Undergraduate Research in Honors
About Undergraduate Research in Honors
Undergraduate research can be a transformative experience, valuable not only for graduate and professional school but for any career requiring initiative, independent thinking, and problem-solving skills. Research fosters close working relationships between faculty and students and among research teams, and it offers students a window onto some of the most pressing challenges facing society today.
The University Honors Program strongly encourages and supports research for Honors students. We work with departments and colleges to offer Disciplinary Honors programs in a variety of fields, including Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Exercise Physiology, Humanities, Physics, Psychology, and Nursing.
Every summer we offer competitive Undergraduate Research Fellowships for research performed under the guidance of faculty mentors. Proposal deadlines are in March; both Core and Disciplinary Honors students are eligible. We showcase Honors research at the Honors Undergraduate Research Symposium in November.
Undergraduate Summer Research Program 2026
The University Honors Program offers 20 undergraduate summer fellowships to Honors students, in the amount of $3500 each, on a competitive basis for research or creative projects to be carried out June-August 2026. In many cases the research or creative work will be done on 91黑料网 campus, but residence at 91黑料网 is not required, and students have done Honors research projects in other parts of the country or abroad. To be eligible for the stipends, which will be paid in a few lump sums at the beginning of the summer and can be used for any kind of cost, from materials to travel to rent, all students must have faculty mentors who agree to supervise their projects. Research in the Health Sciences or Biological Sciences Summer Research Programs, or other summer research programs at 91黑料网, is appropriate for these stipends. If you are in a Disciplinary Honors program or are doing an Honors project with a mentor independently, you might want to use the summer fellowship for an early stage of your research.
All applications will be reviewed by a panel of faculty with representation from the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The Honors Program has access to applicants鈥� transcripts, which will be consulted during review of applications.
Acceptance of the funding will acknowledge your agreement to present your independent research or creative project at the Honors Program Research and Creative Project Fair to be scheduled in the fall semester. Participation in this Fair is required for all fellowship winners. Students who accept Honors fellowships must be planning to enroll at 91黑料网 in fall 2026.
For information on how to apply, view the call for proposals.
Past fellowship winners and projects:
2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Summer 2026 -Honors Summer Research Fellowships
Alex Cain, College of College of Health Sciences, Biomedical Science major, Philosophy and Nueroscience minors
Project Title: Dissecting regulation of volitional natural reward taking in cortico-striatal circuits
Faculty mentor: Dr. Matt Hearing, Biomedical Sciences
Loriann Ch谩vez, College of Arts & Sciences, Cognitive Science major; Spanish Language, Literature & Cultures, Mental Health Applications, Innovation Leadership minors
Project Title: Mental Health Applications, Innovation Leadership minors
Project Title: Student and Instructor Perceptions of the Grading System: Impact and Alternatives
Faculty mentor: Dr. Amelia Zurcher, English
Marisa D'Amico, College of Arts & Sciences, Political Science and International Affairs majors, History and Business Administration minors
Project Title: Citizenship in the Built Environment: Examining Urban Change, Public Memory, and Black Historical Visibility in Virginia
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sergio Gonzalez, History
Zachary End, College of Arts & Sciences, Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Economics majors
Project Title: Associations Among Executive Functioning, Stress, and Prosocial Behavior in Youth
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Astrida Kaugars, Psychology
Braden Galbert, College of Arts & Sciences, Political Science and International Affairs majors
Project Title: Federal Immigration Enforcement and Community Trust: Perceived Safety and Social Cohesion in Milwaukee Neighborhoods
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Noelle Brigden, Political Science
Sophia Halick, College of Arts & Sciences, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major
Project Title: Illuminating the Mechanism by which ipRGC Regulation Occurs
Faculty mentor: Deanna Arble, Biological Sciences
Clark Hinz, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering major
Project Title: Determination of a Dimensionless Parameter to Relate Heat Flux across Varying Window Aspect Ratios in Facade Fires
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Casey Allen, Mechanical Engineering
Rosella Hoffman, College of Arts & Sciences, International Affairs, Political Science majors, Arabic Language & Cultural Studies minors
Project Title: The Restructuring of the Syrian Armed Forces under Ahmed al-Sharaa
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Risa Brooks, Political Science
Kalliyen Kay, College of Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences major, Creative Writing minor
Project Title: The Kay's Survival Through the Killing Fields
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dinesh Sabu, Digital Media and Performing Arts
Gabriel Marotto, College of Arts & Sciences, English major, Sociology minor
Project Title: Theatre of the Absurd Remix
Faculty Mentor: Angela Sorby, English
Alexis McDermott, College of Arts & Sciences, Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Social Welfare & Justice majors
Project Title: Beyond the Record: Personal Stories of Life, Identity, and Encounters with the Justice System
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ed de St. Aubin and Esme Ruiz-Lezama, Psychology
Addison Meissner, College of Health Sciences, Biomedical Science major
Project Title: The role of D2-receptor Prelimbic-Nucleus Accumbens Subcircuits in Chronic-Stressed Induced Cognitive Flexibility Deficits
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hearing; Biomedical Sciences
Amelia Meyer, College of Education, Secondary College of Education, Mathematics, and Philosophy majors
Project Title: How do Undergraduate Women Describe Moments that Shaped their Math Confidence?
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Blake O'Neal Turner, College of Educational Policy & Leadership
Ava Petrowitz, College of Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences major
Project Title: The influence of Biological Sex and Chronic Stress on Facets of Decision-Making
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hearing, Biomedical Sciences
Avery Rogan, College of Education, Educational Studies and Psychology majors, Special Education and Sociology minors
Project Title: Efficacy of the PEERS庐 Program for Adolescents with Social Anxiety Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amy Van Hecke, Psychology
Nikita Stacey College of Arts & Sciences, Biological Sciences major
Project Title: Effects of Glyphosate on Thermoregulation in Honeybees
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Chelsea Cook, Biology
Grace Sviland, College of Arts & Sciences, Psycholog major, Neuroscience minor
Project Title: PTSD Symptom Severity and Self-Efficacy in Female Veterans Participating in a Yoga Program
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rachel Bollaert, PhD (Exercise Science) and Dr. Jacklynn Fitzgerald, PhD (Psychology)
JJ Vander Loop, College of Arts & Sciences, Economics and Political Science majors, Theology minor Project Title: State Policy Responses to Changes in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Administrative Cost-Sharing in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lisa M. Grabert, Nursing
MU4Gold Scholars
Kallliyen Kay, College of Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences major, Creative Writing minor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marieke Gilmartin, Biomedical Sciences
Ashley Habel, College of Arts & Sciences, Criminology & Law Studies and Sociology majors, Spanish for the Professions minor
Faculty mentor: Dr. Sonia Barnes, Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Alyssa Harris, College of Arts & Sciences, Psychology major, Fine Arts-Studio Arts minor
Faculty mentor: Dr. Tara Daly, Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Amelia Meyer, College of Arts & Sciences, Criminology & Law Studies and Philosophy majors
Faculty mentor: Dr. Blake O'Neal Turner, College of Educational Policy & Leadership
Yasmine Torres, College of Engineering, Biocomputing
Faculty mentor: Dr. Matthew Hearing, Biomedical Sciences
