First-Year Monroe Scholar Research

Take your first steps into research with a $1,500 summer grant

First-year Monroe Scholar research projects are a great way to gain valuable research skills and begin down the path towards a full-fledged research project. When first-years become Sophomore/Junior Monroe Scholars, they are guaranteed funding for an eligible seven-week research project.

First-year Monroe Scholars may apply for a $1,500 grant to fund 120 hours (three full weeks) of time over the summer. Many projects may take longer than this. Some Scholars break up the 3 or more weeks into smaller segments over the summer.

Deadline: The application is due March 2, 2026

Apply Here

Three Ways to Set Up a Research Project

All projects must be supervised by a William & Mary faculty member.

Collaborative

Work with a professor on their existing project, often in a lab or in one of W&M’s research centers.
Self-Directed

Come up with your own topic and work with your faculty advisor to refine your proposed project.
Course-Inspired

Conduct research on a topic covered in a COLL or other course, working with the instructor from that course.

Application Information

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You must be a current first-year Monroe Scholar in good academic standing enrolled in undergraduate W&M classes (or studying abroad) in the fall following your project.

November 1, 2025 - Application opens
March 2, 2026 - Application deadline
March 5, 2026 - Faculty mentor recommendation form deadline
March 2026 - Applications will be reviewed by Charles Center Faculty Fellows. Your proposal will be read by faculty both inside and outside of your research topic area, so make sure that it does not contain jargon and is understandable to an educated person outside of your field.
Late March/Early April - Students whose project proposals were recommended for revisions before funding are contacted.
First week of April 2026 - Funding notification emails begin to go out. Emails will go out in waves so not all students may be notified at the same exact time.
Mid-April 2026 - Signed award letters and expectations agreements (completed with faculty mentors) are due.
May 2026 - Stipends are disbursed to students as checks mailed to the address specified on the award letter or direct deposit (W&M student employees only). Please note that it will likely take at least 30 days from the time your award letter is returned to us for your check to be mailed out to your specified address.
June, July, & August 2026 - Students conduct research according to the schedules they set with their faculty mentors
September 2026- Grant recipients present at the Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium

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The first step is to discuss your research project idea with your William & Mary faculty project advisor. Make sure they know that they will be completing a recommendation form for you, mentoring your research, and helping you with your presentation at the Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Access the online application and create an account. Note: if you use your W&M email, make sure to use a different password than the one you use for your school account for security purposes.

The project proposal questions will be answered within the online application.

Descriptive title of summer research project
Project Abstract: In approximately 150 words, for a general audience, summarize your research question and the broader impact of its outcome. Please write in the third person (no "I" statements); for example, "This project will explore..."

Your abstract will be read by a multi-disciplinary audience; it should avoid jargon and explain any technical terms. Make sure the abstract addresses:

-the context/background of this research

-the problem or research question

-the strategy/methodology that will be used to answer this question

-the potential significance of the research

This abstract will be used by the Charles Center to promote and describe your research if funded.
Did a course or academic experience inspire your choice of research topic? Describe other coursework or independent experience that prepared you to conduct this research. (<100 words)
Discuss your methodology. What is your research plan? Where do you propose to conduct the research? Include a project timeline that provides a detailed outline of how you plan to complete your project over the course of three full-time weeks. (Note: the project may be spread out over multiple segments of time, as long as it lasts at least 120 hours) (<350 words)
What new knowledge or interpretation will emerge from this proposed project? (<150 words)
The goal of this funding is to start you on a successful undergraduate research trajectory. How do you think this research project fits in with your intellectual development? Do you think this project might lead to further work (for example: continued research experience, an independent study during the next academic year, a portfolio, etc.)? (<200 words)
Please provide a list of references/citations for your project proposal. You may use your preferred citation format.
Please list any generative AI tools you have used while writing this proposal and describe how you have used them. Example: “I used Copilot to edit the abstract I had written and provide feedback on improving clarity of language.” See the policy on use of generative AI.

Note: This proposal must be written by the student. However, we do encourage project advisors to read it and make constructive comments.

View Example Responses Here

Upload an unofficial (from Banner self-service), William & Mary transcript, including your spring registration.

