Sophomore/Junior Monroe Scholar Research

Sophomore/Junior Research

Sophomore/Junior Monroe Scholar Research

A guaranteed grant opens doors to new opportunities and new knowledge in the realm of discovery.

All Sophomore/Junior Monroe Scholars submitting an eligible proposal can receive a one-time $4,000 grant to conduct an in-depth summer research project lasting 7 full-time weeks (or an equivalent amount of time spread over the summer). Many students use this as a springboard for further research, such as an Honors project or independent study.

Deadline: The application is due March 2, 2026

Application Information

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You must be a current sophomore or junior Monroe Scholar in good academic standing enrolled in undergraduate W&M classes (or studying abroad) in the fall following your project.
You must submit an application through the online portal. The proposal will be reviewed by a faculty committee to determine that the project has adequate faculty mentor support and is feasible to complete.
You may complete your Sophomore/Junior project the summer before your junior or senior year. Monroe Scholars who do not complete their research before the beginning of their senior year forfeit the funding.
Monroe Scholars who apply for an Honors Fellowship but are not selected are still automatically considered for their junior year Monroe Grant if they did not already use their $4,000 research grant funding sophomore year.
Monroe Scholars cannot apply for two different grants in the same summer. For example, if applying for the Monroe Scholar Sophomore/Junior Grant, they should not also apply for a Charles Center Summer Research Grant or Honors Fellowship.
Students who have been selected for a (such as Woody, City Scholars, etc.) will not be eligible to receive a Charles Center Summer Research Grant or Honors Fellowship during the same summer.
Students already fully funded for research by another internal or external summer grant for $4,000 or more will not be eligible to receive Charles Center funding, in the interest of supporting other students who have no other source of funding.

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 the Undergraduate Research Committee. 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.
April 10, 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. it will take approximately three weeks for you to receive your payment in the mail from the time we receive and process your signed award letter. Keep this in mind when providing a mailing address. Payments may take longer to reach students with non-resident alien (NRA) status as students must first go through the tax analysis process.
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
April 2027 - Monroe seniors whose research led to an Honors Thesis may present at the Spring Honors Research Symposium instead of the Fall Symposium

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The first step is to discuss your research project idea with your 91��Ƭ�� 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.
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. (<350 words)
Make sure that the project lasts a minimum of seven full-time weeks. (Note: the project may be spread out over multiple periods of time, as long as it lasts at least 280 hours)
What resources are available to you for this project (virtual access to collections/ archives, additional funding, etc.)? (<150 words)
What new knowledge or interpretation will emerge from this proposed project? (<150 words)
What will the deliverable be from your research (article, play, website, story map, etc.)? (<150 words)
Personal Statement: Explain how this project fits into your academic plan.For example, did it emerge from a course you took; is it related to your major; something you are doing to prepare for graduate school; or an interest that you haven't had a chance to explore yet. After reading your personal statement, a reviewer should understand the context of this project within your intellectual and academic trajectory. (<250 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.

It's important that you can explain your project to a non-specialist audience in your own words. We want to give you a chance to do this in a non-written format. Please explain your project succinctly in a two-slide, two-minute presentation. DO NOT take a video of yourself, just voiceover narration for two slides. We recommend using Zoom or Powerpoint to record your voice as you display your slides. These slides can include graphs, charts, illustrations, photos, or other visuals that help explain your project proposal. Include your research question, why it's important to you and how you plan to answer the question. Please use this an opportunity to explain the big picture of your project in a dynamic way; do not simply read your proposal. The presentation should be no longer than 2 minutes.

Examples:

Upload an unofficial (from Banner self-service), 91��Ƭ�� 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 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 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 . 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 91��Ƭ�� 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.

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 .
- 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, , 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 .
Using 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 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.

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.

Evaluation Criteria

Your proposal will be reviewed by a group of faculty reviewers from inside and outside your field. Sophomore/junior Monroe proposals will be funded provided that the proposed project is feasible and has adequate faculty support. Based on faculty review, some projects may be returned to the student for revision in order to be funded.

