Independent research can provide useful information to nonprofits and the communities they serve. Through the Barfield Fund for Community-Engaged Independent Work and other sources, ProCES grants funding to facilitate research conducted in partnership with communities and nonprofit organizations. While the student's home department may serve as the primary funder for independent research, ProCES can provide support as an additional funder. 

Explore Ideas

To give you some examples of the possibilities for community-engaged independent work, you can browse the research questions posed by our community partners  or review prize-winning, community-engaged student theses.

ProCES staff can speak with you to discuss your community-based research ideas, to introduce you to a local organization whose work is related to your interests, or to provide advice as you develop community partnerships of your own (see "consultation period" below). Schedule an advising appointment through WASE (search for ProCES).

Apply for Funding

If you plan to conduct community-engaged research for your senior thesis, you may apply for funding to cover research-related expenses like housing, transportation, food, or participant incentives. Students can identify funding opportunities and submit applications through the Student Activities Funding Engine (SAFE).

Successful applications will describe the community partner’s participation in the design and/or implementation of the research project. The partner organization should be more than a site for research: the project should inform the organization's work, support its goals, and center the experiences of communities impacted by the issue(s) under examination.

Please note: ProCES does not fund laboratory work. It only funds hospital-based work when applicants can connect their work to a local community organization.  Transcription services or payment to individuals for services rendered (except for participants) are not eligible for funding. Both virtual and in-person research projects are currently eligible, assuming compliance with University travel protocols.

If your research involves overnight travel outside of the New York City and Philadelphia metropolitan corridor, you must obtain travel approval through the Enroll My Trip platform (EMT) at least three days before travel. For questions related to EMT or University travel guidelines, please visit the Travel Enrollment or Pandemic Travel Guidelines pages.  

See the general timeline for applications below.

Nominate Your Thesis for a Prize 

If you complete community-engaged independent work, consider submitting your senior thesis to the Dean Hank Dobin Prize in Community-Based Independent Work. Students in all disciplines are welcome to apply; you do not need to have received ProCES funding or support to be eligible for the Prize.