Undergraduate fellows
CURL Undergraduate Fellowships are intended to facilitate involvement of students in collaborative research projects with community-based organizations, social service agencies, health care providers, businesses, and government in Chicago's city and suburbs. Through their research and learning projects, fellows are active participants in Loyola University's efforts to improve the quality of life of all members of the Chicago metropolitan community. Involvement in the work of CURL can help students develop a foundation for future graduate programs, community development, or volunteer service.
CURL Undergraduate Fellows receive stipends of up to $1,200 per semester. Most fellows work with CURL Graduate Fellows, CURL staff, community leaders, and Loyola faculty on one of CURL’s university-community team research projects. CURL uses a collaborative research model that involves community members at all stages of the research, with the intention of both building community voice in the research process and increasing community capacity to complete research on a variety of issues.
The list below gives you a quick overview of the students and their majors. Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of CURL’s work, the fellows represent majors in eleven different departments or schools. More information about the project on which the student is working, as well as what drew them to CURL and what they hope to gain from their CURL experience can be found by clicking on the student’s name.
Information on how to apply for undergraduate fellowships and application deadlines are available Here
Current Undergraduate Fellows
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Research Project: Creating Stable Diverse CommunitiesWhat Attracted Me to CURL:As I started taking classes in my Urban Studies minor, I became very passionate about diversity, gentrification, and the ways in which community residents cooperate and live together. I wanted to do more than just sit in a classroom and learn about these topics; I wanted to have first-hand experience with the topics. CURL presented itself as an opportunity to propel my education beyond the classroom and into the real world.What I Hope to Gain from CURL:I'm eager to start working with the CURL team and explore the connections between my studies thus far and today's society. I'm looking to see what kind of projects interest me, and hopefully narrow down my future career goals. Mostly, I'm excited to see classroom discussions manifest themselves into real data and reflecting in our neighborhoods. I'm thrilled to be a part of the CURL team! |
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Research Project: Evaluation of Chicago’s Plan to End HomelessnessWhat Attracted Me to CURL:What initially attracted me to CURL was the unique collaborative research approach. Engaging our communities is crucial in achieving our goal to improve the lives of those within them. What keeps me coming back is the extremely dynamic and diverse group of individuals that I work with every day. Collaboration exists within the walls at CURL just as much as it does outside of them.What I Hope to Gain from CURL:I hope to develop a better understanding of using research as a tool to promote social justice. I want to learn both “how” and “why” research affects policy; and likewise, "how" and "why" politics affect research. Most importantly, I hope to meet like-minded individuals who want to be a part of the solution. |
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Research Project: Immigrant Student National Position PaperWhat Attracted Me to CURL:Throughout my time at Loyola, I’ve grown to have a strong passion for work surrounding social justice. I believe that education and advocacy are two of the most important ways to create social change, and I thought that CURL would be a wonderful program that allows me to put my academic and personal interests into action.What I Hope to Gain from CURL:I hope to gain a more tangible and effective way in promoting awareness of social issues through research. Additionally, I was particularly attracted to the idea of the collaborative research approach emphasized by CURL. The privilege of being able to work with other faculty, staff, and students will hopefully help me improve my skills as a researcher and continue to fuel my interests as a social justice advocate. |
