ASF Undergraduate Summer Research Grant

ASF Undergraduate Summer Research Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Autism Science Foundation
Amount: US $4,000
Last Updated: January 28, 2026

Summary

The Autism Science Foundation offers the ASF Undergraduate Summer Research Grant to support undergraduates conducting research related to autism spectrum disorders. Applicants must be enrolled in a Bachelor’s program, and research can occur at any university under a qualified mentor. The grant provides $4,000, with $3,500 allocated as a stipend for the student. Special priority is given to studies addressing disparities in autism diagnosis and services across diverse communities.

Overview

Undergraduate Summer Research Awards The Autism Science Foundation invites applications from highly qualified undergraduates interested in pursuing basic and clinical research relevant to autism spectrum disorders during the summer. The proposed research must be scientifically linked to autism. Autism Science Foundation will consider all areas of related basic and clinical research including but not limited to: human behavior across the lifespan (language, learning, communication, social function, epilepsy, sleep, self-injurious behavior, catatonia), neurobiology (anatomy, development, neuro-imaging), pharmacology, neuropathology,human genetics, genomics, epigenetics, epigenomics, immunology, molecular and cellular mechanisms,studies employing model organisms and systems, and studies of treatment, service delivery, policy and employment. We encourage studies that focus on profound autism and/or include participants with profound autism. Awards Autism Science Foundation will make a number of Awards determined by its available financial resources. Research must be conducted in a university-based laboratory or in the field under the supervision of a highly qualified mentor for a period of no less than 8 weeks. Awards of $4000 will be made directly to the university sponsoring the research. Of this, the university must pay $3500 directly to the student as a stipend; $500 shall be used for lab expenses and indirect university costs.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants for summer undergraduate research awards must be currently enrolled undergraduates in good standing in a program leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The summer research may take place at a university other than the one where the student is enrolled as an undergraduate.The mentor should be faculty at the university where the research will take place.The research itself may take place on or off campus (i.e. in a school, at a job site employing individuals with autism, at a summer camp, etc.) as long as it is supervised by an experienced mentor and/or advisor and a plan on how this will occur is included in the application.The proposed mentor must hold a tenured or tenure-track faculty appointment (or equivalent) at an accredited institution of higher education or health/medical/research institution and must be an established and active investigator in some aspect of autism research.Each mentor may support only one candidate per summer.

Ineligibility

This award cannot be used to directly cover tuition payments. Applicants who are currently enrolled in a program, but will graduate prior to date specified in RFA are NOT eligible.Candidates may not have a BA or BS at the time the award is started.