CURVE: Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Filling out an application does not guarantee a position or stipend award. Our program has a limited amount of funding available each application cycle.
This Spring, we will be admitting a smaller cohort. Limiting CURVE fellowships to juniors and seniors allows us to prioritize research opportunities for students nearing graduation. We hope to resume support for all class levels starting in Fall 2026.
You should consider yourself as a First-Time Researcher if...
- You have had limited or no experience with research in general at USC. Limited experience is considered less than a year of formal research experience. If you participated in short-term research experiences (e.g. summer research programs), that also counts as limited research experience.
- You are a current USC student with limited experience in a particular research area or topic, and you are looking to get into a new lab where you have not previously worked with the PI before.
You should consider yourself as a Continuing Researcher if...
- You are a current Viterbi student who has worked in a research lab for at least a year, and you're looking to go back to the same lab for another year.
- You have already been offered a return position from the Principal Investigator, and you know what your research project will be for the year.
- You have already received at least 2 semesters of funding from CURVE.
For First-time Researchers, prior research experience is not a requirement, though some research labs may prefer students with existing skill sets that would be helpful for specific projects.
If you are already receiving funding you will not be considered to receive additional funding.
Students can receive funding from CURVE for a maximum of 2 academic years (4 semesters). They may apply once as a First-Time Researcher and receive funding for up to one academic year. Then, they can apply again as a Continuing Researcher and receive funding for another academic year. Please note that funding renewal is not automatic or guaranteed. Summer fellowships will count as 2 semesters of funding.
Students residing outside the U.S. can apply but are not eligible to receive funding while abroad.
Yes, this is not an employment opportunity so any student living in the U.S. is eligible to receive funding regardless of immigration status or work-authorization.
All declared Viterbi students and all class levels are able to apply.
All applications will be reviewed after the deadline; there is no benefit to submitted your application early. We encourage applicants to attend faculty information sessions prior to submitting their application.
Student who are on LOA for the fall or spring semester are not eligible to apply.
Yes, you may apply for a research position you are interested in even if it is outside your major.
For fall and spring terms, students are expected to commit about 7 hours a week to guided research activities. For the summer term, continuing researchers are expected to commit about 20 hours a week to research.
Please feel free to reach out to viterbi.studentservices@usc.edu with additional questions.