Pictured: Laurel Caruso (Penn Sophomore and Grossman LLP summer intern) and Judd Grossman (Founder and Managing Partner of Grossman LLP). Ashmit Dewan with students, teaching and working at a Peace School in Nepal.
As a Benjamin Franklin Scholar, you have access to funding opportunities for unpaid/underpaid internships and research projects.
Franklin Opportunity Fund (FOF) - Summer Internships
Each year BFS provides limited funding for a number of unpaid or underpaid summer internships. These internships allow students to explore further an area already touched on in coursework or other experiences or to continue a more firmly-grounded interest. We operate on a “you find it, we fund it” model. The internship duration may be for four (4) weeks or longer. Internships that are shorter than four weeks are not eligible. We cannot support internships that require interns to pay a placement fee.
Timeline
The application for Summer 2025 will open in Spring 2025.
Eligibility
Applicants must be current first-years, sophomores, or juniors and in good standing in BFS. Students graduating in Spring 2025 are not eligible for this funding. Students may receive FOF support 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 (now open) 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.
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 CURF’s Fall Research Expo.
Timeline
March 15, 2024 - Applications due