DAESA > Undergraduate Research > Funding & Credit

Funding and Credit Opportunities at WSU for Undergraduate Research

Seize the opportunity. Learn how you may be able to receive funding, academic credit, or scholarship/award support for your undergraduate research work at WSU.

How do you fund your research, scholarship, and creative activity at WSU?

No matter what your major is, research, scholarship, and creative activities are valuable opportunities for many reasons (see “Why and When to Get Involved”). The opportunity to receive funding or academic credit is often one of those reasons. Faculty and disciplines have varying standards and expectations for undergraduate research, and this impacts how funding or academic credit is provided. When you engage in research, scholarship, or creative activities, you may find yourself in any of the following situations:

Volunteering: Conducting research on a volunteer basis can provide valuable experience that will open the door to greater opportunities.
Earning academic credit: Various majors might offer research courses. To learn more, ask your advisor if you can receive academic credit for your work.
Working for pay: You may be compensated for your research efforts as follows:
- Hourly “time-slip” work
- Work-study awards where the government supplements your hourly pay
- Both hourly time-slip pay and pay through work study often only pay you for doing routine chores in a research setting. In some cases, you may be paid for work directly from the research project. (Note that “routine chores” can lead to research projects.)
Receiving scholarships, fellowships, awards, or stipends: Numerous scholarships and awards are intended to support students who engage in undergraduate research. (See Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards available at WSU for more details). Note that factors such as your discipline and year in college may impact your eligibility for these opportunities.

This complexity in how undergraduate research is supported is why it is important to discuss opportunities to receive funding, academic credit, or scholarships/awards before you commit to a particular undergraduate research opportunity.

Considerations for Research Opportunities

WSU wants students to have access to funded research opportunities and/or scholarships for research, including from external organizations. Due to the vast number of opportunities available, students are encouraged to utilize the below external search mechanisms or lists to access opportunities and scholarships. The opportunities and scholarships on these lists may be based on a wide number of factors, such as study areas and personal characteristics.

Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards available at WSU

Scholarships for research are available from the Office of Undergraduate Research. Students in all majors can apply.
Scholarships and stipends are also awarded by many departments, programs, and colleges at WSU. Be sure to ask your advisor! Here are two programs to consider:
- CAS Undergraduate Summer Grants for research projects
- McNair Scholars Program
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics awards
- LSAMP
- Research Scholars (available to incoming freshmen)
- STARS program in the School of Molecular Biosciences
- Team Mentoring Program

Funding Specifically for Presenting Your Research

Some sources of support, notably travel grants, are earmarked to cover the costs of presenting your research at regional, national, or even international disciplinary meetings and conferences. Be sure to check the website of any meeting you are planning to attend to see if this kind of support is available.

National Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards

Some distinguished scholarships target undergraduate research, such as the Barry Goldwater scholarship.
Awards might be provided by your disciplinary society (note that you would likely need to join your disciplinary society to be eligible).
Just as professors receive grants from the federal government and other sources to support their research, you can apply to funding programs targeted to engage undergraduates in research, such as the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). You can also search for funding programs using the Pathways to Science website.