Office of Undergraduate Research Awards
What’s Expected of Applicants
All Experience Levels Are Accepted
Importantly, applicants are not expected to have research experience at the time of application. The awards on our application are designed to support both students new to the undergraduate research process and students who are already working on a research, scholarly, or creative project.
What’s on the Form
The application requires students to enter personal statements and brief descriptions of their intended or current research, scholarship, or creative activity. Once each application is submitted, an email will automatically be sent to each applicant’s specified WSU research mentor requesting an endorsement of the planned research project. (The student’s mentor is the person who will oversee the research during the period of the scholarship.)
Presenting at SURCA
Successful award recipients are required to present their research at WSU’s annual Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (SURCA)†. It is part of WSU Showcase Week, and is held in spring semester at WSU Pullman.
†Note: Students graduating in December may still present their research at the spring SURCA, but they will not be eligible for awards. Students who are outside of the WSU Pullman area will be asked to submit a report of their accomplishments during the award period in lieu of a SURCA presentation.
About the Awards
Auvil Scholars Fellowship
This award supports research, scholarship, and creative activity for undergraduate students in all majors, all campuses, and at all levels of undergraduate education.
Scott and Linda Carson Undergraduate Research Excellence Award
The Scott and Linda Carson Undergraduate Research Endowed Excellence Fund was created in 2013 by the Carsons, WSU alumni who have supported the university generously with their service and financial gifts. Recipients of awards from this endowment are known as Carson Fellows. The Carson Fund is the first university-wide undergraduate research fund that gives preference to recipients who are upper-division students (juniors and seniors).
James A. Weir Undergraduate Research Fellowship
This award was established in 2008 in memory of Army Lt. Col (Retired) James A. Weir, whose belief in the importance of a college education matched his belief in a strong America. His own college attendance was interrupted by the U.S. entering World War II in December 1941, and he served in both Europe and Japan, and completed two tours of duty in Korea. This fund is intended to support undergraduate research by students working with a faculty mentor. Recipients are known as Weir Fellows.
Team Mentoring Program (TMP) Research Awards
The Team Mentoring Program Research Awards are sponsored by the Washington Research Foundation and The Boeing Co. This program is designed to maximize the experience of students pursing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and pre-health majors, and to increase their retention, achievement, graduation, and preparation for post-baccalaureate endeavors. These awards can encourage and support students served by the TMP in accessing such opportunities and help to transform their educational experience and bridge the access gap for underrepresented minority (URM) students in STEM-related fields. Since 2009, dozens of WSU URM students have received funding from these awards and become TMP Scholars. Please visit the TMP website to learn more.
Emeritus Society Grant in Arts and Humanities for Undergraduates
These Emeritus Society grants were new in 2021 and support undergraduate research and creative activities in the arts and humanities at any stage of development. All projects must have a faculty mentor. Detailed guidelines are available on the Emeritus Society Arts and Humanities Grant for Undergraduates page of the WSU Emeritus Society website.
Undergraduate Research Fellowships
Thanks to the generosity of donors to the Undergraduate Research Development Fund, the Office of Undergraduate Research can make awards to a wide variety of students pursuing research. These general awards from this office–part of the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement–have supported students across the university for a number of years. In 2020 donations from our generous donors allowed us to double the number of awards being made as well as increase the size of our awards. These awards also help students who otherwise need to work so they can reduce their work commitments and engage in opportunities like undergraduate research. Recipients of these awards are called Undergraduate Research Fellows.
If you would like to support undergraduate research please visit our Support Us page, which contains instructions for giving to the fund.
WSU LSAMP Awards
These are for WSU LSAMP program participants at Pullman who are pursuing a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) major. The program serves students who are Native-Alaskan/Native American, African American/Black, Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, and/or two or more races when mixed with any of these previously stated races. Applicants must have an overall 3.0 or higher GPA. Working with a faculty mentor conducting research in a STEM field, they must commit to a full academic year of working on a research project. Recipients are WSU LSAMP Fellows. Awards are available for the academic year as well as for mentored summer research.
To learn more, please consult the WSU LSAMP website, which provides detailed information about these WSU LSAMP Research awards.
DeVlieg Foundation Awards
This award was established by the DeVlieg foundation, a private foundation and tax-exempt charity, to support undergraduate students in the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture who are pursuing research in the area of renewable energy. Students must have a GPA of 3.0. Recipients are DeVlieg Fellows.