214 students applied for the 2026 VUSRP.

Student Applicant Demographics:

Proposal Type

Which of the following best describe(s) the type of research you are proposing? count percent
Health and Medicine 67 31.3084112
Biological and Environmental Sciences 54 25.2336449
Social and Behavioral Sciences 33 15.4205607
Mathematical and Physical Sciences 19 8.8785047
Engineering and Design 16 7.4766355
Computers and Technology 10 4.6728972
Economic and Political Systems 7 3.2710280
Education 4 1.8691589
Cultural Studies and Humanities 3 1.4018692
Arts and Performance 1 0.4672897

School

School count percent
College of Arts & Science 160 74.766355
School of Engineering 30 14.018692
Peabody College 19 8.878505
Blair School of Music 5 2.336449

Major

School Major 1 count percent
Blair School of Music Violin 2 0.9345794
Blair School of Music Flute 1 0.4672897
Blair School of Music Trumpet 1 0.4672897
Blair School of Music Tuba Performance 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science Neuroscience 38 17.7570093
College of Arts & Science Medicine, Health, & Society 31 14.4859813
College of Arts & Science Biol Sci:Molec&Cellular 22 10.2803738
College of Arts & Science Biochem & Chemical Bio 16 7.4766355
College of Arts & Science Physics 9 4.2056075
College of Arts & Science Psychology 8 3.7383178
College of Arts & Science Economics 7 3.2710280
College of Arts & Science Mathematics 6 2.8037383
College of Arts & Science Chemistry 5 2.3364486
College of Arts & Science Biol Sci: Integrated Biology 3 1.4018692
College of Arts & Science Biological Sciences 3 1.4018692
College of Arts & Science Political Science 3 1.4018692
College of Arts & Science Undeclared 3 1.4018692
College of Arts & Science Anthropology 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science Biol Sci:Ecol,Evol,Organismal 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science Climate Studies 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science Comm of Science & Technology 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science Gender and Sexuality Studies 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science Philosophy 1 0.4672897
Peabody College Cognitive Studies 7 3.2710280
Peabody College Child Development 5 2.3364486
Peabody College Human & Organizational Devel 4 1.8691589
Peabody College Child Studies 2 0.9345794
Peabody College Elementary Education 1 0.4672897
School of Engineering Computer Science 10 4.6728972
School of Engineering Electrical & Computer Eng 9 4.2056075
School of Engineering Biomedical Engineering 7 3.2710280
School of Engineering Chemical Engineering 3 1.4018692
School of Engineering Mechanical Engineering 1 0.4672897

Financial Need

Need Status count percent
No Need 103 48.130841
High Need 86 40.186916
Medium Need 19 8.878505
Low Need 6 2.803738

Academic level: Applicants were evenly split between sophomores (n = 106) and juniors (n = 105), with three additional applications from Fall ’26 graduating seniors.

25 applicants are first generation students.




Faculty Mentor Demographics (n = 166 unique project mentors):

Faculty School

Faculty Sponsor Primary School or College count percent
School of Medicine 97 45.3271028
College of Arts & Science 64 29.9065421
School of Engineering 24 11.2149533
Peabody College 21 9.8130841
College of Connected Computing 5 2.3364486
Blair School of Music 1 0.4672897
Law School 1 0.4672897
School of Nursing 1 0.4672897

Faculty Discipline

Faculty Discipline count percent
Medicine - Clinical 60 28.0373832
Natural Sciences 46 21.4953271
Social Science 43 20.0934579
Medicine - Basic 37 17.2897196
Engineering & Computer Science 23 10.7476636
Arts & Humanities 4 1.8691589
Nursing 1 0.4672897

