Student Research

No matter which field they explore — science, public policy, social science, the arts or the humanities — our undergraduate and graduate students work side-by-side with world-class scientists and investigators to push the boundaries of innovation.

Fellowships and research initiatives allow students to follow their academic curiosity, whether under the guidance of faculty mentors or pursuing independent projects.

Gavin Derleth

BA '20, Geography & Political Science

"As I became more interested in urban geography in my classes, it was no longer something I felt I could ignore, and so I jumped at the chance to research its implications further."

Student Research Opportunities

Undergraduate and graduate students can use Student Research Commons to find research positions and other opportunities across disciplines. The website connects students with paid research positions, fellowships, databases of scholarships and funding opportunities, research internships and other for-credit or experiential opportunities.

Find Research Opportunities

Spotlights on Student Research

Eve Boyle is standing in front of two primate skeletons at the Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology lab.

The Torso Connection

Research findings by Human Paleobiology doctoral student Eve Boyle challenge the widely accepted scientific theory connecting a primate's torso size to its diet.

Senior Mackenzie White showcased her study of Medieval meteorology at GW Research Days.

Medieval Astrologists as Weather Forecasters?

Senior Mackenzie White’s undergraduate thesis on Medieval meteorology unearthed ancient almanacs that revealed which way the wind blew.

Undergraduate Research Fellowships

Luther Rice Fellowship

Luther Rice Undergraduate Research Fellowships support Columbian College undergraduates involved in faculty-mentored research projects on topics as varied as devising new treatments for diabetes, examining the ancient roots of religious conflicts and overcoming barriers to higher education around the world.

GW Research Award

The GW Undergraduate Research Award gives promising undergraduates the opportunity to engage in well-defined research projects, under the guidance of a faculty member in their field of study, to hone their investigative skills and prepare them for graduate and professional school challenges.

Cisneros Undergraduate Research Fellowship

The Cisneros Undergraduate Research Fellowship supports outstanding undergraduate students who are conducting faculty-supervised research on an issue facing Latinos/Hispanics or the Latino/Hispanic Community, including community action, evaluation and intervention projects.

Loeb Institute for Religious Freedom Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Fostering dialogue on religious understanding and the separation of church and state, the Loeb Institute for Religious Freedom offers promising students research fellowships to examine the role of religion in civil society.

Sigelman Undergraduate Research Enhancement (SURE) Awards

Funded by an endowment from GW Professors Carol and Lee Sigelman, the SURE Awards support the scientific, scholarly and artistic activities of students in all GW undergraduate programs, including the humanities, the arts, science and engineering, business and public health.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Research Opportunities

CCAS Dean's Graduate Instructorship

The CCAS Dean’s Graduate Instructorship offers exceptional PhD candidates the unique experience of designing and teaching their own undergraduate seminars in their areas of expertise, while also obtaining financial support for their dissertation research.

CCAS Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Qualified PhD candidates can receive support as they work on their dissertations through the Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship, which includes a stipend and tuition assistance.

The Gamow Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Named after George Gamow, a renowned GW theoretical physicist and early proponent of the Big Bang Theory, the Gamow Postdoctoral Fellowship Program promotes student-faculty research collaborations while addressing the need for greater diversity in the nation’s science community. Gamow Fellows conduct groundbreaking research in theoretical nuclear physics and experimental nuclear physics, with priorities given to applicants from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.