GWSS Undergraduate Mellon Foundation Research Grants (Round #2)

Submitted by Whitney Miller on

Apply by November 1st!

The Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies invites applications for undergraduate research grants funded by a two-year Mellon Foundation Higher Learning grant. These research grants aim to elevate GWSS scholarship and create a more connected, experiential learning environment for our majors.

Funding

GWSS Undergraduate Research Grants of up to $1,000 are intended to jumpstart projects aligned with the GWSS mission. Project outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Scholarly essays for submission to journals
  • Posters or talks for presentation
  • Critical creative writing, art, or performance pieces
  • Public scholarship workshops that bridge feminist theory and activism

Projects may be developed from:

  • Final projects in any GWSS course
  • Research initiated in GWSS 302: Feminist Theories and Methods
  • Expansion of projects related to GWSS 494: GWSS Capstone

Eligibility

Open to current GWSS Majors and Minors, including students intending to graduate in June 2025.

Application 

Submit the following via Google Forms:

  1. Proposal Narrative (limit: 750 words): project description including objectives, significance/relevance to GWSS, methodology, timeline for project completion, and format/venue for presenting your research.
  2. Annotated Bibliography (limit: 500 words): A list of 5-7 works foundational to your project, with brief annotations explaining how each informs your research.
  3. Budget: An itemized budget outlining specific project needs. Each line item should include a description, a rationale for its importance to the project's success, and the dollar amount requested.

Selection 

A committee of GWSS faculty will evaluate projects based on:

  1. The strength and cohesiveness of the project description
  2. The feasibility of the proposed timeline
  3. The merits of the budget

Funding decisions will be announced by the end of Fall Quarter 2024.

Outcomes

Funding for undergraduate research enables students to deepen their learning and share their knowledge with a range of audiences. While we encourage you to consider presenting your research at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium, grant recipients are required to:

  • Submit a brief final report on the outcome of their research to the department by April 16, 2025.
  • Present their findings at the Spring 2025 Mellon Undergraduate Research Colloquium on May 9, 2025. Graduating students have the option of virtual participation if they graduate before the colloquium date.
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