Challenge, Engage, Investigate and Experience the World Around You
Elizabeth Lee Moody Undergraduate Research Fellowship in the Humanities and the Arts
The Elizabeth Lee Moody Undergraduate Fellows Program in Humanities and Arts is an advanced, two-year research and creative works fellowship designed to transform passionate humanities and arts students into nationally competitive researchers and artists with the capacity to effectively design and execute innovative, individual and collaborative projects; present to diverse publics across multiple mediums; and build leadership skills.
Moving beyond traditional individual research grants, the Moody Fellows Program pairs deep humanistic inquiry with scaffolded professionalization, technical skill-building and collaborative project execution. Over four semesters, fellows form a shared intellectual community—translating high-impact research into public-facing digital archives, building industry-ready credentials and serving as an incubator for prestigious postgraduate national awards such as the Wagoner and Fulbright Fellowships.
Program Highlights & Participant Benefits
- Summer Research & Experience Funding: Up to $3,500 in summer stipends to pursue independent research, creative projects, targeted internships or specialized field training.
- Advanced Fellows: Fellows in their second year are eligible for up to $2,000 to support additional research or creative works.
- National Presentation Funding: Access to up to $2,000 in competitive travel grants to present research and exhibit creative work at national conferences.
- Industry Micro-Credentials (Year 2): Fully funded enrollment in Coursera Plus, where you can pursue one or more professional certificates (e.g., Google UX Design, Data Analytics, Project Management) to pair humanistic training with high-demand digital credentials that map directly to Rice’s experiential learning co-curricular transcript.
- Common Interests Research Teams: Collaborative work with peers to co-design and publish public-facing, digital humanistic exhibitions and archives.
- Professionalization & Leadership (HUMA 399): Enrolling in a weekly 1-hour research seminar (HUMA 399) across four terms, fellows receive structured guidance on grant writing, budget design, abstract preparation and public speaking.
- Cultural Excursions & Networking: Fully covered local cultural field trips twice per year, exclusive guest speaker roundtables, and dedicated cohort orientation and showcase events.
Eligibility & Commitment
- Eligibility: Sophomores and Juniors with a declared major in the School of Humanities and Arts.
- Commitment: 2-year sequence; weekly 1-hour participation in HUMA 399 (earned credit); presentation at the annual Humanities and Arts Festival.