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Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Author: Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Reviewed 9/22

Q&A for UW/Seattle Colleges partnership

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Overview

The University of Washington is excited to build upon the success of Seattle Promise to connect Seattle Colleges students to a baccalaureate degree at the UW. Historically, transfer students have had success at the UW, but there are still barriers. Prospective students need better information about options for majors and how to prepare for them. Newly admitted transfer students often need up-front academic support in order to transition to a research university. Investment in this partnership will provide information and support to ensure that Seattle Promise students can reach their academic goals.

A Seattle Promise student’s journey with this partnership

Year one of the student’s journey

Q. Who is eligible to participate in this opportunity?

Seattle Promise students who have completed their first year at Seattle Colleges.

Q. What happens in the first year of the partnership program?

Year one of the partnership program is designed to help students understand what academics at the UW are like, to support their academic planning and career preparation, and to introduce them to opportunities that are unique to a research university. It helps them learn how to take advantage of the supports that exist at different institutions so they can have a successful transfer experience.

Details:

Academic preparation

From late-August to mid-September, Seattle Promise students who have completed their first year at a Seattle College take a three-week course focused on a subject that relates to what they are interested in majoring in.

  • Course is taught by a UW faculty member.
  • Student will earn credit that will apply to their Seattle College AA degree.

 

Major and career exploration

The UW is proud to offer more than 180 undergraduate majors and recognizes that some are better known than others. Part of our goal with this partnership is to support students’ exploration of majors that are both well-known and those that tend to fly under the radar but would still support students’ academic and career goals. To that end, this partnership will support students’:

  • Academic planning for multiple majors.
  • Mapping academic and experiential learning opportunities to their career interests.

 

Research university opportunities

As one of the country’s leading research universities, we are excited to ensure Seattle Promise students are aware of the benefits and opportunities that exist at the UW. Students who earn their bachelor’s degree from a different institution still benefit from a deeper understanding of how a research university in their backyard connects to their lives.

Year two of a student’s journey

Q. Who is eligible to participate in the second year of this partnership?

Seattle Promise students who have been admitted to the UW for autumn quarter. Some, but not necessarily all, will have participated in the first year of the program.

Q. What happens in the second year of the partnership program?

Year two of the partnership program will delve into preparing specifically for entering the UW’s Seattle campus.

Details:

Academic preparation

From late-August to mid-September, Seattle Promise students admitted to the UW for autumn quarter take an intensive, four-week course focused on writing and research.

  • Course is taught by a UW faculty member.
  • Students will learn about academic resources such as libraries, writing centers, tutoring centers.

 

Grounding and belonging

Research tells us that students who feel grounded and find a sense of belonging are more likely to persist through college and earn their degree. The unique circumstances and lived experiences of transfer students, coupled with their shorter time on campus can make it more difficult for them to find those points of connection and community. Year two of this partnership aims to lessen those difficulties in these ways:

  • Develop a cohort of Seattle Promise students who are new to the UW
  • Build community among other new transfer students
  • Connect this cohort with current UW students who have already experienced what it’s like to transfer to the UW
  • Orient Seattle Promise transfer students to campus resources and opportunities before the beginning of autumn quarter

Operational details

Q. How many students will this partnership support?

We’ll know how many students we will be able to support once all the details of the funding are known. That said, and while it depends on the final funding, we’re hopeful that we’d be able to serve 100 Seattle Promise students to start.

Q. How will this partnership be staffed?

A UW adviser will be dedicated to this partnership and will work closely with Seattle Colleges and Seattle Promise students on admissions requirements, exploring majors and being academically prepared. Additionally, this adviser will be able to show how academics at Seattle Colleges specifically map to different majors at the UW and they’ll be able to connect students with financial aid and other student resources for Seattle Promise students who transfer to the UW.

Q. What kind of financial aid is available to students to participate in the program? 

The programs will be free for Seattle Promise students — all course costs will be covered by this investment in the partnership. Seattle Promise students who are admitted to the UW as transfer students will be eligible for financial aid. Many of the current Seattle Promise students who are from low-income backgrounds will be eligible for the Husky Promise (which covers tuition and standard fees at the UW).

Q. What does the program cost to students? Will students have to pay tuition for the three- and four-week courses?

There is no charge to Seattle Promise students to participate in this program or the three- and four-week programs.

