October 16, 2025

What’s Happening at the Office of Undergraduate Research

Research Opportunities

Center for American Indian & Indigenous Studies Knowledge Family program | Deadline: October 23, 2025

The Center for American Indian & Indigenous Studies (CAIIS) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Knowledge Family program. A Knowledge Family Experience is a cohort of undergraduate students who work closely with faculty, professional staff, Indigenous community members, post-doc, and/or student Knowledge Facilitators to conduct projects in American Indian and Indigenous Studies over the course of an academic year. Projects begin Autumn Quarter and conclude with presentations at the CAIIS Indigenous Studies Graduate Symposium in the Spring.

  • Attend an upcoming AIIS Scholars presentation.
    • Monday, October 20, 2025, 12 – 1:30 PM, HRC 101

The Tulane Journal of Policy & Political Economy | Deadline: November 30, 2025

The Tulane Journal of Policy & Political Economy is an internationally recognized undergraduate publication of student research in politics, economics, public health, foreign affairs, and public policy. The journal is currently accepting article submissions for the fifth edition. Submissions should be original academic research papers written in or out of class, independent studies, and honors theses. Publishing your research is a great opportunity to improve your job market and graduate school candidacy while substantively contributing to the greater academic landscape.

UW Neuroscience Summer Student Program | Deadline: December 14, 2025

The UW Medicine Department of Neuroscience Summer Scholars Program provides “Bench to Bedside” exposure in the field of neurosciences. Established in 2008 by Richard G. Ellenbogen, MD, Professor and Chair of the UW Department of Neurological Surgery, the program provides students opportunities to explore basic and clinical neurosciences through laboratory research and clinical observation.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Summer Program | Deadline: January 7, 2026

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is hosting a summer undergraduate program which offers full-time, paid research internships for STEM undergraduates and recent graduates. Interns spend 10–12 weeks on-site at ORNL, contributing to high-impact projects in fields like energy, computing, and biology. With mentorship, hands-on training, and professional development, this program is a powerful springboard into Department of Energy national lab careers.

Los Alamos National Laboratory Internships | Deadline: Varies by position

Los Alamos National Laboratory invites undergraduates to engage in impactful research through paid internships and collaborative programs. Students work alongside top scientists on national security, energy, and health challenges while gaining mentorship and professional development.

Indigenous Mental Health Research Opportunity | Open until filled 

Students with connections or interests in Indigenous communities are invited to join a flexible research partnership with the Coast Salish Youth Coalition. Participants will support a community wellness program, collaborate with Tribal governments, and gain experience in data collection and analysis. No prior research experience is required. Interested students can reach out to Dr. William Hartmann at weh3@uw.edu.

Native Policy Lab Research Opportunity | Open until filled 

The University of Iowa Native Policy Lab (NPL) is hiring paid field researchers to assist with document scanning at the National Archives for Project Return. The Native Policy Lab (NPL) is an ongoing project aimed at strengthening data-driven and evidence-based public policy in Indian Country. In addition to projects done in collaboration with Native American Tribes, the NPL works to synthesize existing data sources and informational repositories for use by Tribes.

Events & Conferences

Substance Use and Addiction Virtual Research Open House | Date: November 12, 2025

The Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (ADAI) is hosting a virtual event open to anyone interested in learning more about ongoing substance use and addiction research at the ADAI or looking to get involved with substance use and addiction research at the institute. Research opportunities can be valuable for students interested in going to graduate school, medical school, or other higher education. The event will consist of presentations by ADAI faculty and staff sharing their current work.

Duke National Health Research Conference | Priority Deadline: November 17, 2025

The Duke National Health Research Conference is a national platform for undergraduates and recent college graduates to present and engage in discussions surrounding health-related research across various disciplines, while fostering meaningful networking among peers from universities across the country. The Duke National Health Research Conference will be held on February 21, 2026, at Duke University in Durham, NC.

Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium | Abstract Deadline: December 1, 2025

The Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium, inaugurated in 2020, is an annual symposium hosted by Johns Hopkins University to provide a national platform for undergraduates in the humanities to share their work. This conference brings together students across all fields in the humanities to present their work to a national audience. The 2026 Macksey Symposium will be held from March 19-21, 2026, on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus in Baltimore, MD.

