Click here to meet the 2023-2024 WRF Fellows!
The Washington Research Foundation Fellowships (WRFF) for Advanced Undergraduates Program is designed to support promising students who work on creative and sophisticated research projects in biosciences and related fields under the guidance of UW faculty. The Washington Research Foundation generously supports this program in an effort to recognize and support undergraduates who achieve a high level of accomplishment in research, particularly in areas relevant to the development of new technologies. The program is designed for undergraduates who have already participated in undergraduate research for at least three quarters and who are working beyond an introductory level in a project that requires creativity and advanced knowledge.
Undergraduates who are interested in devoting a significant portion of time to research, which both complements their coursework and furthers their professional goals, are especially encouraged to apply. The award is for $8,000, to be disbursed in the amount of $2,667 at the beginning of Autumn, Winter and Spring Quarters.
Program Goals
The program is designed for undergraduates who have already participated in undergraduate research for at least three quarters and who are working beyond an introductory level in a project that requires creativity and advanced knowledge. Goals of the program include:
- Fostering research independence
- Promoting career clarification and development
- Helping students build confidence and belonging in a research environment/discipline
- Broadening participation in life sciences by offering competitive compensation
- Helping students explore how to incorporate equity, inclusion, and justice in their research practice as they develop their identity as a researcher
These goals were crafted in response to gains associated with participation in undergraduate research, as documented in the following report:
National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). 2017. Undergraduate Research Experiences for STEM Students: Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.