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Franklin Opportunity Fund - Summer 2023 Internships

Each year the Benjamin Franklin Scholars program provides funding for a limited number of otherwise unpaid or underpaid summer internships.  We operate on a “you find it, we fund it” model.  The internship duration may be for 4 weeks or longer. Internships that are shorter than 4 weeks are not eligible.  We are also unable to support internships that require interns to pay a fee for placement.

Eligibility
Applicants must be current first-years, sophomores, or juniors and in good standing in BFS. Students graduating in Spring 2023 are not eligible for this funding.  Students may receive Franklin Opportunity Fund (FOF) funding only one time.  Recipients of FOF funding may not simultaneously hold any other paid position during the time they are supported by the FOF.

Application Procedure
Applications are submitted via an online form which requires PennKey authentication.

Please complete the application form carefully.  It includes questions about the internship in which you’re interested, how you found it, and how it fits into your longer term academic and career goals.


Timeline

The spring 2023 deadline is rolling, with consideration of applications to begin on April 15 and applications considered after that deadline only as remaining funds allow.

Summer Research Funding

BFS students enrolled in any undergraduate school are eligible for BFS Summer Research Funding. To apply, visit CURF's Common Research Application. All students seeking summer research funding should identify and meet with a faculty research mentor, follow the advice on writing a strong grant proposal on the College Alumni Society Undergraduate Research Grant page, and concurrently pursue other sources of funding.  CURF's Undergraduate Research pages can be enormously helpful in getting started.

If selected for funding by CURF's faculty research grant review panel, BFS students will receive supplemental research funding to defray the costs of their summer research. The maximum BFS Summer Research Funding is $2,100, but most awards are $500-$1,000, which can be used in conjunction with other summer research funding. Recipients will be expected to present their research findings at both CURF’s Fall Research Open House and CURF’s Spring Poster Symposium.

Timeline
Sunday March 13, 2023 – Application due