Resources for Undergraduate Researchers
Here you can find some of the many different resources that are available for undergraduate researchers.
Opportunities through WSU
Scholarships, Grants, and More
The best place to start with scholarships is the general scholarship application. By filling out this application, WSU will automatically apply to relevant scholarships for you. You can complete the general scholarship application here. Once on the application page, simply select “Start New Application” and choose the upcoming scholarship year from the dropdown list.
WSU College of Arts and Sciences
Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Grant
This grant has an annual deadline in late March. This grant can provide up to $2000 dollars of support for a research project or creative activity. It is especially encourage for those pursuing interdisciplinary research. The application for this grant must include a project proposal, proposed budget, a resume, and a letter of support from a faculty member.
WSU Office of Undergraduate Research
These awards have an annual deadline in January. There are multiple awards available, and a general application for them. Read through the eligibility requirements to determine which awards you may be eligible for, and then be sure to select those awards on your application. Any winners of this award will present their research at the Showcase for Undergraduate Creative Activities(SURCA).
WSU Office of Research Advancements and Partnerships
Undergraduate Research Grant Competition
This grant is a part of the Office of Research’s Annual Research Week. You can apply for it in September, and can be awarded up $1500 in support for your research project. Applications should include a proposed project and a letter of support from a faculty member. You will be required to give a 10 minute project on your presentation if you are awarded.
WSU Emeritus Society
Excellence in Undergraduate Scholarship and Research Award
This award has an annual deadline in early March. The award can provide up to $500 dollars of support to students who present their research at the Showcase for Undergraduate Creative Activities(SURCA). You can apply for this after submitting an abstract to SURCA.
Showcases, Workshops, and More
Showcases
Office of Research: Research Week
This annual week is hosted by WSU in early October. You can apply to present your research in September, and additionally apply to grants and other funding sources. You can also listen in on other research talks and presentations.
WSU Vancouver Research Showcase
This annual showcase occurs in April, on the Vancouver campus. The showcase includes research presentations, workshops, and awards for the best scored presentations.
WSU Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities
This annual showcase occurs in March, on the Pullman campus. The showcase allows you to present your research to public, and potentially be awarded for the highly-scored presentations.
Current WSU Research
This website is updated monthly with current research being conducted on the Vancouver campus, and highlights research accomplishments on campus.
The WSU Vancouver Biology hosts weekly seminars on Mondays at 3:10. Invited speakers may be from the Vancouver campus, or may be from variety of outside sources, including other universities and industry work.
WSU School of Biological Sciences News
The WSU School of Biological Sciences updates this website with current news and updates relevant to research and research faculty at WSU.
Skill Building Resources
Making Posters with PowerPoint
This is a great source that walks you through how to make a research poster using Microsoft PowerPoint. Although there are other methods to making a poster, PowerPoint is one of the most common ones.
Creating a Resume and Cover Letter
This resource by Career Services will help you to build an effective resume, curriculum vitae (CV), and cover letter. Whether you are considering joining the work force or continuing you academic career, a resume that stands out is needed! Additionally, you can make an appointment with Career Services to go over the specifics of your design, and practice interviewing.
Creating an Effective Virtual Oral Presentation
This video covers the basics of presenting your research in a virtual setting. Some conferences and presentations are done virtually, and this is a great resource to help refine your presentation.
Opportunities Outside of WSU
Research Talks and Presentations
Science on Tap is a lecture series held at the Kiggins theater in Vancouver. Additionally, the event is hosted at locations in Portland and online. The lecture series cover a variety of science topics and are held once or twice a month.
This program connects classrooms with scientists, allowing students an opportunity to meet scientists! Additionally, they host trivia nights, seminar series, and live sessions covering a variety of topics. View their schedule of events for more information.
This organization hosts podcast, radio shows, and other events.
Trainings, Tutorials, and Bootcamps
Codeacademy – This website has several free coding courses and tutorials
RStudio Cheat Sheets – This resource provides a variety of cheat sheets for help using packages in RStudio
DataCamp – This website has a handful of free courses in R, Python, and other programming languages. Look carefully as some are not free.
Coursera – This website has some free courses in a large variety of topics. Look carefully as some are not free.
The Carpentries – This site highlights some workshops and resources for data carpentry. Look carefully, some are not free or available to everyone
edX – This website has a some free courses in a large variety of topics, look carefully as some are not free.
Workshops, Events, and Conferences
AAUW’s National Conference for College Women Student Leaders(NCCWSL)
This annual conference hosted by AAUW aims to support and encourage underrepresented women in college as student leaders.
AAUW’s Equity Networking Events
These events hosted by AAUW allow underrepresented women to meet and connect with women in science, and learn skills to be successful in both an academic and working career.
This program supports underrepresented students in STEM to attend the annual Evolution meeting hosted by the Society to Study Evolution. This program funds registration and travel to the conference, housing and food, and access to social events for networking. You get to present your research, receive mentoring, and participate in a panel discussing undergraduate futures in evolutionary biology.
500 Women Scientists Fellowship
This fellowship provided by 500 Women Scientists is intended to help support women of color leading community based STEMM projects.
Helpful Organizations
This organization provides many resources for finding mentors and scientists, meetings and conferences, awards, and other ways to be involved.
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
This organization strives to achieve equity in the workforce and the success of women in university pursuing STEM. They provide a variety of events, scholarships, and grants to support underrepresented women.