Kempner Undergraduate Research Experience (KURE)

Overview

KURE provides funding and mentorship to support Harvard undergraduates conducting research related to the study of intelligence, guided by a Kempner-affiliated faculty mentor. Students must identify a project with a Kempner-affiliated faculty mentor prior to applying to KURE.

Each KURE award provides $1500 for term-time research, with a standard expected time commitment of 8-10 hours per week during the term, though students should define specific time-commitment expectations with their faculty mentor.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to simultaneously apply for research support from other sources, such as the Harvard College Research Program (HCRP), to increase the likelihood of receiving funding.

Identify a Research Project

Prior to applying to KURE, students must identify a project with a Kempner-affiliated faculty mentor. To learn more about potential research projects with Kempner-affiliated mentors, visit our Research Opportunity Bulletin Board or reach out to faculty members or affiliate faculty members directly.

Research Opportunity Bulletin Board

Eligibility

Applicants must be:

• Enrolled, Harvard-College-degree-seeking students, in good academic standing
• Have a research mentor who is a co-director, investigator, associate faculty member, affiliate faculty member, or experienced research fellow at the Kempner Institute.
• Pursue research related to one or more of the following areas:
  • Foundations of intelligence, including mathematical and computational models of intelligence; cognitive theories of intelligence; and the neurobiological basis of intelligence
  • Research and development of new AI or ML methodologies or models from an engineering perspective, as well as scientific studies focused on understanding deep learning. This includes the development of novel applications of artificial intelligence, covering areas such as LLMs, generative AI models, computational biology, and the analysis of high-dimensional neural and behavioral data.
• The proposed project should be a self-contained research project that is feasible within one semester. KURE does not support research assistant positions.

Please note:

• Students may be funded for no more than three total terms by Kempner Institute undergraduate programs (KURE and KRANIUM), where a term is fall semester, spring semester, or summer.
• Students cannot receive a stipend for research for which they are receiving course credit or another stipend.

Benefits

In addition to gaining research experience and working with a faculty member, KURE students receive:

• Term-time stipend support of $1500 per student.
• Access to Kempner community events and programming, including all-hands meetings.
• Depending on the proposed project, students may receive access to the Kempner Institute computational cluster for specific project work if access is not already available through their mentor.

Expectations

• The standard expected time commitment for this award is 8-10 hours per week throughout the term, but students should discuss more specific time commitment expectations with their faculty mentor.
• The research conducted must occur during the term for which the award was given.
• Students must submit a final report and may be asked to give a final poster or presentation to the Kempner community. The final report will be sent to the student’s faculty mentor to be approved.

Application process

Applications open August 1 for fall term funding and November 1 for spring term applicants. To receive email updates about Kempner Institute undergraduate programs, please sign up for our undergraduate mailing list.

Required application materials:

• Application Form in CARAT
• Current Resume (one page maximum)
• Current Unofficial Transcript: Download your unofficial transcript from my.harvard.edu. Fall Term applicants should upload transcripts that include their fall course schedule. Spring Term applicants should upload transcripts that include fall course grades.
• Essay Responses: In a separate document, please provide responses to the following two questions. Please ensure your name is at the top of the page.
  1. Research proposal (500 words maximum, not including citations). Please outline your proposed research project. This should include what you want to do, why you want to do it (the significance of the research), and how you will do it (an overview of the steps you will take).
  2. Describe how you will contribute to and benefit from participation in KURE and the Kempner Institute community (500 words maximum). How will participation inform your academic trajectory or contribute to your professional goals? What abilities, talents, experiences, and other attributes will you bring to the Kempner Institute that will help further its mission? Feel free to describe any relevant community activities or educational activities that you participate in or have helped to organize.
• Support Form: Please ask the Kempner-affiliated faculty member who will be supervising your research to fill out this endorsement form ahead of the deadline. They do not need to upload an additional letter of support or recommendation.
• Decisions are usually communicated within one month of the deadline.

Questions?

Please email us at kempnereducation@harvard.edu with any questions about Kempner undergraduate research programs. To receive updates about Kempner undergraduate programs, sign up for our undergraduate mailing list.