Tag Archives: award

PURDUE UNIVERSITY SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (SURF)

Application Deadline: January 15, 2026

LOCATION: USA

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program offers a unique, immersive, 11-week research experience designed to encourage undergraduate students in their pursuit of advanced educational and career opportunities in research. 

ELIGIBILITY:

Current Undergraduate Enrollment

Be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Purdue, another U.S. institution, or an international institution.

First-Time Participation Restriction

Participants must be first-time students in the Purdue SURF program, as the program is generally designed for single-time engagement.

However, students may participate a second time with the explicit support of their Principal Investigator (PI). PIs should note that funding preferences are given to first-time participants. Specifically:

Second-time participants are ineligible for the EURO housing or travel subsidy.

In the event of departmental funding limits, priority will be given to first-time participants.

Semester Completion and Continuation: Have completed at least one academic semester/quarter by the time of the SURF application.

Maintain undergraduate enrollment for at least one academic semester/quarter following the conclusion of the SURF program.

Minimum GPA Requirement

Possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8/4.0 or equivalent at the time of application.

Participation Availability: Demonstrate the ability to actively participate in the majority of program activities. Requests for alternate start dates, up to one week post-program commencement, can be accommodated with faculty permission.

Upload an academic CV or resume and an unofficial university transcript.

Letter of Recommendation (Non-Purdue Students ONLY) Non-Purdue students are required to request a letter of recommendation from a professor/professional whom they have worked closely with. The letter should be uploaded by the application deadline.

BENEFIT:

$6500 Stipend: Receive a generous stipend of $6500 paid biweekly for your dedicated participation in the 11-week immersive research program.

Expert Mentorship: Gain access to seasoned faculty and graduate student mentors who offer valuable guidance, ensuring a supportive and enriching research experience.

Professional Development Seminars: Attend specialized seminars designed to enhance your professional skills, providing insights into various aspects of academic and research careers.

Symposium Presentation: Showcase your research findings by presenting at the prestigious SURF Symposium, offering a platform to share your work with peers, faculty, and professionals.

Social Engagement: Enjoy a vibrant social community by participating in activities designed for bonding with fellow participants, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration.

Networking Opportunities: Engage in networking events, workshops, and seminars that connect you with professionals, researchers, and peers, expanding your professional network and creating lasting connections.

Enhanced Communication Skills: Develop and refine your technical communication proficiency, a crucial skill for effectively conveying complex ideas, research findings, and insights in a professional context.

$2500 Housing Allowance: All Non-Purdue students receive the housing allowance. For Purdue students, they must apply by the priority deadline to be considered. If selected, they will be notified in their offer letter, and the amount will be added to their biweekly compensation.

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SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE: 23RD ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST

Application Deadline: December 1st, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

LOCATION: USA

Smithsonian magazine 23rd Annual Photo Contest begins September 15th, 2025, and ends December 1st, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the contest and states that he or she is 18 years old or older.

ELIGIBILITY:

The Grand Prize, Readers’ Choice prize, Wildlife, Travel, People, The American Experience at 250, Artistic Images and Drone/Aerial category prizes are open to photographers who are 18 years old or older.Individuals affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, including employees, emeriti, Regents, trustees, interns, volunteers, fellows, research associates and their immediate families (children, parents, siblings and spouses) and others living in their households are not eligible for any prize. The Smithsonian will determine winners’ eligibility in its sole discretion.

Entry is free and is accepted from anywhere in the world.

To be eligible for any category, a photograph must have been shot by the entrant since January 1, 2023. This date applies to all images in a composite. The contestant certifies that he/she is the sole creator and copyright owner of the submitted photograph.

Cropped photos are eligible in all categories. Minor adjustments, including the removal of sensor dust or scratches on scans of negatives, dodging and burning, sharpening, contrast, toning, slight color adjustment and conversion to grayscale are acceptable for all categories. The addition and subtraction of objects is not permitted except in the Artistic Images category. If the judges determine that a photographer has altered his or her photo beyond normal photojournalism best practices, they reserve the right to move the photo to Artistic Images or to disqualify it. Image composites including HDR and stitched panoramas will be judged as Artistic Images. Images generated or manipulated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not permitted.

For a photo in which a person is recognizable, you must be prepared to provide a model release from the subject or, in the case of a minor, the subject’s parent or guardian, to the Smithsonian upon request. If the photo of the person was taken in public, a release form may still be needed but this will be later determined at the Smithsonian’s discretion. A sample model release is available here.

Please submit photographs and requested information online through our website at smithsonianmag.com/photocontest. You may submit up to 15 photographs per category for a contest total of 90 submissions. In order to be displayed in our online gallery without being stretched or distorted, photographs must be submitted in .jpeg, .jpg or .gif format, edited for web in sRGB color space, at least 2,000 pixels wide and no larger than 10 MB. You must complete a separate form for each photo submitted.

BENEFIT:

Eight prizes will be awarded, as follows:

Grand Prize: $2,500.

Category Winners: The winners of each of the six categories will receive $500.

Readers’ Choice: The winner of the online Readers’ Choice award will receive $500.

One cash prize per person; winners may receive additional non-cash prizes. Winners must sign a release and license, as well as a declaration of eligibility, and will be responsible for paying any fees or taxes associated with the prize. All prizes are awarded “as is” and are non-transferable.  In case applicable law prohibits the Smithsonian from awarding a photographer the cash prize and/or any non-cash prize, the Smithsonian may award the prize in name only.

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