The Cisneros Undergraduate Research Fellowship was created to financially support outstanding undergraduate students interested conducting research on an issue facing Latinos/Hispanics or the Latino/Hispanic Community. This fellowship is a competitive program that provides undergraduate students with stipends to effectively carry out an individual research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students are offered the opportunity to employ the skills learned in their field of study to bring to fruition a well-defined research project that addresses a particular issue of relevance to Hispanics/Latinos. Basic research, research-driven community action, evaluation, and intervention projects will be considered for this fellowship.

Research experiences of this nature expose students to some of the challenges of conducting research and provide insight on the depth of students' education. These experiences also strengthen students’ applications for nationally competitive fellowships to graduate and professional school. Engaging in first-hand research also helps students develop the necessary skills to succeed in a professional career.

All research projects must be undertaken with regular input and direction from the faculty mentor. It is expected that the student and mentor will discuss their expectations regarding the time commitments of both parties, scope of research, and anticipated results (e.g., papers, presentations, performances, etc.) and arrive at a mutually agreeable understanding.

Eligibility

Student applicants must be full-time undergraduate students at GW. Please note: Recipients must be enrolled at GW throughout the tenure of the award. Only full-time faculty can serve as faculty mentors. Faculty mentors must be associated with GW during the tenure of the award.

Funding

The Cisneros Undergraduate Research Fellowship provides an award of $5,000 meant to support the student’s research-related expenditures, which may include living expenses, travel, materials, and equipment.

Faculty mentors receive a stipend of $1,000. Faculty can opt to take this money as supplemental salary or ask that the funds be transferred to a departmental account (e.g., supporting travel, equipment, supplies, etc.).

Award Period

The project may begin during the summer and must be concluded during the spring semester of the following year. Please note: A portion of the funds may be available by June 1, 2017; the remaining funds will be disbursed after July 1, 2017.

Application

A complete application consists of:

a) a Student Application Form, and

b) a Faculty Mentor Form

By submitting their applications, students thereby allow selection committees to review their academic transcripts. To apply, download and submit the following ‘common application’ forms. By completing the following forms, eligible students will be automatically considered for The GW Undergraduate Research Award, and eligible CCAS students will also automatically be considered for the Luther Rice Undergraduate Research Fellowship program. 

Fillable PDF forms may be downloaded:

Student Application Form

Faculty Mentor Form

Deadlines

There are two deadlines for submission: 

Wednesday, November 30, 2016.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017. 

Applications may be submitted via email at fellcent@gwu.edu.

For questions on the scope and suitability of the project email gwcisneros@gwu.edu

Note: Students who apply in November and are not selected for funding may revise and resubmit their proposals in March.

Award Requirement

All award recipients are required to submit timely progress reports on their research, including a final report. Recipients must also present the results of their project at Research Days and at one of the events organized by the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute. Awardees are expected to provide a summary of their research finding to publicize their undergraduate research activity through the Institute’s website and social media.

Please note that students may not receive more than one research fellowship award for the same project, nor may they receive awards for different projects during the same award year.