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Student Innovation
The Student Innovation Program at the Global Research Institute brings together students and faculty from across disciplines and the broader William & Mary campus in support of student-led research ideas and projects. GRI provides student research teams opportunities to pitch their ideas and receive expert feedback from William & Mary faculty and staff, alumni, and external partners, as well as funding to scale their research. Student research teams receive targeted support from GRI staff and faculty to develop their research, writing, and presentation skills.
In AY 25-26, Student Innovation projects will broadly align with GRI’s strategic research priorities: Data & AI, Democracy & Leadership, and/or the Environment & Sustainability. Research topics that do not fit those priorities will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Current Student Innovation projects include DisinfoLab, the Geopolitics of Technology Initiative, and the Exodus Project. Legacy projects started at GRI and now housed at the Whole of Government Center of Excellence include the Wargaming Lab and the William & Mary Global Innovation Challenge.
The Student Innovation programming schedule spans the academic year and provides structured opportunities for students:
September 12, 2025: Applications due for student research teams to participate in the lightning pitch event at GRI's Open House. Apply here today.
October 3, 2025: Student research teams present their research ideas in a five-minute lightning style presentation as part of the keynote event at GRI’s annual Open House, with a chance to win GRI swag, a research award of up to $100, and the opportunity to participate in GRI-led workshops in October and November aimed at developing your research skills. All teams will practice their presentation with GRI Staff prior to the event to receive preliminary feedback.
October & November 2025: Student research teams participate in skills development workshops led by GRI staff and faculty to develop their formal project proposals and sharpen their research and communication skills.
December 2025: Student research teams submit a larger scale formal project proposal in order to be considered for selection to participate in GRI’s annual Charter Day competition.
January 2025: Selected teams practice their Charter Day presentations with GRI staff and faculty.
February 2025: Selected teams present a full-length, formal research presentation to a curated audience of William & Mary faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and external partners at our annual Charter Day competition.
March 2025: Successful teams determined to be ready for the next phase of development are paired with options that fit their research project, style, availability, and aspirations. The options include but are not limited to: spending the summer as GRI Summer Fellows performing research abroad under the supervision of a William & Mary faculty member with up to $6,000 of support, staying on campus during the summer to perform research as a paid research assistant with faculty here in Williamsburg, or being connected with the Entrepreneurship Hub for guidance on developing a research-based product and possible additional funding.