If applicable, you must obtain approval from the appropriate Research Ethics Compliance committee. Please carefully review the section below for full details.

Please review the following information if you plan to travel internationally to conduct your summer research.

1. Review the W&M Travel Alerts website to check the status of your intended destination.

If your country is listed as a Restricted Destination, travel is prohibited and you must adjust your plans to do research in another destination.
If there is a W&M Travel Risk Warning, you must submit an application for approval to the Travel Warning Review Committee through the Reves Center in order for your proposal to be considered for funding.

2. If you are traveling abroad, once you are notified whether your grant is awarded, you will be prompted to provide your information so the Charles Center can purchase your CISI Comprehensive Medical and Evacuation insurance. You will also be required to attend a predeparture orientation session.

You will be asked to name your faculty mentor and explain why this person's expertise makes her or him the best advisor for this specific research project, as well as how your mentor assisted you with developing this project and creating the proposal. While your proposal should be your own work, your faculty mentor should review the proposal and provide feedback before submission.

The William & Mary faculty member who has agreed to be your project mentor must complete a recommendation form on your behalf through the online portal. You must meet to discuss your proposal with the project mentor before registering them in the system. When you enter the faculty member's name and email into the application system, they will be sent a link to complete the form. Please do this before the application deadline, so they have enough time to complete the form. You may submit your application before your faculty mentor completes the form.

The recommendation form is due three days after the application deadline and must be received in order for your proposal to be considered for funding. You are responsible for checking online whether the form has been submitted by the recommendation deadline.

(Optional) If your opportunity takes place off-campus with another institution or organization, you may choose to upload a letter from your external research supervisor/mentor verifying your involvement (on official letterhead). Please submit as a PDF.

Research Ethics Compliance

If your research involves any of the following, you must submit a request for approval to the appropriate Research Compliance committee. Approval must be obtained before you begin research involving the materials or subjects listed below.

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Review the information on the Charles Center's Research Involving Human Subjects webpage. All human subjects research must be reviewed by the W&M Institutional Review Board (IRB).
You and your faculty mentor/PI must complete the CITI training modules.
Choose one of the following options:
- If you or your faculty mentor have already obtained or requested approval from the IRB for your summer research project, provide the IRB number on your grant application (format is IRB-year-month - Study Name).
- If you know you will conduct research with human subjects later on in your project but are not yet ready to request IRB approval, please begin a protocol through the SPARCS system and choose "118 Determination" under "Type of Review/Overview" in the Overview section. After answering the questions and submitting the protocol, provide the IRB number on your grant application (format is IRB-year-month - Study Name).
- IRB number must be included on your application to be considered for funding. You must have submitted a IRB protocol or .118 Determination for approval before applying for a Charles Center research grant (it is okay if you are still waiting for approval at the time you apply).
If you have questions, please contact researchcompliance@wm.edu.

What is the .118 Determination?

This determination letter allows you to receive grant funding when you intend to conduct human subjects research in the future (90 days or later from award setup), but are not at the point where you have a definite plan ready for review by the IRB. Here are the questions you will be asked on the .118 Determination Form:

Provide a non-technical description of the research project as is currently known, such as the purpose, study population information, procedures, etc.
Describe what must be done before human participants would be involved in the research project (e.g., development of measures, recruitment materials, assays, etc.)
Provide a timeline for the protocol development and when it is expected that an application for research involving human subjects will be submitted to the IRB.
Please upload any documents related to this .118 Determination, such as the grant application, a brief protocol document, etc.

Please note that while you may obtain a .118 Determination Letter at the time you submit your grant application, you still submit a protocol to the IRB and receive full approval before beginning human subjects research.

Allow at least 3-4 weeks for approval after submitting your IRB protocol- start early! Allow even more time for research conducted involving participants from countries outside the U.S.

