Technology
Explore and create with the tools shaping tomorrow.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
IGlobal Research Fellows Program
A selective, faculty-led research experience for ambitious international high school students at the University of Illinois.
Apply NowResearch Pathways
Three Tracks. One Mission.
Fellows explore research through three interdisciplinary tracks designed to connect academic inquiry with real-world challenges.
Society & Social Science
Investigate how people, cultures, and communities really work.
Science & Innovation
Push the boundaries of what discovery can do.
Inside the Fellowship
See the Experience
Watch how the IGlobal Research Fellowship introduces students to academic research, mentorship, and university life at Illinois.
Faculty Mentorship
Meet the Faculty Behind the Research
IGlobal Research Fellows have opportunities to learn from University of Illinois faculty whose work spans education, technology, communication, culture, language, sustainability, and the social sciences.
Many faculty members hold PhDs from leading universities around the world and bring deep research expertise that can help students prepare for future academic and career opportunities.
Explore Faculty DirectoryWorld-Class Scholars
Learn from faculty with advanced research training and global academic experience.
Interdisciplinary Expertise
Explore research across education, communication, technology, language, and society.
Research Mentorship
Develop stronger research questions, methods, analysis, and academic confidence.
Future Opportunities
Build skills and perspectives that support future university study and career pathways.
Why This Program
More Than an Enrichment Program
The IGlobal Research Fellows Program is not a typical extracurricular experience. It is a structured academic pathway designed for students ready to engage in real research, guided by university faculty and grounded in the standards of a leading research institution.
Faculty-Led Research
Work directly within supervised research environments guided by University of Illinois faculty and graduate researchers.
Structured Academic Training
Develop disciplined reading, analytical thinking, and evidence-based reasoning through a formal research framework.
Interdisciplinary Inquiry
Explore complex global challenges across sustainability, global studies, communication, and the social sciences.
Small Mentored Cohorts
Learn in focused, faculty-guided teams that allow for individualized mentorship and deeper engagement.
Scholarly Outcomes
Conclude the program with a formal research proposal and academic presentation grounded in your work.
Intellectual Growth
Build the habits of mind associated with advanced academic work, including critical analysis, clarity of thought, and intellectual accountability.
At a Glance
Program Highlights
A selective, faculty-led research pathway for students ready to engage seriously with academic inquiry.
01
Selective Global Cohort
Designed for students ages 15 and above who are ready for advanced academic engagement.
02
Eight-Week Program
Offered twice annually with a structured research schedule and faculty-led academic model.
03
Small Mentored Teams
Fellows work in focused research groups supported by faculty mentors and Illinois graduate researchers.
04
15 Hours Per Week
Students commit approximately 15 hours weekly to seminars, meetings, reading, analysis, and writing.
05
Interdisciplinary Research
Research connects sustainability, global studies, education, communication, and digital collaboration.
06
Scholarly Presentation
The program culminates in a formal academic presentation and an individualized research proposal.
Overview
A Competitive Global Research Cohort
The IGlobal Research Fellows Program is a competitive global cohort for high school students ages 15 and above who demonstrate intellectual maturity, academic readiness, and sustained commitment to inquiry.
The program is intentionally interdisciplinary. Fellows engage with research questions that draw from sustainability studies, digital media, communication, global studies, linguistics, and the social sciences. Rather than isolating inquiry within a single field, Fellows examine how complex global challenges require integrated perspectives and methodological range.
Participants receive structured research training led by University of Illinois faculty and graduate researchers. Fellows contribute to ongoing IGlobal research initiatives while developing the habits of mind associated with advanced academic work: disciplined reading, careful analysis, evidence-based reasoning, and intellectual accountability.
Faculty Mentorship and Research
Inside the Research Experience
Students collaborate closely with University of Illinois faculty and graduate mentors through research seminars, small-group discussions, and interdisciplinary inquiry designed to prepare them for advanced academic pathways.
Faculty-led seminars
Small global cohorts
Research proposal development
Personalized academic mentorship
Program Structure
Designed for Depth, Mentorship, and Sustained Engagement
Offered Twice Annually
- September–December
- February–May
Eight-Week Research Cycle
Each cycle runs for eight weeks and enrolls a maximum of 40 Fellows per cohort globally.
Small Faculty-Mentored Teams
Fellows work closely with designated faculty mentors and are supported by Illinois graduate research leaders.
Approximately 15 Hours Per Week
Fellows commit time to seminars, discussions, research meetings, independent reading, analysis, and writing.
The program operates alongside the IGlobal Explorers Program while maintaining distinct scholarly expectations and research responsibilities.
Three-Phase Scholarly Model
From Research Foundations to an Individualized Research Plan
Phase I
Research Foundations
Fellows begin with faculty-led seminars introducing research paradigms, methodological design, qualitative and quantitative approaches, research ethics, academic integrity, citation practices, scholarly writing conventions, and responsible data stewardship.
This phase establishes the intellectual and ethical foundations necessary for advanced academic work and interdisciplinary inquiry.
Phase II
Faculty-Led Research Engagement
Fellows join supervised research teams aligned with ongoing IGlobal studies and other research projects from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Under faculty oversight, Fellows participate in structured data analysis, coding and interpretive exercises, examination of research artifacts, and collaborative research discussions.
Phase III
Literature Review and Individualized Research Plan
In the final phase, Fellows conduct a structured literature review and develop a formal research proposal that functions as an individualized research plan.
Each plan includes a research question, literature-informed rationale, proposed methodology, ethical considerations, and future directions.
Admission and Recognition
Selective Admission. Meaningful Academic Distinction.
Admission and Selection
Admission to the Research Fellows Program is selective and merit-based. Applicants are reviewed for intellectual curiosity, analytical capacity, clarity of purpose, and readiness for disciplined scholarly engagement.
- Minimum age of 15
- Affiliation with an IGlobal or Illinois partner institution
- Demonstrated academic strength
- Advanced reading and writing skills
- Capacity for sustained scholarly commitment
Prior participation in the IGlobal Explorers Program is preferred but not required.
Application Review
The application process includes nomination by a designated educator or liaison, submission of a formal written application, and faculty review conducted by the University of Illinois IGlobal leadership team.
Review may include a virtual or in-person interview and additional materials such as documented coursework or supplementary essays. Scholarship determinations are conducted independently of admission decisions.
Scholarly Dissemination
Fellows prepare a written research brief or proposal and deliver a formal academic presentation at the IGlobal Research Fellows Showcase, the annual IGlobal Symposium, or selected research forums by invitation.
Research Ethics and Oversight
All Fellows activities operate under direct faculty supervision and comply with University of Illinois research policies, including Institutional Review Board standards when applicable.
Recognition and Academic Distinction
Fellows who successfully complete the program receive an official University of Illinois IGlobal Research Fellow Certificate, formal documentation of completion, a digital academic distinction badge, recognition at the IGlobal Symposium, and faculty-based letters of recommendation when appropriate.
Costs and Application
Ready to Begin Your Research Journey?
Join a selective, faculty-led research pathway designed for students ready to engage deeply with academic inquiry at the University of Illinois.
Application Fee
$50
Program Cost
$5,000
Contact Us
Questions About the Fellowship?
If you have any questions about the IGlobal Research Fellows Program, application requirements, or the research experience, please contact:
Dr. Jacob Minniear
jminni3@illinois.edu
1310 S. Sixth St.
Champaign, IL 61820-6925
Phone: 217-333-0960