Q. What happens after 2023, when the federal funding runs out? Will the program continue?

While we don’t want to speculate about funding sources after 2023, we know that the UW’s commitment to continuing to build upon and improve partnerships to benefit transfer students will remain strong.

Q. Where can students learn more about and sign up for this program?

We’re glad you’re interested! We are working out those details with our partners at the Seattle Colleges. Please stay tuned and check back.

Q. Does this guarantee admission to the UW for Seattle Promise students?

This partnership does not guarantee UW admission for Seattle Promise students. We do anticipate that students who participate in the program beginning after their first year in a Seattle College will be well-positioned to be admitted.

Q. For participating students admitted to the UW, does this guarantee admission into the major of their choice?

This partnership does not guarantee admission into particular majors for Seattle Promise students. We do anticipate that students who participate in the program will be well-informed about their major options.

 

For more information about this partnership, please contact Michaelann Jundt, associate dean, Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

The 24th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium to happen virtually on May 21

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Graphic for the 2021 Undergraduate Research Symposium

On Friday, May 21, nearly 750 undergraduates from all three University of Washington campuses as well as local community colleges and regional colleges will participate in the 24th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, which will be held online for the second year. The UW’s Undergraduate Research Symposium is one of the largest in the country and provides a professional opportunity for undergraduates to present their research, scholarly and creative work.

Registration is required to attend the virtual Symposium. To register, visit symposium.uw.edu. Attending the event is always free. Pre-recorded presentations followed by a live Q&A will happen in real time and will not be available for later viewing.

Undergraduates from all disciplines show the ways their research connects to issues that matter in our communities and contributes to the University’s work as a leading public research university. In 2019-20, nearly 8,300 students participated in at least 1 quarter of research. More than 1,200 students presented their work in the 2019 Undergraduate Research Symposium, and over 850 students presented in the virtual Symposium in 2020.

This year is the fifth year that the UW’s Population Health Initiative is awarding select student presenters a Population Health Recognition award for “their innovative and well-presented research work.” Among this year’s 12 student awardees are these timely and challenging research projects:

  • Dancing Around the Point: Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Puget Sound Region by Annette Mercedes, who’s majoring in anthropology and biology.
  • Ultrafine Particle Inequality by Race, Ethnicity, and Income in Seattle by Kaya Bramble, who’s majoring in industrial engineering.
  • Firearm Injury and Violence Research Articles in Health Sciences by Funding Status and Type: A Scoping Review by Pavithra Prabhu, who’s majoring in microbiology.

“The application of classroom concepts in problem solving and experimentation have made me a better student, a better learner, a better teacher, a better thinker, and a better person. I believe every student, no matter the field, should conduct a mentored internship/research project in their area of study.”
— 2020 Symposium Presenter

Overview of the format and registration

Support student presenters through social media. Add a special frame to your Facebook profile pic; download graphics and post about it. Change out your Zoom picture and background for the Symposium.

The Symposium begins at 9 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time, and will run to 5:00 p.m. UW President Cauce, Provost Mark Richards and UAA Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor have each recorded videos to welcome students and guests; congratulate undergraduates on their accomplishments; share who the recipients of the Research Mentor Awards are; and recognize the invaluable role mentors play in encouraging undergraduates to transform their education through research.

Students will present their research in one of these formats, all followed by a question and answer period:

  • Lightning talk presentation,
  • 10-minute oral presentation,
  • Visual arts and design presentation, or
  • Performing arts presentation

Registered guests will be able to access students’ abstracts and presentation times, watch presentations by students they specifically want to see, and explore and attend multiple sessions.

All presentations will be pre-recorded and played in real time, according to the event schedule; they will not be available for later viewing. Registration is required to attend this free event.

To view the sessions, register for the Symposium and make sure to set up a Zoom account if you do not already have one. Information about how to access the sessions and a detailed Symposium conference schedule will be emailed to registered attendees the week of Symposium.

UW junior awarded selective Goldwater Scholarship

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Congratulations to University of Washington junior Daniel Chen, whom the Goldwater Foundation honored with its undergraduate scholarship for students studying the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Chen, who is majoring in informatics and microbiology, is one of 410 undergraduate students selected for the award from a pool of 1,256 students nominated by 438 institutions across the country.

Photo of Daniel Chen
UW junior Daniel Chen was selected for the competitive Goldwater Scholarship. (Photo taken following public health guidelines at the time.)

Goldwater Scholarships are granted to sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise and plan to pursue research careers in math, engineering or the natural sciences. These scholarships award up to $7,500 a year to help cover costs associated with tuition, mandatory fees, books, room and board.

Photo of Daniel Chen at Pratt Lake
Chen on a snowy hike above Pratt Lake in Washington.

Chen’s interest in challenging himself can be seen through his academic choices: In addition to majoring in two disciplines, informatics and microbiology, he is pursuing departmental honors in microbiology. Chen has previously been awarded the Levinson Emerging Scholars award and the Mary Gates Endowment Research Scholarship, and is also listed on the annual Dean’s List.

He began his college path early, entering the UW after middle school through the Early Entrance Program. To balance out his rigorous academic and research work, Chen enjoys hiking in nature preserves and crocheting amigurumi animals, hobbies that suit the environment of his hometown of Sammamish, WA.

“This news is simply wonderful,” says Undergraduate Academic Affairs Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor. “Through his involvement in undergraduate research, Daniel has shown a dedication to furthering science and understanding as well as to the purpose of making people’s lives better. As a University community, we couldn’t be more proud of him. I extend my warmest congratulations to Daniel as well as his faculty mentors and others who have supported him on his journey so far.”

Infographic from Daniel Chen's research paper
As an undergraduate, Chen was one of the co-authors of the research paper, “Multi-Omics Resolves a Sharp Disease-State Shift between Mild and Moderate COVID-19.”

Chen currently conducts research under Dr. Yapeng Su and Professor Jim Heath in the Heath lab at the Institute for Systems Biology. His research is focused on using the single-cell multi-omic paradigm to analyze COVID-19 peripheral blood mononuclear cells to identify the disease state effects of SARS-CoV-2 on patient immune systems. Such research has also branched out into investigating heterogenous patient responses to COVID-19 in convalescence along with interrogation of patient epigenomes to identify the early-stage immune cell subpopulations responsible for humoral immunity formation and the epigenomic changes that may guide such. In combination with Chen’s previous research investigating melanoma subpopulations using single-cell transcriptome (scRNA-seq) and epigenome (scATAC-seq) data, his current research projects have continued to push and develop his passion for biomedical informatics particularly when applied to clinically relevant problems.

After his undergraduate studies, Chen intends to pursue an M.D.-Ph.D. centered on leveraging computational resources and advances to solve human medical challenges such as cancer and infectious diseases. He particularly looks forward to identifying best practices and applications for such research to develop more accessible medical solutions for the given problem. He eventually hopes to pursue a faculty position at a university to conduct translational research in biomedical-informatic oriented fields.

For more information, contact Robin Chang, director of the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards, at robinc@uw.edu.

Husky Stories show there are many, many ways to be a Husky

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Each and every Husky goes through their own journey, undergoes their own unique experiences and, most importantly, has their very own story to share. Husky Stories is a mini-series in which Huskies share their successes, failures, experiences — their stories. There is no one way to be a Husky. Indeed, the culmination of individuals’ stories shape the picture of what it means to be a Husky.

Husky Stories: Taking advantage of failure with Ryan Lowery

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Each and every Husky goes through their own journey, undergoes their own unique experiences and, most importantly, has their very own story to share. Husky Stories is a mini-series in which Huskies share their successes, failures, experiences — their stories. There is no one way to be a Husky. Indeed, the culmination of individuals’ stories shape the picture of what it means to be a Husky.

Welcome to the very first episode of Husky Stories! Ryan Lowery is majoring in math and atmospheric sciences here at the University of Washington. Other than school, Ryan is also involved with the Resilience Lab, a program within Undergraduate Academic Affairs. Here, he shares his stories of dealing with failure and resiliency. (Note: This interview took place prior to the coronavirus pandemic.)

The Resilience Lab is a campus partner in the Husky Health & Well-Being initiative. If you would like to talk with a counselor or simply learn more about the mental health resources available to students, visit the Husky Health & Well-Being website.

 

Video by Sovechea Sophanna.

New guidebook helps faculty and instructors support student well-being

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Cover of Well-Being for Life and Learning guidebookThis week, the University of Washington’s Resilience Lab released the Well-Being for Life and Learning Guidebook, a new resource for instructors to aid them in designing learning environments that promote well-being. Combining research, best practices and personal testimony, the guidebook gives faculty and other instructors concrete ideas and direct input from the campus community around supporting the whole student and promoting resilience and compassion on campus.

Students’ well-being has been a growing concern for several years and has been exacerbated by 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic, economic fallout and the national reckoning over race and policing. A recent survey by the American Council on Education found that campus mental health was the top concern of university presidents. 

“As we prepare the next generation of citizens and servant leaders, future educators, researchers, entrepreneurs and more, it really is critical that we incorporate practices that support our students’ whole lives and lived experiences,” says Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean on Undergraduate Academic Affairs. “As a public research university, much of our work is focused on understanding the factors that contribute to resilient communities. This guidebook helps us with that work right here at our UW home, knowing that it expands beyond campus as we all interact with our broader community through research, service and teaching.”

The guidebook’s Foundations for Advancing Student Well-Being are the framework for the guide and include the themes of teaching for equity and access, building resilience coping skills, nurturing connection and connecting to the environment. This framework promotes core skills and mindsets of social and emotional learning and draws on best practices modeled at other institutions. This resource was researched, developed, co-written and edited by the Resilience Lab team and more than 40 Well-Being for Life and Learning Fellows who are faculty members, instructors, staff and students across disciplines and from all three UW campuses. Their contributions give the guidebook a UW-focused, holistic perspective on the impact of teaching the whole student. In that way, the guidebook is both a call to action and an invitation to the work of helping students develop the tools and habits for well-being so they are mentally and emotionally equipped to learn and thrive. 

“All of us at the Resilience Lab are so honored to have worked on this guidebook with such a committed group of instructors, staff and students,” says Resilience Lab Director Megan Kennedy. “We know that advancing student well-being really takes all of us, so our goal was to create a tool for our campus colleagues to add to their pedagogical toolbox. We wanted to give instructors a foundation of both why this work matters and how they can incorporate it into their teaching no matter where they are in terms of personal and professional experience.” 

Support resilience, compassion and well-being

The Resilience Lab promotes well-being at the University of Washington through education, research partnerships, and core programs and initiatives.

Make a gift

 

The Well-Being for Life and Learning guidebook sits at the prevention and promotion end of a mental health continuum of care within the UW and is aimed at preventing larger issues or crises by bolstering students’ resilience coping skills and helping them respond to stress and stay connected to others. It’s a part of the Resilience Lab’s Well-Being for Life and Learning initiative, one of the Lab’s efforts toward building and sustaining a culture of well-being at the UW.

About the Resilience Lab

The Resilience Lab was founded in 2015 and is a program within Undergraduate Academic Affairs that promotes well-being at the UW through education, research partnerships and core programs and initiatives.

For more information about the Resilience Lab or its Well-Being for Life and Learning initiative and guidebook, contact Megan Kennedy at meganken@uw.edu.

Dear Students: Voting is a habit that holds our democracy together

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Vote graphic
Voting is a habit that holds our democracy together.

The University of Washington has one of the highest voter participation rates of any college or university in the nation. This legacy of civic participation — that #HuskiesVote — is something we can all be proud of. And it’s something we can continue.

If you are eligible to vote make sure that your voter registration status is up-to-date so you are ready to vote in the upcoming November 2020 election.

Important dates

October 26, 2020

Deadline for online voter registration in Washington state.
NOTE: Deadlines and processes vary from state to state, so it is wise to register as soon as you can. Check the voting resources page for deadlines in other states.

November 3, 2020

Election Day

In Washington state, your ballot must be in a ballot box before 8 p.m. on November 3 or postmarked on or before November 3.

This November, you have the chance to vote for the president, governor and local officials as well as ballot initiatives — all of which are important decisions that impact your life. Voting is a way you can use your civic voice; we encourage you to use it. But first: You need to register.

As the largest and most diverse generation alive right now, young people have a chance to make a real impact in our country — if every eligible voter participates in elections. In order to make sure that you can vote in the upcoming local, state and federal elections, you need to be registered to vote at your current address.

Please take five minutes and register here. 

Let’s exercise some civic muscle and vote. #HuskiesVote

Additional resources

Voting Resources: Check your voter registration status and find out more about upcoming elections, including how to vote safely by mail. If you are residing in another state, this website has information about voting in each state.

Huskies Vote: Get step-by-step guidance on how to vote and how you can help others vote.

Do you need in-person assistance or did you miss the registration deadline?

Come to the Vote Center at the Dempsey Indoor Center. It will be open Saturday, October 31, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Monday, November 2, 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, November 3, 8:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. You’ll be able to register for the first time or update your registration, get a replacement ballot if you need one, or use an accessible voting unit if you have a disability and would prefer an audio ballot, touchscreen or other adaptive equipment. Public health precautions will be in place and wearing a face covering will be required.

This post is an edited compilation of a couple messages sent to students at UW’s Seattle campus to encourage them to register to vote and vote because civic engagement is an important component to a UW education.

Megan Kennedy named director of UW Resilience Lab

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Photo of Megan Kennedy
Megan Kennedy, director of the UW Resilience Lab

Undergraduate Academic Affairs is happy to share that Megan Kennedy was named director of the UW’s Resilience Lab in May. Kennedy has been connected to the Resilience Lab through multiple roles on campus that have all focused on student well-being. Since August, 2019, she served as interim director of the Resilience Lab, a unit within Undergraduate Academic Affairs that promotes mental health and well-being at the UW through education, research partnerships and a range of programs and initiatives.

Kennedy brings more than 20 years of experience to the role, ranging from a deep, clinical understanding of the importance of mental health to influencing organizational structures and systems so they better support individuals. Creating more concrete connections between the Resilience Lab and other campus partners whose work intersects with resilience and compassion is one of the ways Kennedy is infusing the Resilience Lab’s work more deeply into current structures.

Kennedy says she thinks about the Lab “as existing along a continuum of care at the UW, working collaboratively and intentionally with colleagues on campus, whose work is complementary. This work is also deeply aligned with my values of community well-being and kindness. It’s one of the ways the Lab is reflective of who I am.”

The Resilience Lab situates itself on the prevention side of that continuum, promoting resilience coping skills and mindsets across campus, including collaborating with faculty and programs to support integrating resilience practices into classroom settings and existing structures.

“The work of compassion for self and others is guided by important research and is much needed now,” says Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. “Ultimately, Megan’s work on well-being, mental health and her alliance building aims to foster compassionate communities. I am glad Megan is leading this work here.”

As director, Kennedy will primarily focus the Lab’s work on:

  • Supporting faculty to promote well-being within their classrooms by modeling and teaching social and emotional skills and mindsets
  • Providing seed grants to support resilience- and compassion-building initiatives that foster connection and community
  • Offering the 6-week long Be REAL program (Resilient Attitudes and Living) to UW students, staff and instructors
  • Revitalizing a vulnerability collective, a student-led initiative that encourages compassion and fosters resiliency through storytelling
  • Deepening and developing research partnerships with faculty, other UW divisions and initiatives that research themes of resilience and well-being
  • Launching the Well-Being for Life and Learning guidebook, a tool to equip faculty and instructors with foundational research about the importance of integrating well-being practices into their pedagogy as well as practical, how-to tactics.

“This work is designed to deepen the resilience and coping layers of the University so students can see and experience staff and instructors modeling the change,” explains Kennedy. “Staff and faculty play a key role in inspiring a culture of well-being at the UW — starting with ourselves is part of that work.”

Prior to her work with the Resilience Lab in UAA, Kennedy served in the division of Student Life as the manager of strategic initiatives for student wellness and the suicide intervention coordinator. Before coming to the UW, Kennedy was clinical director and interim outreach director at Youth Eastside Services, where she counseled youth and families, was a leader in the organization’s diversity efforts, and brought the clinic’s work into school district and community-based organizations. She is the co-founder and gender and sexual diversity consultant and trainer for Revelry Media and Methods, a consulting company that addresses social isolation, violence and mental health disparities faced by LGBTQ youth. Through this work and her work as an independent counselor and consultant, Kennedy’s career has focused on issues of well-being and equity, empowering individuals to build their resilience and well-being, and engage in the long-term work of creating more equitable systems.

The 23rd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium moves online

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Collage image to promote 2020 Undergraduate Research SymposiumOn Friday, May 15, 2020, more than 850 undergraduates will participate in the 23rd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, which will be held online. When held in person, the UW’s Undergraduate Research Symposium is one of the largest in the country. This year’s online event is likely to follow suit. Student presenters represent all three University of Washington campuses as well as some community colleges, regional colleges and universities.

 

Registration is required to attend this year’s virtual Symposium. To register, visit symposium.uw.edu. Attending the event is always free.

Circle avatar for research championShow students your support by updating your social media profile picture with a Symposium avatar, available for researchers, mentors, parents and champions of undergrad research.

Planning for the traditional event, which completely takes over Mary Gates Hall and expands into Odegaard Undergraduate Library, was well underway by the Undergraduate Research Program. Then the novel coronavirus pandemic hit, putting a halt to in-person events. More than 1,200 students had already applied to present their research, and staff were reading their applications and abstracts.

Rather than simply cancel the event outright, Undergraduate Research Program staff surveyed students to learn if they would want to present their research in a virtual format. The demands and new realities of students’ research projects varied — some projects, for example, are on hold and cannot be moved forward remotely and others are able to continue remotely — yet students’ interest in presenting was overwhelmingly positive.

Photo of Mary Gates Hall Commons during the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
The Undergraduate Research Symposium typically happens in Mary Gates Hall and will be online this year.

“I believe it is more important now than ever to have a feeling of pride in our community,” says Hank Cheng, UW senior majoring in biology. “I can’t think of something better than bringing together hundreds of scholars to share their accomplishments.” 

Organizers committed themselves to maintaining a professional Symposium experience for student presenters and to creating learning opportunities along the way, just as they have done for past symposia. Students were given feedback on their abstracts, offered workshop opportunities to learn how to put together a presentation or poster, and encouraged to participate in practice sessions to test-drive their presentation.

“I’m just so impressed and excited by the way these students rose to this challenge,” says Jennifer Harris, director of the Undergraduate Research Program. “Our undergraduate researchers, working under the guidance of world-class mentors, demonstrate resilience, creativity and truly engaged learning.” 

Harris also noted that one of the benefits of being online this year is that students’ friends and family from around the region, country and world will be able to tune in to their presentation. 

As in years past, the Undergraduate Research Symposium showcases the diversity of undergraduate research, which spans politics to pediatrics, astrobiology to oceanography, history to computer science, engineering to education and more, showing that undergraduate creativity and scholarship truly is boundless.

Overview of the format and registration

The Symposium begins at 9 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time, and will run to about 4:30 p.m. UW President Cauce, Provost Mark Richards and UAA Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor have each recorded videos to welcome students and guests; congratulate undergraduates on their accomplishments; share who the recipients of the Research Mentor Awards are; and recognize the invaluable role mentors play in encouraging undergraduates to transform their education through research.

Students will present their research in one of these formats, all followed by a question and answer period:

  • 3-minute poster presentation or lightning talk, 
  • 10-minute oral presentation,
  • 5-minute visual arts and design presentation, or
  • 15-minute performance presentation.

Registered guests will be able to access students’ abstracts and presentation times, watch presentations by students they specifically want to see, and explore and attend multiple sessions. 

All presentations will be pre-recorded and played in real time, according to the event schedule; they will not be available for later viewing. Registration is required to attend this free event. 

To view the sessions, register for the Symposium and make sure to set up a Zoom account if you do not already have one. Information about how to access the sessions and a detailed Symposium conference schedule will be emailed to registered attendees the week of Symposium.  

Support undergraduate researchers

There are many ways to support undergraduates presenting their research.

Through undergraduate research, students contribute to groundbreaking work and gain the experience necessary to one day lead innovative research themselves. UW undergraduates are getting involved in research in increasing numbers — more than 9,000 students participated in research in 2017–18. More than 700 faculty, post-doc, research staff and graduate student mentors supported this year’s Symposium presenters through their research, helping students develop subject area knowledge, transferable skills and an entrepreneurial perspective that will prepare them for future employment, education and civic engagement.

Join the undergraduate research ecosystem by supporting the Symposium in these ways:

Attend the Symposium and ask questions. Register here and tell your friends.

Show your support on social. Invite your friends and family ahead of time, and then post and tweet about your experiences using #UWsymp. Incorporate a new avatar and images from the Symposium social media toolkit.

Make a gift. Because of the generosity of donors, our students can continue their research and stay on track in the face of unprecedented challenges.


Support undergrad research

Three UW students named Goldwater scholars for 2020

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Photo collage of Keyan Gootkin, Parker Ruth and Karen Zhang
Congratulations Keyan Gootkin, Parker Ruth and Karen Zhang, UW’s newest Goldwater Scholars. Photo: UW News

The Goldwater Foundation honored three University of Washington students this year with its undergraduate scholarship for students studying the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Undergraduates Keyan Gootkin, Parker Ruth and Karen Zhang were selected for the award from a pool of more than 5,000 undergraduate students from 461 institutions across the country.

Goldwater Scholarships are granted to sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise and plan to pursue research careers in math, engineering or the natural sciences. These scholarships award up to $7,500 a year to help cover costs associated with tuition, mandatory fees, books, room and board. For the 2020-21 academic year, 396 college students nationwide were selected for the competitive scholarship.

“I am delighted and inspired by this news,” says Undergraduate Academic Affairs Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor. “Supporting students on their journey through the UW helps our students to understand and improve the world we live in. Faculty of public research universities like the UW guide and mentor this next generation of researchers and scientists. With our support and their talent, our aim is to develop the scientific talent our world needs. I extend my warmest congratulations to Keyan, Parker and Karen as well as their faculty mentors and others who have supported them on their journeys so far.”

Keyan Gootkin

Portrait of Keyan GootkinKeyan Gootkin, an astronomy and physics double-major, studies “the universe’s most massive stars near the end of their lives.” In addition to his work as an undergraduate researcher, Gootkin actively brings the stars down to Earth through service: He serves as the student coordinator at the UW’s historical Theodor Jacobsen Observatory; co-chairs the Mobile Planetarium Committee; and is the outreach coordinator for the UW League of Astronomers.

Gootkin has received a Washington Research Foundation Fellowship, a Washington Space Grant scholarship, been named to the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s List and is a Washington State Opportunity Scholar.

He plans to earn a Ph.D. in astrophysics “so that I can continue doing research as long as I can.”

Parker Ruth

Portrait of Parker RuthParker Ruth is earning a double degree in computer engineering and bioengineering; he is part of the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and is pursuing Departmental Honors. His research explores the design of computational tools to improve access to healthcare. As a member of the Ubiquitous Computing (UbiComp) research lab advised by Professor Shwetak Patel, Ruth has contributed to the development and testing of mobile health applications for sleep apnea screening, cardiovascular health, osteoporosis detection and physical activity quantification.

Outside the classroom Ruth started a club to help students get involved with research in bioengineering-related fields. His additional honors and scholarships include a Levinson Emerging Scholars Award, Microsoft Endowment Scholarship, Washington Research Foundation Fellowship, Mary Gates Scholarships, and selections to the Dean’s List.

Ruth plans to obtain a Ph.D. in computer science, with a long-term goal of pursuing a career as a researcher using computers to improve people’s lives.

Karen Zhang

Portrait of Karen ZhangKaren Zhang is double-majoring in biochemistry and microbiology. She is part of the Interdisciplinary Honors program and is pursuing Departmental Honors in biochemistry. Zhang is also a Mary Gates Scholar and Annual Dean’s List awardee.

Currently, Zhang is an undergraduate researcher in the Molecular Information Systems Lab (MISL) at UW. Her lab investigates technologies for storing digital data in DNA and is interested in all things at the intersection between computer science and biology. Through this interdisciplinary lab, she has gained invaluable experience in professional research and discovered a passion for synthetic biology. She has also developed an appreciation for bioinformatics and the essential role that computational algorithms play in interpreting biological data.

Outside of academics and research, Zhang is an editor for the UW Microbiology Journal where she guides writers in developing informative and fascinating articles about topics in microbiology. In her free time, she enjoys reading (and maybe one day writing) fantasy novels.

After graduating from the UW, Zhang aims to obtain a Ph.D. in either synthetic biology/bioengineering or bioinformatics. She is “deeply passionate about studying the machineries of life at a molecular level and engineering them to perform novel tasks.”

 

This news item also appeared on the UW News blog.

About the Goldwater Foundation

Goldwater Foundation’s scholarship program honors Senator Barry Goldwater and encourages outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering. The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields.

Learn more about scholarship opportunities at UW

The Goldwater Scholarship application process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.

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For more information:

Kirsten Atik, communications director, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, at katik@uw.edu or 206-221-6130.

Robin Chang, director, Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards, robinc@uw.edu, 206-543-2603.