View a flow chart of the approval process

You and your faculty mentor/PI must complete the CITI training modules
Work with your faculty mentor to submit a proposal through the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

You and your faculty mentor/PI must complete the CITI training modules

Follow the procedures and guidelines on the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) webpage to submit your proposal.
Please note: It has been determined by W&M that oversight of Select Agents falls under the purview of the Environmental Health and Safety Office. See a complete list of Select Agents and Toxins.
- Questions in regard to Select Agents should be directed to Teresa Belback, Director of EH&S. VIMS and Eastern Shore Laboratory personnel need to contact VIMS Manager of Safety and Environmental Programs, Eric Fidler, before the purchase of any Select Agent.

To request Institutional Radiation Safety Committee (IRSC) approval for a project about IRSC procedures or forms, please contact IRSC Chair, Eric Bradley or call 1-2220.

Radiation Safety Manual

Requirements for Safe Use of Analytical X-Ray (pdf)

Charles Center Policy on the Use of Generative AI in Research Grant Proposals

While we expect your proposal to be your original work, we do recognize that some students utilize generative AI tools to edit or get feedback on their writing.
You are in no way required to use AI to help you edit your proposal. You may choose to avoid it entirely. If you choose to use it, you should do so ethically and honestly.
Using Copilot through W&M provides commercial data protection. However, many other tools such as ChatGPT will not keep data private. You should not input private, protected, or proprietary information into these tools. You must ask your faculty mentor for permission before inputting any writing or data from their research into a generative AI tool.
For writing-related questions and personalized assistance, we recommend you make an appointment at the Writing & Communication Center.

On the application, you will be asked the question:

Please list any tools you have used while writing this proposal and describe how you have used them. Example: “I used Copilot to edit the abstract I had written and provide feedback on improving clarity of language.”

Information for Faculty Mentors

All research proposals must have the support of a faculty member willing to mentor the student over the course of the summer project to be considered. Wondering what's involved? See the information below!

Attend our Guiding Students in Research Grant Proposals session on Tuesday, January 27th from 12:30-1:30 pm on Zoom!

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You should review the student's application responses and provide feedback prior to submission; however, the actual writing of the proposal should be the student's own work. The recorded presentation linked below provides tips on helping your student write a strong proposal (note that the video was recorded for the Summer 2025 application cycle and the deadlines are from that year). As an alternative, you can view the slides from the Summer 2025 video.

Watch the Video

Your student will input your email address into the SlideRoom application portal, which will trigger an email with a link to complete the recommendation form. Please check Junk or Spam if you do not receive the email. Note that this is a form with specific questions rather than a letter. Students may submit the application before you complete the form.

The recommendation form is due three days after the application deadline and must be received in order for the proposal to be considered for funding.

Recommendation Form Questions:

Position type
How long have you known the student? In what capacity do you know them?
Is there anything noteworthy about this student that might not be apparent from looking at their transcript?
Does the student have the necessary academic preparation to successful carry out this projects? (Rate on a scale of 1-3)
Please provide any additional comments in regards to student academic preparation (optional).
Please outline the role you played as the mentor in both the design of the project and the writing of this proposal.
Does this project involve human subjects?
Please check ALL the boxes below to indicate that you are aware of the following expectations for mentoring a student summer research project. If you have questions or concerns about supporting a student's project, please contact kmpatterson@wm.edu or call 757-221-4802 to speak to Kate Patterson.
- Minimum requirements for research projects:
  • Honors Fellowships: 10 full-time weeks or 400 hours
  • Charles Center Summer Research Grants: 7 full-time weeks or 280 hours
  • Sophomore/Junior Monroe Scholars: 7 full-time weeks or 280 hours
  • First-Year Monroe Scholars: 3 full-time weeks or 120 hours
- I will support the student's research project for the length of time stated above in the summer.
- I will review the student's presentation materials ahead of the Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium (September) or the Honors Research Symposium (April) and attend their presentation if at all possible.
Does this research require additional space or resources not under the faculty mentor's control? (If yes, please explain)
Is this part of a project involving multiple undergraduate students applying for Charles Center funding? If yes, please list the names of the other student researchers applying for Charles Center funding.

Please review the Research Ethics Compliance section for full information.

Students are strongly encouraged to choose a faculty mentor who has familiarity with their general project subject area and must have experience conducting research with human subjects if that is an aspect of their project. For example, a Computer Science professor would not be best suited to supervise a Psychology-based research project interviewing participants. As the Primary Investigator of record, it is the duty of the faculty advisor to review the protocol (and all associated documents) with the undergraduate student before submission to the SPARCS online system. They will share responsibility for the project as a co-researcher.

