Program Overview

S. Erving Severtson Research Fellowship

The S. Erving Severtson Research Fellowship is a grant awarded to undergraduate students at Pacific Lutheran University to support joint student and faculty research. The fellowship is endowed by the Forest Foundation and provides financial assistance to students and faculty supervisors.

Eligibility and Application

• The competitive application process is open to undergraduate students collaborating with any faculty member from the departments/programs previously housed in the Division of Social Sciences: Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice.
• To apply, a student must submit a completed application form and unofficial transcripts.
• A student should consult with their faculty supervisor about the project prior to submitting their application.

Selection Criteria

• Thoroughness and completeness of the application
• Merit of project
• Appropriateness for student involvement
• Likelihood that research will lead to publication
• While students may propose to work with any full-time faculty member in the departments/programs listed, applications from students proposing to work with recently hired tenure-track faculty and faculty who have not supervised an award in the previous award cycle will receive higher priority.
• Student information such as academic record and career goals will be considered
• The experience/ability of the student to complete the research will be considered
• Students must be enrolled at PLU for the duration of the project. Preference will be given to students who will be enrolled in the fall and the spring. December 2026 graduates can apply, but they must present a detailed plan for how they will complete each aspect of the project prior to graduation.

Fellowship Details

• For a student researcher, the grant covers up to $500 for project expenses and a $4,115 fellowship.
• Each faculty supervisor is also eligible for up to $1,100 for travel and other project-related expenses per project.
• The student researcher will receive 50% ($2,057.50) of their fellowship payment by the end of September 2026. The remaining 50% ($2,057.50) will be disbursed upon the completion of the project, as confirmed by the faculty supervisor, no later than the end of May 2027.
• Travel and other project expenses (up to $500 for the student) will be reimbursed only to a currently enrolled student upon submission of original receipts.

Project Requirements

• If selected, all student work on the project must be performed between the dates of June 1, 2026, and May 31, 2027.
• The amount of effort in the project should be equivalent to two 4-credit hour courses, or 240 hours of work.
• The student is expected to:
  • Meet regularly with their faculty supervisor
  • Write a research report (or other appropriate concluding product) to be delivered to the Dean's office no later than the last day of Spring classes
  • Present the findings of their research at the Rae Linda Brown Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects Showcase or other approved venue

Application Deadline

• Applications are due by 5pm on Friday, April 24, 2026.