Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research Scholarship Announcement of Opportunity 

$5,000 Spring 2025*
$5,000 Summer 2025*
$5,000 Academic Year 2025-2026*
* Subject to availability of funds

Research awards will be provided to qualified undergraduate students to create and implement a small research study of their own design that is directly related to their interests and career objectives in STEM-related studies supporting NASA Mission Directorates. The student may work alone or with a faculty or research staff advisor; however, the conceptualization and design of the project should be their own. Awards will emphasize effective student research and mentoring arrangements. Students from small colleges and universities, and from departments with newly developing space research infrastructure, are especially encouraged to apply. WSGC will facilitate mentoring arrangements if necessary.

ACADEMIC PREPARATION

• Academic Preparation
• Letters of Recommendation

RESEARCH PROMISE

• Strength of Proposal
• Significance or Value of Proposed Research
• Research Methods, Budget and Timeline, Including Independence in Research Project
• Interest in STEM-Related Studies supporting NASA Mission Directorates
• Student Interest and Background of the Topic

• CREATE a NASA STEM GATEWAY account nasa.gov/public/s/login/
  (applicants will be required to update profile information annually).
• CREATE a WSGC account carthage.edu/about/login/
  (applicants will be required to update profile information annually).
• Sign into your WSGC account and submit an application/supporting documents to the UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH funding program https://spacegrant.carthage.edu/forms/account/login/ (applicants may apply to multiple funding programs).
• Provide two letter(s) of recommendation in PDF format through the online application process or confidentially via email to the WSGC Program Office with subject line UGR25

Applicants who meet the following requirements can apply for the UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP:

• U.S. citizen
• Enrolled full-time in, admitted to, or applied to any undergraduate program at a WSGC college or university
• Enrolled in a STEM program of study and demonstrating an interest in aerospace or supporting NASA’s mission
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (Proposals that include a GPA of less than 3.0 will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis)
• Completed application online (see Supporting Materials Required with Application below)

*NOTE: Students also applying for the Undergraduate Scholarship Program should submit a statement distinguishing the Undergraduate Research Scholarship from the Undergraduate Scholarship application. WSGC limits the number of individuals eligible to receive both awards.

The Consortium invites applications for UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS funding program. For consideration, application forms must be complete and accompanied by supporting documentation. The Consortium especially encourages applications from members of minority groups, women, and persons with disabilities, and those pursuing STEM-related studies supporting NASA Mission Directorates spacegrant.carthage.edu/about/mission/directorates/. A technical advisory panel selects award winners based on academic performance and the demonstrated interest in pursuing a STEM career. For consideration, applicants must create a NASA STEM Gateway profile and complete the WSGC UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP application along with supporting documentation.

See a list of current and past award recipients

• Copy of your high school transcript (unofficial is acceptable/incoming Freshman and Sophomores only)
• Copy of most recent college transcript (unofficial is acceptable/not required for incoming Freshman)
• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation (Research advisor/another faculty member or teacher, employer, or aerospace professional of your choice)
• A maximum 10-page proposal containing the following categories and labeled clearly (see Tools & Tips for more information on how to create professional communications and Announcement of Opportunity 2025 for specific details):

1. Introduction/Summary
2. Background
3. Proposed Activities
4. Time Line

Required Letters of Recommendation: Letter(s) of recommendation may also be emailed to spacegrant@carthage.edu. Subject: UGR25_LOR.

Two (2) Letters of Recommendation:

1. 1. One from a faculty member who advises you on your research related to this scholarship (or academic advisor or high school advisor for incoming freshmen).
   2. One from another faculty member, employer, or aerospace professional of your choice.

Submit all reports and required documents to the WSGC application website grant management page under Manage Applications/Current Grant Cycle Applications/Undergraduate Research:

• Award Acceptance Letter
• W9 (Carthage College award recipients submit a W4 and I9)
• One-Paragraph Biography
• Professional Photo
• Interim Report
• 2-3 Project Photos (optional 1-minute video) Featuring Awardee w/Project
• Final Report

Complete the following tasks:

• Accept an activity invitation from NASA STEM Gateway
• Office of Education Survey must be completed by December 15, 2024
• Present Project at the Annual Wisconsin Space Conference in August
• Submit a Proceeding Paper by Sept. 15 ^th to the Proceedings of the Wisconsin Space Journal
• Submit a Student Story

Please direct questions about the UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP Program to:

This funding opportunity is made available for the pursuit of space-related research and/or activities through the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program: NASA Educational Cooperative Agreement #80NSSC20M0123. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this award is 43.008.

All awards are fully competitive awards of opportunity in which applications are reviewed by the WSGC Technical Advisory Panel and other experts as needed. Awards are made by the Assistant Director based on recommendations from the Associate Director.