The ILR Undergraduate Research Fellows Program provides ILR undergraduates with the opportunity to work with a professor during academic year 2026-2027. This program was developed in response to numerous requests we have received from undergraduates for research opportunities and in the hope that it will facilitate one-on-one student/faculty interactions. Students participating in this program will receive an hourly pay of $17.00 per hour for up to 10 hours a week. Awards will be made on a one semester basis with renewal possible for the second semester.  Students may not earn credit for the research project during the semester or year they are being paid as a research assistant.

Family Debt

Family and personal debt are the twin legal institutions through which the state privatizes social responsibility. This project examines how sprawling college loan and medical debt interact with family law doctrines of support and interdependence against the backdrop of financialization. Research Fellows will be involved in collecting, briefing, and analyzing cases, statutes, and regulations. Students with experience writing legal memos (including for 2010 and other coursework) are strongly preferred. – with Professor Yiran Zhang.

To apply for this Fall 2026 research opportunity, please click Apply below.