Each application will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Clarity of Proposal

Is there a well-defined research question? Does the student clearly convey the impact/big picture of the research project? Is the proposal well written? Could a layperson understand the main points of the proposal?
Methodology

Is the proposed methodology appropriate for the research question being asked? Is a project timeline provided? Do the research steps make logical sense?
Preparation

Candidate’s academic or other preparation for project․ Does the candidate have sufficient background or training such as coursework, research, etc․ (formal or informal), to make the project a success? (This is based on transcript and prior experience, which may be reflected in the personal statement․)
Feasibility

Feasibility of proposed project․ Does the candidate have access to the necessary resources to make the project a success? Can the proposed work be completed in the proposed timeline? Does the advisor recommendation form indicate a degree of support that will allow the project to be successful?
Proposal Presentation

Can the student communicate a clear understanding of the project’s big picture?
Personal Statement

Does the project fit into the student's intellectual trajectory?

Need Help or Inspiration?

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.

Expectations for Funded Projects

Time

Spend 7 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
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 or Spring Honors Research Symposium (if using funding to work on an Honors Thesis)

Need Complimentary Summer Research Housing?

A limited number of undergraduates conducting summer research at 91��Ƭ�� 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 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 91��Ƭ�� 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 .

Please submit general questions about the scholarships and/or application requirements to Charles Center.

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 the seven total weeks. 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 seven weeks, but you may not count the entire five weeks of the Cambridge program. You must complete the rest of the seven 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.

Students accepting a grant commit to spending 7 weeks of full-time work or a total of 280 hours spread throughout the summer on the project. Committing to a full-time internship, job, courseload, or other summer experience at the same time you are conducting your research will not leave enough time to follow through on the research grant commitment.

You may incorporate an external internship into your project only if you are able to dedicate at least seven full-time weeks to the project. For example, if you are doing a full-time, seven week, unpaid internship with an environmental non-profit organization and this non-profit permits you to dedicate full-time to your research project, you are eligible for funding. If your work with the non-profit is a fully paid job, you may not receive Charles Center funding because 100% of your time is already committed.

You can only receive one Charles Center-funded research grant or internship opportunity per summer (this includes , the and (such as Woody, City Scholars, etc.)

Students already fully funded for research by another internal or external summer grant for $4,000 or more will not be eligible to receive Monroe funding, in the interest of supporting other students who have no other source of funding.

No. Monroe Scholars who have not yet received their sophomore/junior year funding should apply for that rather than a Charles Center Summer Research Grant.

We recommend that rising seniors planning to complete Departmental Honors who can commit 10 weeks to their summer research apply for an Honors Fellowship rather than a Monroe Scholars Research Grant. Student applications not selected for an Honors Fellowship are still automatically considered to receive a Monroe Scholars Research Grant instead if sophomore/junior Monroe Scholars research funding has not yet been utilized.

Absolutely! Scaffolding research experiences over multiple summers is highly encouraged.

Yes; however, you may only receive your one-time Monroe Sophomore/Junior funding for one of these opportunities.

Page Contents:

Application Information

General Information

Eligibility

Application & Funding Timeline

Preparing Your Application

Getting Started

Project Proposal Prompts

Proposal Presentation

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

Evaluation Criteria

Clarity of Proposal

Methodology

Preparation

Feasibility

Proposal Presentation

Personal Statement

Need Help or Inspiration?

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 have an internship (or other full-time opportunity) and also receive a Monroe Scholars Research Grant in the same summer?

Can I receive Monroe funding AND additional funding from another source?

Can I apply for both a Monroe Scholars Research Grant and a Charles Center Summer Research Grant or Honors Fellowship during the same summer?

If I use my Monroe funding the summer after my sophomore year, can I apply for a Charles Center Summer Research Grant or an Honors Fellowship for the summer after my junior year?

Can I apply for Monroe Scholars Internship Funding for an internship opportunity AND Sophomore/Junior Monroe Research Grant funding for a separate research opportunity in the same summer?

Upcoming Research Events

Would you like to learn more?

The Charles Center

Social Media

Application Questions

Address