Research & Fellowships
Scholarship in action
At Simmons, research and fellowships are essential to your academic experience. They prepare you for thriving careers by pairing scholarship with real-world experience. Many fellowships provide financial support so you can focus on your work.
You will partner closely with faculty experts who mentor you one-on-one, helping you apply what you learn through on-site and off-site research. Along the way, you’ll build leadership skills, deepen your expertise, grow your professional network, and gain confidence that distinguishes you in the job market.
Current research opportunities
SURPASs
Participate in a paid, mentored six-week summer research experience through the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Simmons (SURPASs).
Passionate Leaders Project
The Passionate Leaders Project awards funding to six students to pursue independent research, creative projects, community enterprises, or internships of their own design.
Barbara Lee Fellowship
The Barbara Lee Fellowship provides real-world experience in law, public policy, and political leadership. Fellows work directly with a woman state legislator, participate in Massachusetts politics, and earn a stipend while developing professional skills.
Senior Scholar Award
The Senior Scholar Award — sponsored by the Provost's Office and Research and Fellowships — is presented to six graduating seniors in recognition of outstanding scholarship and contribution to a field of study.
STARS
Summer Training in Academic Research at Simmons (STARS) is a six-week intensive research experience that pairs undergraduates in STEM fields with faculty who share their research interests. Students gain skills needed to succeed in the fast-changing world of STEM research, helping make them competitive in today's job market.
Undergraduate Research Fund
The Undergraduate Student Research Fund is a merit-based award that provides up to $1,000 to undergraduate students conducting independent research/study projects or an artistic endeavor that advances their disciplinary field and/or professional goals.
Undergraduate Conference Fund
The Undergraduate Student Conference Fund provides up to $500 to undergraduate students to present at or attend an academic or professional conference.
Research and Conference Awards
The Division of Student Engagement, Success, and Diversity offers Graduate Student Research and Conference Awards to support scholarly interests and professional development.
Simmons Centers for Research
Center for Innovation in Behavioral Health Education and Research (CIBER)
The Center for Innovation in Behavioral Health Education and Research, within the School of Social Work, serves as the intellectual hub for developing innovative clinical social work research and accelerating dissemination into practice communities.
Center for Information Literacy
The Simmons Center for Information Literacy, a collaboration among the School of Library and Information Science, the Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences, and the University Library, aims to empower people with the skills to locate and access trustworthy information.
Spaces to Learn
Science Classrooms and Labs
Our teaching laboratories and small cohorts provide authentic research experiences. Spaces include a biomedical ultrasound laboratory; a microscopy center; a separation, quantitation, and spectroscopy center; and three level-two certified laboratories for tissue culture and microorganisms. Explore our undergraduate teaching and graduate research labs.
- Biomedical Ultrasound Lab
- Electrochemical Nanomaterials Lab
- Young Lab: Using frogs to study the development and evolution of vertebrates
- Luth Lab: Exploring neurons
- Gildawie Lab: Studying the role of adversity in shaping behavior
- Information Science & Technology (IS&T) Lab: A hub for information science students
Nursing Simulation Center
The Nursing Simulation Center features two fundamentals labs, one advanced health assessment lab, five high-fidelity simulation suites, and a home health and hospice/palliative care simulation apartment. We are enhancing our simulation offerings with the addition of a telemedicine simulation space. The center also provides access to virtual and augmented reality tools for participatory learning in simulations, labs, and fieldwork.
Student-Driven Media Spaces
Housed within the Gwen Ifill School, the spaces include The Latz and Cohen Media Center, the CommLab and Ifill Media Labs, podcasting suites, and video/photo editing rooms.
The Makerspace
The Makerspace is a student-led facility used for creative activity, entrepreneurial explorations, learning about robotics and technology, curricular and cocurricular projects, and community outreach and engagement.
Fellowships and Research Funding
Office of Research and Fellowships
Visit the Office of Research and Fellowships to find research and funding opportunities, fellowships, and faculty mentors that can advance your academic and career goals.
National and Global Fellowships
The Office of Research and Fellowships supports graduate and undergraduate students applying for competitive awards and scholarships. Explore our National and Global Fellowships database to identify awards and scholarships to pursue graduate school, internships, study abroad, research, or creative projects.
Faculty-Student Collaborative Fellowship
The Faculty-Student Collaborative Fellowship at Simmons is a competitive small-grant program that enables faculty to hire an undergraduate or graduate research fellow for the duration of a semester or an academic year.
Student Research in the News
Congratulations to the 2026 SURPASs Scholars
Nine undergraduate scholars from disciplines across Simmons have been selected to join the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Simmons (SURPASs). From May to June, students will receive funding and mentorship to support their independent research. The six-week program includes workshops and research presentations, culminating in a student showcase in June.
Metafiction as a Willingness to Play
Rosie Lopolito ’29MA/MS shares how a diverse array of experiences led her to the Children’s Literature (MA) and Library and Information Science (MS) dual degree program at Simmons University.
Discovering New Approaches to Youth Mental Health
Eric Schade ’26PhD reflects on the opportunities he had to publish with faculty in the Simmons School of Social Work and to connect with other online students in the PhD program. He also shares his research and the the encouragement he received to apply for research funding.
3+2 Engineering Student Researches Ultrasound Technology
Maya McCabe ’27 is a biochemistry major and physics minor in the dual degree (3+2) engineering program. She spoke with us about her research funded by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and the hands-on STEM training she is receiving at Simmons.
Forays into Information Literacy and Civic Engagement
Fiona Coughlin ’26MS conducted an independent research project on building social media literacy skills for undergraduate students. To make this possible, she secured International Review Board approval to conduct interviews with the General Education faculty at Simmons, and grant funding from the Simmons Center for Information Literacy.
Researching Harm Reduction, Cultivating Compassionate Care
Vanessa Iroegbulem ’26MSW reflects on two of the impactful experiences during her time at Simmons: her clinical placements and her participation in the Harm Reduction Training (HaRT) Scholars Program.
Specializing in Visual Literacy and Women’s Military History
Aurora Daniel ’26MSMA had the honor of serving as the president of the Library and Information Science Student Association, the student government for Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science while pursuing her Masters in Library and Information Science and Master of Arts in History.
Reframing Libraries as Dynamic ‘Learning Labs’
Zachary Newell ’26PhD shares a bit about his research involving how we can make library learning more creative and engaging for students, as well as the mentorship he received while a student at Simmons.
Faculty Research in the News
Ifill Dean and Collaborators Research AI within PR
In her current research, Ifill Dean Dr. Ammina Kothari collaborates with academic and industry leaders to examine the lack of standardization of artificial intelligence (AI) within the domain of public relations.
SLIS Deans Discusses Serendipity for NHPR
Dr. Sanda Erdelez, dean of Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science, was recently featured in New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) for a segment on serendipity.
SOM Faculty Member Knows Business, in Class and in Practice
School of Management lecturer Michelle Brown-Droese shares how her undergraduate-level course in “Entrepreneurship Mindset” is applicable to any program of study at Simmons.
Professor Embraces Environmental Economics and Public Policy
Professor of Economics Zinnia Mukherjee specializes in environmental and natural economics, the economics of sustainable growth and development, and public policy. To celebrate National Economic Education Month, we spoke with her about her research and the wide applicability of economics.
Hope Floats: Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Later
Simmons School of Social Work Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Development Johnnie Hamilton-Mason shared a retrospective conversation based on her research, titled “Hope Floats: African American Women's Survival Experiences after Katrina.”
SLIS Professor Named Outstanding Information Science Teacher
School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) Professor and Library and Information Science PhD Program Director Kyong Eun Oh has been named the 2025 winner of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award.
SLIS Faculty Member Receives Research Grant
The Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) announced that Professor Naresh Agarwal, a faculty member at Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) and Director of the Information Science and Technology Concentration, has received the 2025 Bob Williams...
SLIS Lecturer Researches Women Who Collected Medieval Art
In a talk she delivered at the 2024 Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair, School of Library and Information Science faculty member Dr. Lisa Fagin Davis discussed the history of women creating, reading, and owning medieval European manuscripts. To honor Women’s History Month 2025, we spoke with her about this research and its connection to her Simmons courses.
Alumnae/i Research in the News
Double Shark in Behavior Analysis Examines Microaggressions
Amy Maladore ’16MS ’25PhD earned her master’s and PhD in behavior analysis from Simmons, and her research explores the use of behavior analytic concepts to increase recognition of racist behavior. We spoke to Maladore about what brought her to study behavior analysis at Simmons.
Alumna Brings Behavior Analysis Insights to Education
Megan Breault ’13MS ’25PhD is a graduate of the Simmons University Master of Science in Behavior Analysis and Phd in Behavior Analysis. Breault presented her dissertation research at the Contemporary Developments in Behavior Analysis Virtual Conference, hosted by Simmons’ Department of Behavior Analysis in January 2026.
Physical Therapist Alumna Finds Her Dream Job
Nina Testa ’23, ’25DPT is an outpatient physical therapist at the Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network in Haverhill, MA. To honor National Physical Therapy Month (October) 2025, we spoke with her about the value of Simmons’ accelerated education, her recent research, and the University’s inclusive atmosphere.
Public Health Alum Addresses Housing Insecurity
Sam Geheran ’25MPH is passionate about the right to safe housing. We spoke with them about their research on unhoused populations, their interest in public health, and the inspiring atmosphere at Simmons.
Digital Girlhoods and the Adult Response to Tweens Online
Katherine A Phelps ’13MA has published her first book, Digital Girlhoods (Temple University Press, 2025), exploring the potential pitfalls and opportunities for tween girls engaging in social media.
Simmons Exercise Science Alumnae Share Research at Conference
Health and Exercise Science alumnae Haleigh St.Hilaire ’24, ’26MPH and Caroline Aspinwall ’24 recently presented their respective research at the New England chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (NEACSM) conference.
From the Muddy River to Community Farms: Research Possibilities for Simmons Students
We spoke to Samantha Margolin '23 about how her research projects at Simmons prepared her to expand her confidence, and her burgeoning career.
Simmons Alumna Shares the Challenges and Rewards of Mental Health Therapy
Christa Perry ’23MSW is a mental health therapist for Embark Behavioral Health, a national company that provides mental health treatment to teens and young adults. Based in Vienna, Virginia, Perry counsels individuals and families in the eight-week Partial Hospitalization Program and the 15-week Intensive Outpatient Program.