Research
The ripple effect of undergraduate research is far-reaching. Undergraduates work alongside some of the university’s most accomplished faculty to help solve society’s most intractable problems. Together, their work spans all majors and is conducted in labs, libraries, communities, art studios and nature. This immersive education prepares students for careers in research, teaches invaluable skills like persistence, teamwork, critical thinking and creative problem-solving, and advances our basic understanding of how things work. Students love it, too. More than 80% of them participate in research over the course of their undergraduate education.
What you’ll find here: Undergraduate research opportunities // Research led by UAA programs // Stories about undergraduate and UAA research
Get involved with research
The Undergraduate Research Program is here to support your entire undergraduate research experience, from finding research positions to funding and presenting your work. Hear more about opportunities beyond the classroom, including research.
Research across disciplines
9,045 undergrads brought depth to their academics by participating in research, creative and scholarly endeavors alongside UW faculty mentors.
Undergraduate research opportunities
Mary Gates Endowment for Students
Scholarships for students to carry out a research project in any field under the guidance of a faculty mentor, with additional support from co-mentors such as graduate students or postdoctoral associates. Projects can include laboratory or other quantitative or qualitative research, community-based research, creative arts or other scholarly work. (Leadership and innovation scholarships are also available.)
Undergraduate Research Program
The Undergraduate Research Program helps students engage in research with UW faculty mentors in all disciplines.The Undergraduate Research Program offers research scholarships, hosts summer research programs, provides courses and workshops, convenes the Undergraduate Research Symposium and summer symposia, and supports the Undergraduate Research Leaders program.
Research led by UAA programs
Research is a vital part of Undergraduate Academic Affairs’ commitment to undergraduate success. Our researchers investigate the most effective learning and support strategies for a wide range of students, whether they are transfer, first-generation, traditional or non-traditional students. They guide colleagues across campus and the country in designing studies, developing assessment strategies and helping educators turn data into actionable steps.
Community College Research Initiatives
Community College Research Initiatives (CCRI) conducts research on equitable college access, progression and transfer, degree completion and employment in living-wage careers for underserved and diverse students. CCRI researchers provide strategies and guidance to institutions across the country about using data to increase student success and access to higher education.
Office of Educational Assessment
Provides a variety of evaluation and assessment services to the UW and outside organizations. Office of Educational Assessment researchers conduct assessment of student and program outcomes and evaluate grant-funded programs. The office also facilitates student course evaluations, classroom test scoring and proctored test administration.
Resilience Lab
The Resilience Lab is running a longitudinal study on student resilience and well-being. The study will follow four cohorts of first-year students through graduation to gain insights into what resources help them through stressful events and contribute to their mental health and academic success.
Stories about undergraduate and UAA research
UW junior awarded selective Goldwater Scholarship
March 26, 2021
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 UW is a Fulbright top producer for the 2020-21 school year
March 24, 2021
The University of Washington made the Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of the top Fulbright producing institutions. The UW has received this application eight out of the past ten years. Almost 600 U.S. higher-education institutions participate in the Fulbright program and the program’s participants work in more than 140 countries around the world. Twenty-four UW…
Celebrating the 2019–20 President’s Medalists
March 2, 2021
From the thousands of undergraduate students at the University of Washington, three are selected each year for the prestigious President’s Medalist Award. Sam Colgan, Natasha Lavides and Nuria Alina Chandra are the medalists for 2019–20, selected by a committee for their high GPAs, rigor of classes and numbers of Honors courses. All three are students…