The Hassenfeld Grant for Undergraduate Research in Urban Studies strengthens the opportunity for Urban Studies students to conduct research on a significant urban topic. Since its inception, the program has required all majors to complete an original research project through URBS 4000 Senior Seminar, in fall of their senior year.
The Hassenfelds are meant to support initial groundwork for that project, in the summer before their senior year. Grants of up to $3,500 are awarded to 1-2 students each year on a competitive basis. Several smaller summer grants are also available (see the structure of smaller grant applications here: Fall Grants).
Grant recipients will be responsible for submitting a mid-summer report. Additionally, recipients will give a presentation to the Senior Seminar class in September, detailing data collected, preliminary analysis, and plans for completing the senior seminar project.
Students who wish to apply for a Hassenfeld Grant must identify a faculty advisor and submit a proposal to the Urban Studies Program. Proposals must include the following parts:
1) cover sheet with title, researcher's name, and date
2) signed letter from a faculty advisor, indicating plan to support your research over the summer months
3) description of the questions to be addressed and why they are significant
4) summary of the project, citing the literature that frames the research if possible
5) research plan, detailing the steps to be followed and methods used
6) schedule for the project
7) itemized budget for expenses
The Urban Studies Advisory Committee will review the proposals and select recipients on the basis of:
1) overall quality of the proposal,
2) significance of the research question,
3) whether the proposed plan is appropriate and sufficient to answer the questions posed,
4) feasibility to complete the research within the period of the grant, and for the senior seminar.
The application deadline for the Summer 2025 Hassenfeld Grant is Friday, April 25th.
The Urban Studies Program will make every effort to notify selected students by or on Friday, May 9th.
Email applications to the Urban Studies office, with Hassenfeld and your name in the subject line: urbs@sas.upenn.edu.
Previous Hassenfeld Grant recipients