Research Grants
The Genevieve D. Willis Research Grant
The Genevieve D. