For Bella Boulter, serving through Honors meant looking beyond the code to the people behind the UW’s systems. Through her Honors experiential learning internship with the Office of the University Registrar, she examined how technology shapes the student journey — and helped lay the groundwork for a new innovation lab where students can build tools, test ideas and create a more accessible Husky Experience.
Category: Research
Posts that relate to undergraduate research as well as UAA programs that lead research.
UW undergrad named 2026 Rhodes Scholar
University of Washington senior Shubham Bansal, ’26, has been named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar, one of the most prestigious academic awards for U.S. students.
What happens on campus doesn’t stay on campus: Why undergraduate experiences matter for everyone
Every fall, new Huskies arrive at the University of Washington — curious, driven and a little nervous. More than 25% of our first-year students are the first in their families to seek a four-year degree. Of the UW’s undergraduate population, 55% receive financial aid, 74% are Washington state residents, representing all 39 Washington counties. Throughout their undergraduate journey, thousands will plug into research and community engagement, gaining experience and developing character traits that prepare them for their future.
Why should you care? Because it’s not just about current students. What happens at the University of Washington doesn’t stay on campus. In just a few fast years, undergraduates will leave with more than a diploma: They’ll carry with them the persistence, empathy and civic responsibility our workplaces, communities and democracy demand.
We readily see the ripple effects of undergraduate education, from the alum who teaches your child multiplication, to the nurse who cares for your parent, or the software engineer at your office who solves a thorny problem. However, undergraduate experiences beyond the classroom, like research, community engagement and leadership education have the potential to become difference-makers for students and the world they graduate into. They enliven and animate classroom experiences and bring students into the breadth and depth of the UW, one of America’s leading research universities. Teaching the next generation the foundations of research and service for the public good matters to Washington state residents personally, publicly, profoundly for decades to come.
Research, community engagement and leadership education — the areas we focus on in our work — are integral to students’ career preparation and teach skills, habits and mindsets that AI can’t generate. Undergraduate researchers learn persistence, flex the muscle that discerns fact from fiction, apply knowledge across a range of complex problems, and so much more. Students who learn to lead through communities wrangle with ethics, deepen their self-awareness, practice respectful dialogue, and develop a sustained commitment to our civic spaces.
One undergraduate researcher explored how people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s feel about different interventions and saw firsthand how those facing this disease have different opinions and approaches to the idea of memories. She was surprised to learn that some viewed forgetting as a gift. She plans on taking the lesson of being curious about different perspectives to her journalism career.
Another undergraduate volunteered in schools, helping students apply to post-secondary education. In this service and leadership work, he practiced public speaking and community-listening skills. He’s brought these skills to his law career representing victims of crime. He learned that listening and effective communication builds trust between communities and the justice system.
Let’s look at the big picture again. By 2031, an estimated 72% of jobs will require education beyond high school. Students who take part in research, community engagement and leadership education are more likely to persist to graduation. These opportunities help students articulate their why, which sets them apart in scholarship applications, job interviews, graduate school applications and more. More than two-thirds of UW graduates stay in Washington state. Undergraduate research, community engagement and leadership development teach the habits of heart and mind we should expect from our business community, politicians, civic leaders and the neighbors next door.
Summer’s over and fall is here. We are delighted to begin again — as we do at the start of every new school year — with this newest group of Huskies. We can’t wait to see what inspires them within and beyond the classroom and, most importantly, how they will contribute to the world beyond them. There is no time like the present, for their future and ours.
Fran Lo is the executive director of the Community Engagement and Leadership Education Center at the UW. Sophie Pierszalowski is the director of the UW’s Office of Undergraduate Research.
Research shapes our future at the 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
The 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium brought together more than 1,500 undergraduate scholars from the University of Washington and regional colleges to present 1,138 projects in over 100 disciplines. For many undergraduates, research is more than an academic pursuit — it’s a way to connect classroom learning to urgent real-world issues.
UW sophomore awarded selective Udall Scholarship for commitment to environment and community
University of Washington undergrad Lorenzo Roel Flores McCleese, ‘27, was recently named a Udall Scholar. Lorenzo is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in environmental science and terrestrial resource management as well as informatics, with a focus on data science. He is also minoring in diversity.
New opportunity for early-career undergraduates to engage in research
Undergraduate Academic Affairs is delighted to announce the Undergraduate Research Collective, a new paid opportunity for undergraduates with no prior research experience to connect to research in their first and second years at the University of Washington. Leaders in the Office of Undergraduate Research are the program’s visionaries, architects and builders. Startup funding is provided in part by the Ana Mari Cauce Fund for Undergraduate Research, a new giving opportunity to honor President Cauce for her leadership in and support of undergraduate research.
Undergraduate research is one of the most impactful experiences available to students, benefiting students during their time at the UW and well beyond graduation. Students who participate in research often report it reinforced what they are learning in the classroom; increased their ability to think critically; engendered a sense of pride and purpose in being involved in work that contributes to the public good; and built a foundation for their future careers. As one of America’s leading public research institutions, the UW offers first-in-class opportunities for undergraduate research.
“We see the way students light up when they connect with research — many share that their experiences were transformative,” says Sophie Pierszalowski, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. “That said, research opportunities can be competitive and challenging to access for early career students without prior experience. These students are the future of research — our legacy of research excellence starts with them.”
The Undergraduate Research Collective is a cohort-based, two-year program designed for first- and second-year students and first-year transfer students with no prior research experience. It aims to improve systems and increase access to research for early-career undergraduates. Additionally, students in the Collective receive an $8,000 scholarship over the two years of the program.
In the first year, students develop relationships with their cohort; receive advising from the Office of Undergraduate Research; participate in a weekly seminar focused on research preparation and community-building; and are matched with and develop an onboarding plan with their faculty mentor. More than 20 faculty mentors from across disciplines have signed on to support undergraduates through the Undergraduate Research Collective.
In the second year of the program, students work on a research project with their faculty mentor for five to 10 hours per week; participate in cohort-based professional development workshops and events; and present their project at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Startup funding is key and is provided by the Mary Gates Endowment and the Ana Mari Cauce Fund for Undergraduate Research. The Mary Gates Endowment is one of the University’s largest endowments for undergraduates. The Ana Mari Cauce Fund was established by friends, colleagues and admirers of the outgoing UW president to honor and recognize her long-standing commitment to undergraduate research. Throughout her decades-long career at the UW, President Cauce has mentored and been influenced by undergraduate researchers and is a stalwart champion of broadening access to undergraduate research opportunities.
“Undergraduate students involved in research have the opportunity to consider questions and problems that matter,” said Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. “The experience begins with finding their passion, thinking critically about important issues, then applying those insights toward resolving real problems. Guided by mentors and inspired by the legacy of President Cauce, UW students involved in research push the boundaries of knowledge and contribute directly to improving the lives of individuals, communities and our society writ large.”
The pilot phase of the program will support 20 students. According to Pierszalowski, “The Office of Undergraduate Research envisions a future where capacity and infrastructure for early career undergraduate research programming at the UW continues to grow. We hope to partner with departments, research centers, individual donors and other research organizations who understand the value of this work and want to help grow this interdisciplinary effort to engage early career students in research through supportive and accessible pathways.”
Applications for students to participate in this first cohort are open through July 21. Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research’s website to learn more and apply.
The Undergraduate Research Collective two-year pilot is largely funded by donations made to celebrate President Cauce’s leadership and legacy. Visit our fundraising page to learn more about how you can support this program.
UW undergraduate with interdisciplinary AI focus earns fellowship of up to $90,000 for graduate study
University of Washington Honors student Andre Ye, pursuing bachelors’ degrees in philosophy and computer science with minors in math and history, has been selected for the esteemed Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans.
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans is a merit-based fellowship supporting immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing graduate education in the U.S. This year, 30 Fellows were selected out of more than 2,600 applicants for their past achievements and future promise to make significant contributions to American society. Fellows will receive up to $90,000 to fund graduate studies for two years.
More than money: Scholarships, jobs, internships map to students’ interests
Funding opportunities abound across UAA with a broad range of funded opportunities — scholarships, internships and jobs — that connect to and support students’ interests.
Bridging science and humanity
Daniel Chen’s journey into research began with a fascination for ancient cultures and extinct creatures. As a middle schooler, he was captivated by archaeology and paleontology, dreaming of working at excavation sites, unearthing ancient bones and tracing the histories of lost civilizations. Over time, that early curiosity shifted toward biology, particularly as computational modeling emerged as a powerful tool.
Sean Gehrke named assistant dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
Undergraduate Academic Affairs is pleased to announce Sean Gehrke’s new role as assistant dean. Sean Gehrke has served over 20 years in higher education, holding a variety of administrative, research and assessment roles.