The Journey Early Researchers Grant
- up to $1,000 per recipient for student salary
- for projects in collaboration with a USC faculty mentor
- USC degree-seeking undergraduates in their first or second year at the Columbia campus are eligible to apply
- SCHC students, with the exception of first-generation and OSP SCHC students, are not eligible to apply
*Registration for the first workshop series of fall 2025 is closed. It will reopen in September for the October workshop series.*
- USC degree-seeking undergraduate in their first or second year at the Columbia campus
- No (or limited) previous research experience
- All majors in good academic standing
- SCHC students, with the exception of first-generation and OSP SCHC students, are not eligible to apply
Note: workshop registration is now closed. Registration for additional workshops will reopen in September for October workshops.
In order to be eligible for the $1,000 research salary funds, students must participate in three required workshops. These workshops occur at the start of the fall semester. All workshops are held in Russell House 304.
Tuesday Workshop Series: these workshops will be from 2:50-3:50pm on the following dates. Note: The Tuesday workshops are at capacity but accepting wait list applications.
- August 26
- September 2
- September 9
Wednesday Workshop Series: these workshops will be from 10:50-11:50am on the following dates.
- August 27
- September 3
- September 10
To reserve a spot in one of the workshop series, please complete this form. Note that spots are limited. Prior the start of the workshops, you will receive an email confirming your eligibility and your space in the workshop series or on the waitlist. Contact our@sc.edu with any questions.
After completing all required workshops, students will be invited to submit a Journey application. This application allows the OUR staff to begin identifying a potential faculty research mentor for the applicant.
If you have any questions, please contact our@sc.edu.
The Office of Undergraduate Research staff will work to identify a faculty research mentor with whom each Journey applicant can work. We encourage students to be patient and open-minded with this process. There are a number of factors that can influence the match and the time it takes to connect with mentors, including an individual faculty member's capacity for the current semester.
We strive to connect Journey applicants with faculty members with whom they will have a productive and positive learning experience that kick-starts their undergraduate research at USC.
Detailed Program Terms and Conditions can be found here, which include instructions and guidance for completing the requirements once a mentor and student have been matched.