Faculty Department

Faculty Sponsor Primary Department count percent
Medicine 26 12.1495327
Psychology & Human Development 16 7.4766355
Biological Sciences 14 6.5420561
Pharmacology 14 6.5420561
Physics & Astronomy 13 6.0747664
Cell & Developmental Biology 10 4.6728972
Biochemistry 9 4.2056075
Chemistry 9 4.2056075
Electrical and Computer Engineering 9 4.2056075
Psychology 9 4.2056075
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering 7 3.2710280
Neurology 7 3.2710280
Biomedical Engineering 6 2.8037383
Medicine, Health, & Society 6 2.8037383
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 6 2.8037383
Computer Science 5 2.3364486
Anesthesiology 4 1.8691589
Molecular Physiology & Biophysics 4 1.8691589
Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology 3 1.4018692
Pediatrics 3 1.4018692
Political Science 3 1.4018692
Radiology & Radiological Sciences 3 1.4018692
Special Education 3 1.4018692
Earth & Environmental Sciences 2 0.9345794
Economics 2 0.9345794
Mathematics 2 0.9345794
Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences 2 0.9345794
Surgery 2 0.9345794
Asian Studies 1 0.4672897
Biomedical Informatics 1 0.4672897
Blair School of Music 1 0.4672897
Cardiac Surgery 1 0.4672897
Civil & Environmental Engineering 1 0.4672897
English 1 0.4672897
Gender and Sexuality Studies 1 0.4672897
Hearing & Speech Sciences 1 0.4672897
Human & Org. Development 1 0.4672897
Law School 1 0.4672897
Leadership, Policy, & Organizations 1 0.4672897
Mechanical Engineering 1 0.4672897
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 1 0.4672897
School of Nursing 1 0.4672897
Sociology 1 0.4672897




Reviewer Demographics (n = 119 unique reviewers):

Reviewer School

School count percent
School of Medicine 46 21.4953271
College of Arts & Science 37 17.2897196
Peabody College of Education & Human Development 13 6.0747664
School of Engineering 11 5.1401869
School of Nursing 8 3.7383178
Blair School of Music 2 0.9345794
College of Connected Computing 2 0.9345794

Reviewer Department

School Department count percent
Blair School of Music Blair School of Music 2 0.9345794
College of Arts & Science Biological Sciences 5 2.3364486
College of Arts & Science Chemistry 4 1.8691589
College of Arts & Science Earth & Environmental Sciences 4 1.8691589
College of Arts & Science Psychology 4 1.8691589
College of Arts & Science French & Italian 3 1.4018692
College of Arts & Science Medicine, Health, & Society 3 1.4018692
College of Arts & Science Economics 2 0.9345794
College of Arts & Science English 2 0.9345794
College of Arts & Science Mathematics 2 0.9345794
College of Arts & Science Physics & Astronomy 2 0.9345794
College of Arts & Science Anthropology 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science History of Art & Architecture 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science Jewish Studies 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science Political Science 1 0.4672897
College of Arts & Science Sociology 1 0.4672897
College of Connected Computing Computer Science 2 0.9345794
Peabody College of Education & Human Development Psychology & Human Development 7 3.2710280
Peabody College of Education & Human Development Special Education 2 0.9345794
Peabody College of Education & Human Development Teaching & Learning 2 0.9345794
Peabody College of Education & Human Development Human & Org. Development 1 0.4672897
Peabody College of Education & Human Development Leadership, Policy, & Organizations 1 0.4672897
School of Engineering Biomedical Engineering 3 1.4018692
School of Engineering Mechanical Engineering 3 1.4018692
School of Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering 2 0.9345794
School of Engineering Engineering Science and Management 2 0.9345794
School of Engineering Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Medicine 16 7.4766355
School of Medicine Pharmacology 6 2.8037383
School of Medicine Cell & Developmental Biology 4 1.8691589
School of Medicine Neurology 4 1.8691589
School of Medicine Biochemistry 3 1.4018692
School of Medicine Hearing & Speech Sciences 2 0.9345794
School of Medicine Anesthesiology 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Biostatistics 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Cardiac Surgery 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Molecular Physiology & Biophysics 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Pediatrics 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Radiology & Radiological Sciences 1 0.4672897
School of Medicine Urology 1 0.4672897
School of Nursing School of Nursing 6 2.8037383
School of Nursing Academics 1 0.4672897
School of Nursing Research 1 0.4672897