Academic Year: 2021 – 2022
The Guided Undergraduate Intensive Learning Development (GUILD) initiative provides students with an opportunity to conduct undergraduate research in all academic disciplines and undergraduate divisions (i.e. McKelvey School of Engineering, Olin Business School, Sam Fox School, & Arts & Sciences School) during the academic year. Our mission is to provide high achieving low-income (HALI), first generation, and underrepresented students opportunity for early engagement in undergraduate research, a high impact educational practice, to reinforce their academic knowledge and enhance their professional development in preparation for their post-baccalaureate journey.
Eligibility
WashU students from any academic discipline who are from backgrounds historically underrepresented are eligible to apply. These backgrounds include: low-income, first-generation college, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Native Pacific Islanders, and those with disabilities.
Program Components
- $3,000 stipend/semester
- Professional development
- Mentored research
- Lab experience
Application Process
Application Form
After preparing all your materials, you will need to complete the application form found below to submit your documents.
Research Proposal
Please provide a research proposal (up to 500 words) clearly addressing:
- The purpose of the project;
- Why you are interested in this research;
- The academic fields or disciplines into which the project fits and how it will contribute to those fields;
- Why this research may have significance even for those outside of those fields;
- What research questions are underlying or animating your project;
- What methods you plan to use and why those methods are appropriate for your research questions;
- What preparation or skills you have that make you well suited for this research;
- Whom you have selected to be your faculty mentor, how the mentor’s expertise aligns with your research, and how your mentor will contribute to your development.
Work Plan
Please attach a detailed work plan (in PDF form) that includes a schedule of how your research will be divided over two semesters, and what you may need (supplies, books, travel, etc.) to complete that research successfully.
Personal Statement of Purpose
Provide a statement of purpose (up to 500 words) articulating your commitment to the aims of MOLSAMP/GUILD as indicated in the mission statement. Your statement should be written as a cohesive narrative essay that addresses all of the following:
- How have your experiences in college been shaped by underrepresentation of certain groups in academia?
- What are your goals for the future?
- In what specific ways do you hope to change higher education by way of those goals?
Unofficial Transcripts
Include a current unofficial transcript (in PDF form).
Faculty/Staff Recommendations
You will need two letters of recommendation.