The Journey Early Researchers Grant
- up to $1,000 per recipient for student salary and $500 for the faculty mentor
- USC degree-seeking undergraduates in their first or second year at the Columbia campus are eligible to apply
- for projects in collaboration with a USC faculty mentor
- SCHC students, with the exception of first-generation and OSP SCHC students, are not eligible to apply
Registration for the Journey Grant for Early Researchers will reopen mid-August 2026.
Grant Eligibility
- USC full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate in their first or second year at the Columbia campus
- No (or limited) previous research experience
- All majors in good academic standing
- SCHC students, with the exception of first-generation and TRIO OSP SCHC students, are not eligible to apply. SCHC students should explore funding available for research through SCHC
- Mentors may support a maximum of two Journey recipients per year
Required Workshops
In order to be eligible for the $1,000 research salary funds, students must participate in three required workshops and complete the CITI Responsible Conduct of Research online training module. You must request a spot and receive confirmation to attend the workshops.
Tuesday Workshop Series: these workshops will be from 2:50-3:50pm on the following dates in Russell House 304.
- August 25
- September 1
- September 8
Wednesday Workshop Series: these workshops will be from 2:20-3:20pm on the following dates in Russell House 304.
- August 26
- September 2
- September 9
To request a spot in one of the workshop series, please complete the form found here starting in mid-August. Note that spots are limited. Prior the start of the workshops, you will receive an email confirming your eligibility and your space in the workshop series or on the waitlist. Contact our@sc.edu with any questions.
Application Process
After completing all required workshops, students will be invited to submit a Journey application. This application allows the OUR staff to begin identifying a potential faculty research mentor for the applicant.
If you have any questions, please contact our@sc.edu.
Matching Process and Beyond
The Office of Undergraduate Research staff will work to identify a faculty research mentor with whom each Journey applicant can work. We encourage students to be patient and open-minded with this process. There are a number of factors that can influence the match and the time it takes to connect with mentors, including an individual faculty member's capacity for the current semester.
We strive to connect Journey applicants with faculty members with whom they will have a productive and positive learning experience that kick-starts their undergraduate research at USC. Faculty interested in working with a Journey student can submit this form.
Detailed Program Terms and Conditions can be found here, which include instructions and guidance for completing the requirements once a mentor and student have been matched.
Magellan Journey put the idea in my head that I can do it, I can apply myself and I can do these things. As long as I am passionate and honestly trying the best that I can.