Elizabeth Perten

Elizabeth Perten is an Assistant Director in the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. She directs the Harvard College Research Program (HCRP), the Generative AI summer research program (in collaboration with the Office for the Vice Provost for Research), the URAF conference funding program, and a selection of smaller fellowships. In addition, Elizabeth is responsible for the day-to-day management of URAF-administered undergraduate research grants, advises students on all matters related to research and fellowships, sits on the undergraduate research IRB advisory group and conducts risk reviews with students, manages the College's administration of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Journal and serves as Editor-in-Chief, facilitates the URAF Research Ambassadors program, and is a member of the FAS-wide CARAT advisory committee. She comes to URAF from Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), where she specialized in fellowships and student affairs and gained experience in both program development and overseeing fellowship competitions. Elizabeth also serves as a member of the Board of First Year Advisers. Elizabeth studied music history as an undergraduate at Barnard College (Columbia University) and holds a joint MA degree in Music and Women’s and Gender Studies and a PhD in Historical Musicology, both from Brandeis University.

Elizabeth is happy to talk to students about identifying the right research opportunity, reaching out to faculty, preparing application materials, and writing a strong research proposal, among other topics. She also really likes working with first-years and students just getting started in research! Programs for which Elizabeth advises include Harvard College Research Program, Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, Mackenzie King Scholarship, Laura Houghteling Memorial Scholarship, conference funding, Institution Review Board (IRB), Harvard College-Mindich Independent Research and Community Engagement, research, summer funding.