Spend your summer conducting research that works to address societal and environmental challenges. Learn from project mentors as well as each other in an interdisciplinary cohort of undergraduate researchers.
Summer 2024 application closed
Program Details
The Center for the Environment is excited to pilot an undergraduate summer research program this upcoming summer 2024. This 10-week program offers an incredible opportunity for students to engage in hands-on environmental research alongside faculty and graduate student mentors. We aim to create an accessible environmental research program for all undergrads, regardless of prior experience.
Over the course of ten weeks, students will have the chance to work closely with a dedicated faculty mentor as part of their environmental research team. The Center is committed to nurturing students’ passion for environmental research in all fields of study.
As a part of the program, the Center will provide comprehensive support:
- Professional Development: Benefit from weekly professional development opportunities, including lunch and learn sessions, career panels, and discussions centered around our four research themes.
- Social Cohort Building: Connect with fellow researchers through social events and collaborative projects, building lasting friendships within the environmental science community.
- Housing and Travel Support: The Center will support housing accommodations and travel support to ensure a smooth and enriching experience. All students who participate in campus housing will live in the same building so that the cohort can connect and get to know each other.
At the culmination of the program, undergraduate researchers will showcase their research findings at a symposium, providing a platform to share their discoveries. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to present their work at the WashU Undergraduate Research Symposium and the Annual Center for the Environment Symposium, expanding their exposure to the academic community.
To be eligible for this program, students must be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior continuing undergraduate studies in Fall 2024. For our 2024 pilot summer, applicants must be a WashU student unless a specific agreement has been with your university.
Benefits of the program include:
- $6,000 stipend for your research work
- Support for travel to and from St. Louis
- Cohort housing to ensure a comfortable and immersive experience
To apply for the program, please complete the online application form by clicking on the APPLY button below. Please note the application will open on December 1st. As part of the application, students will be asked to rank their preferences for faculty topics and mentors.
Application Timeline
- December 1, 2023: Applications Open
- February 19, 2024: Applications Due
- March 11, 2024: Notification of Selection
- May 27, 2024 – August 5, 2024: Program in Session
The application requires the following materials: a personal statement, your resume, and an unofficial transcript. Please be aware that specific labs may have additional requirements, so be sure to check the topic descriptions for any such requirements and include them in your application as needed.
Research Topics and Faculty Mentors
Listed below are the research topics available for Summer 2024. In the application you will rank the topics that you are interested in.
We look forward to reading your applications, and hope you will join us this summer for our inaugural undergraduate summer research program, and gain invaluable, hands-on research experience.
This summer’s research program application is closed. Applicants will be notified by March 10 as to whether or not they have been selected.