IGlobal Research Fellows Program
The IGlobal Research Fellows Program extends this work into formal scholarly practice. It is a selective, faculty-led research pathway designed for participants prepared to engage in disciplined academic inquiry within a supervised university research environment. The Fellows Program represents the advanced scholarly extension of the IGlobal model.
This program is not an extracurricular enrichment activity. It is an early-stage scholarly apprenticeship embedded within supervised faculty research structures and grounded in the standards of a research university.
At a Glance
- Selective global cohort for students ages 15+
- Eight-week faculty-led research program offered twice annually
- Small, mentored research teams
- Approximately 15 hours per week commitment
- Interdisciplinary research connected to sustainability, global studies, education, and digital collaboration
- Culminates in formal scholarly presentation and individualized research proposal
Overview
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.
Program Structure
The Research Fellows Program is offered twice annually:
- September–December
- February–May
Each cycle runs for eight weeks and enrolls a maximum of 40 Fellows per cohort globally.
To ensure depth of engagement, each cohort is further divided into small, faculty-mentored research teams. Fellows work closely with designated faculty mentors and are supported by Illinois graduate research leaders. These small-group structures allow for sustained dialogue, individualized guidance, and close feedback on analytical and written work.
Fellows commit approximately 15 hours per week to seminars, discussions, research meetings, independent reading, analysis, and writing. The program operates alongside the Foundation Program while maintaining distinct scholarly expectations and research responsibilities.
Three-Phase Scholarly Model
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. They learn how evidence is generated, interpreted, and positioned within scholarly debates.
All work occurs within approved research frameworks and university standards. Fellows do not conduct independent unsupervised studies. The emphasis is disciplined apprenticeship within established research communities.
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 clearly articulated research question, a literature-informed rationale grounded in identified scholarly gaps, a proposed methodological approach, ethical considerations, and a continuation plan outlining future directions.
Fellows leave the program with a defined intellectual trajectory and a refined articulation of their emerging scholarly interests. The emphasis remains on authentic intellectual formation rather than credential accumulation.
Admission and Selection
Admission to the Research Fellows Program is selective and merit-based.
Eligibility includes:
- 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 Foundation Program is preferred but not required.
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.
Selection is based on intellectual curiosity, analytical capacity, clarity of purpose, and readiness for disciplined scholarly engagement. Scholarship determinations are conducted independently of admission decisions.
Scholarly Dissemination
The program culminates in formal 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.
Presentations adhere to standards of clarity, evidence, citation transparency, and methodological accountability.
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.
Fellows receive explicit instruction in confidentiality, responsible research conduct, intellectual property, and scholarly integrity. Ethical formation remains integral to intellectual formation.
Recognition and Academic Distinction
Completion signifies participation in a supervised university research cohort.
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
- Letters of recommendation from faculty based on their performance
Fellows may request letters of recommendation reflecting faculty assessment based on performance. Exceptional Fellows may receive faculty letters of distinction and eligibility for named authorship in qualifying scholarly work.