research assistant.
Apply to Become an Ethics Research Fellow
The application period for 2023-2024 Ethics Research Fellowships is now closed. The application period for 2024-2025 Fellowships will open in Spring 2024.
WHY APPLY FOR AN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP?
Research Project Development
- Weekly seminars on professional development, research methods, and identifying one’s core research project
- A funded fall break research-vision trip to London, UK, which will engage an ethics theme
- Second-semester research assistantships with Notre Dame faculty in the student’s field of interest, with potential for ongoing faculty collaboration throughout junior year
- Training and critical feedback for building a thesis research proposal; ongoing senior thesis writing support and feedback up through graduation
- Access to a dedicated community and work space at the NDIAS
Ethics Research Training
- Instruction in developing a critical ethical component to a research project
- Workshops on understanding and applying ethical theory to moral issues that emerge in the students’ field of interest
- Collaborative ethics research projects spanning across the disciplines
Networking and Mentorship
- Close interaction with a wide variety of ND faculty, staff, and NDIAS fellows
- Focussed training in academic networking
- Access to NDIAS events including film discussions, seminars, guest lectures, conferences, and more
- Application preparation support for research grants, fellowships, jobs, and internships
These fellowships include a stipend of $1,100 in the second semester.
Eligibility
The Ethics Research Fellowship program is open to all Notre Dame rising sophomores currently pursuing a major in a field that places a strong emphasis on critically engaging ethics, meaning, and the common good–fields like philosophy, theology, political science, sociology, economics, psychology, history, literature, anthropology, and art/art history.
Students should be able to devote 6 hours per week to institute activities (which includes a weekly afternoon seminar), and should be eligible to work in the United States, as they’ll be paid a stipend during second semester. Students must also be available to take part in the London (UK) research vision trip during 2023 fall break.
The NDIAS welcomes applications from students who are interested in critically engaging pressing ethical issues that emerge from cutting edge research, and exploring how interdisciplinary cooperation can yield solutions to complex problems.
Application Instructions
Applications to the Ethics Research Fellowship Program include:
- A completed application form;
- Contact information for a faculty member or professional colleague who can serve as a reference (please provide in application form)
The application period for 2023-2024 Ethics Research Fellowships is now closed. The application period for 2024-2025 Fellowships will open in Spring 2024.
Apply to Become an Ethics Research Fellow
Questions about the program should be directed to Jeff Tolly, Assistant Director of Educational Initiatives, at jtolly@nd.edu.