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Funded students will be issued an Expectations Agreement form with their award letter to sign and return in mid-April. The student should meet with you to walk through the form and fill it out. Rather than a binding contract, the form is intended to help define what the mentorship relationship will look like for the summer and remove uncertainty.

Ensure that the student is meeting project milestones and produces the final product as agreed upon in the Expectation Agreement.

The Charles Center will check in with you in the middle of the summer and in early August about the student's progress. If you have any concerns, please contact [[kmpatterson,Kate Patterson]].

Most students funded by the Charles Center will present a printed poster or a digital presentation at the Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium in September. Honors students will present at the Spring Honors Research Symposium in April. Please review the student's presentation and provide feedback. You are strongly encouraged to attend the student's presentation if possible.

Need Help or Inspiration?

Info Session Slides

Review slides from a past information session on preparing a strong proposal.
Past Projects

Interested in knowing more about the kinds of research projects that were funded in the past? Check out presentations from prior symposia.
Undergraduate Research Ambassadors

Meet with an Undergraduate Research Ambassador to help frame your proposal.
Writing and Communication Center

Get feedback and guidance from the Writing and Communication Center.
Charles Center News

Browse Charles Center news stories to see featured student research.

Past Project Examples

Arts & Humanities Projects

An Investigation of the Impacts of Machine Learning Algorithms on the Nature of Art and Creation
Elaine Pagels’ Gnostic-Christian Relationship Evaluated
The Power of Memory Institutions and Aristocratic Identity in Tacitus’ Works

Social Science Projects

A Literature Review on Adverse Childhood Experiences: Varied Long-Term Effects of Abuse and Neglect
Democracy in Distress: A Comparative Analysis of How Judicial Independence Impacts Democratic Backsliding
Structural Analysis of Skeletal Remains at the New York African American Burial Ground: Insights into Bone Adaptation, Health, and Lived Experiences

STEM Projects

The Role of Olfaction in Maternal Bonding
The Effect of a Small Regulatory RNA on Helicobacter pylori Vacuolating Cytotoxin Expression
A Diagnosis of Bias in Language Models (LMs) Using Prompt Engineering
Building an Environmental DNA Database to Understand and Conserve the Freshwater Sponges That Filter Our Lakes and Streams

Expectations for Funded Projects

Time

Spend 3 full-time weeks or equivalent number of hours on the project during the summer
Ethics

Comply with all federal and university regulations regarding research ethics compliance
Faculty Mentor

Be responsive to communication and deadlines agreed upon with faculty research advisor, including submission of your final research product
Check-Ins

Respond to Charles Center check-ins during the summer
Mini-Courses

Complete two of the virtual mini-courses offered by Research Librarians in SWEM
Evaluation

Complete the summer research pre- and post-experience Career Readiness evaluation
Photos

Submit two captioned photos of your research in progress to the Charles Center upon request during the summer
Presentation

Present your research at the Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium

Need Complimentary Summer Research Housing?

A limited number of undergraduates conducting summer research at William & Mary during Summer 2026 are eligible to receive free on-campus housing. The application link and process timeline can be found below.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

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Undergraduate research is defined by the Council on Undergraduate Research as "a mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge." Student research funded through the Charles Center typically meets all of the criteria listed below.

The research:

Is mentored by a William & Mary faculty member
Has the potential for generating new knowledge or interpretation

Students participating in the research:

Are involved in the synthesis and analysis of the project
Understand the academic context of their research well enough to explain it to various audiences

Many students finish with a research paper, but that might not be the best product for everyone. For example, if you’re doing a creative project, you might end with a painting, sculpture or novella. Scholars working in labs might have their lab results as their final products. You will work with your faculty mentor to determine what is the most appropriate final result of your project.

For questions concerning a technical issue with the online application system, email support@slideroom.com or visit the SlideRoom Application Help Center.

Please submit general questions about the scholarships and/or application requirements to [[kmpatterson,Kate Patterson]].