National Conference on Undergraduate Research | Abstract Deadline: December 5, 2025

The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students. Unlike meetings of academic professional organizations, this gathering of student scholars welcomes presenters from all institutions of higher learning and from all disciplines. NCUR will take place April 13–15, 2026 in Richmond, VA.

Yale Undergraduate Research Conference |Priority Deadline: January 1, 2025

The Yale Undergraduate Research Conference (YURC) invites undergraduates to present original research across all disciplines and compete for over $10,000 in prizes. As the nation’s largest student-run research conference, YURC fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and academic excellence. The conference will take place February 20–22, 2026 at Yale University in New Haven, CT.

Scholarships & Fellowships to Support Research

University of Chicago Social Impact Fellowship | Deadline: October 19, 2025

The Harris Social Impact Fellowship is a full-time, 11-month program for recent graduates and early career professionals with strong STEM skills and a passion for evidence-based change. Designed by University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy faculty, the fellowship blends intensive training in policy analysis, critical reasoning, and data analytics with a hands-on placement at a top research center or policy institute.

Mary Gates Leadership and Research Scholarships | Deadline: October 20, 2025

The Mary Gates Endowment for Students expands opportunities for undergraduates by providing Leadership & Research Scholarships. Students are asked to articulate their educational goals outside of traditional classroom settings, identify mentors, reflect on their experiences, and actively engage in their own learning processes. Undergraduates from all disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Graduate Study & Research at Yenching Academy of Peking University | Campus Deadline: November 3, 2025

The Yenching Academy of Peking University aims to build bridges between China and the rest of the world through an interdisciplinary master’s program in China Studies. The Yenching Academy provides full fellowships to its scholars and offers them a wide array of interdisciplinary courses on China within broadly defined fields of the humanities and social sciences. Working closely with their academic mentors, Yenching Scholars create their own study paths by choosing courses from six research areas. They participate in a variety of extracurricular activities and field studies, organized by the Yenching Academy, and designed by scholars themselves. Studying at the Academy is an exceptional opportunity to take part in intercultural exchanges and interdisciplinary learning, developing both personally and professionally.

Goldwater Scholarship | Campus Deadline: November 12, 2025

The Goldwater Scholarship Program, one of the oldest and most sought-after undergraduate scholarship in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics in the United States, seeks to identify and support college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming this Nation’s next generation of research leaders in these fields.

Truman Scholarship | Campus Deadline: November 17, 2025

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, the federal memorial to our thirty-third President, awards merit-based scholarships to college students who plan to pursue careers in government or elsewhere in public service. Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school, participate in leadership development activities, and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government.

Udall Scholarship | Campus Deadline: January 15, 2026

Each year, the Udall Foundation anticipates awarding fifty-five scholarships of up to $7,000 each to sophomore and junior level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal policy, or Native American health care. Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship applicants must be nominated by the UW. 

Tools & Resources

Researchers in Community Invitation (RiC)

Researchers in Community (RiC) is a cross-disciplinary group of students, staff, and faculty committed to ethical, community-engaged research. During regular meetings, the group explores collaborative practices, challenges, and ethics in working with community partners. All are welcome to join and contribute to the conversation. RiC meets every Monday, 10 – 11:30 AM at Mary Gates 015. You can also sign up for the RiC mailing list here.

CSDE Computing Services for Undergraduates

The Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology (CSDE) offers 24/7 remote access to high-performance computing, which is free for UW students. Whether you are in Public Health, Engineering, Anthropology, or beyond, CSDE’s systems support research across disciplines with licensed software, secure storage, and help desk support. Work from anywhere via VPN and access your files and tools instantly. Questions? Contact Matt Weatherford at mattw@uw.edu.

Global Funding Opportunities

Looking for funded global opportunities to do research? The Office of Global Affairs has launched a new resource listing funded international opportunities available to the UW community. The list is updated regularly as new opportunities arise.

New Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial Topic: Critical AI Literacy

A new topic has been added to the UW Libraries Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial: Critical AI Literacy. This tutorial topic supports students in critically reflecting on AI in personal, research and academic contexts, and investigates several guiding principles for developing AI Literacy. The Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial empowers UW students to be co-creators of their own learning experiences and is designed for all levels of student research expertise. Relevant AI information has also been added to all tutorial topics.

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