Funding decisions are evaluated based on the project information you submit on your application. Changing your project after being approved for funding is significant and should be discussed with [[kmpatterson,Kate Patterson]] as soon as possible.

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You may not use the grant for a summer study abroad program. If there is a program where you can take a course that is pertinent to your research, you may count the time you spend on that class toward your research time (120 total hours). For example, if you're doing a study on Virginia Woolf and the W&M in Cambridge program is offering a course on Bloomsbury, you may use the hours spent in that class toward the three weeks, but you may not count the entire time spent in the Cambridge program. You must complete the rest of the three weeks of research either before or after the study abroad session. You should articulate the timetable clearly in your project proposal.

The goal of the Charles Center is to provide rigorous undergraduate research experiences for our students, so we are happy to fund students doing external research experiences. However, the definition and conduct of research vary widely across institutions. To ensure that the activity follows the university's guidelines, we require students to be sponsored by a W&M professor who understands the nature of the research experience that you are proposing. For example, if you propose to be a research assistant for a non-profit organization focused on conservation of whales, your mentor should be a professor who studies conservation, whales, biology or a related field.

No. You may only apply to one of these opportunities. However, if you choose, you may apply for the Charles Center Summer Research Grant as a freshman. If you are not selected for CCSRG funding, you'll still automatically be in consideration for funding for a 3-week Monroe Scholars First-Year Project.

Please note that William and Mary 1693 Scholars are not eligible to apply for the First-year Monroe grant, but can use 1693 funding in a similar way. Please contact Dr. Dan Cristol or Kim Van Deusen for more information.

Upcoming Research Events

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The Charles Center

Application Questions

Contact: Kate Patterson, Undergraduate Research Program Administrator
Email: [[kmpatterson]]
Office: Blow Hall 267

Address

262 Richmond Road Williamsburg, 23185

Page Contents

Three Ways to Set Up a Research Project

Collaborative

Self-Directed

Course-Inspired

Application Information

General Information

Eligibility

Application & Funding Timeline

Preparing Your Application

Getting Started

Project Proposal Prompts

Transcript

Research Ethics Compliance

International Travel

Mentor Involvement & Recommendation Form

External Opportunity Letter

Research Ethics Compliance

Topics

Work involving living human subjects (including surveys, interviews, focus groups, or questionnaires)

Work that involves the use and care of vertebrate animals

Work that involves recombinant DNA, or infectious agents, or direct or indirect contact with wild-caught animals that may harbor infectious agents, or any human fluid or tissue.

Work involving radioactive material

Charles Center Policy on the Use of Generative AI in Research Grant Proposals

Charles Center Policy on the Use of Generative AI in Research Grant Proposals

Please list any tools you have used while writing this proposal and describe how you have used them. Example: “I used Copilot to edit the abstract I had written and provide feedback on improving clarity of language.”

Information for Faculty Mentors

Application Process

Assist the student with development of their research project and proposal

Complete the recommendation form

If applicable, help the student secure approval from the appropriate research ethics compliance committee.

Funded Projects

Complete the Expectations Agreement with the student

Monitor the student's progress

Respond to Charles Center check-ins

Review the student's Symposium presentation

Need Help or Inspiration?

Past Projects

Past Project Examples

Arts & Humanities Projects

Social Science Projects

STEM Projects

Expectations for Funded Projects

Time

Faculty Mentor

Check-Ins

Evaluation

Photos

Need Complimentary Summer Research Housing?

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Questions

What is research?

What is the "deliverable" of my summer research?

Who do I contact if I have questions about the online application?

Who do I contact if I have questions about the grants and application process?

What if things don't go as planned and I need to switch projects after receiving funding?

Funding Questions

Can I use the funding to study abroad?

I have secured a research position at an off-campus location this summer. Can I apply to use Monroe money to support this opportunity?

Can I apply for both a First-Year Monroe Scholars Research Grant and a Charles Center Summer Research Grant during the same summer?

I'm a 1693 Scholar. Can I apply for the First-Year Monroe Scholar Research Grant?

Upcoming Research Events

Would you like to learn more?

The Charles Center

Social Media

Application Questions

Address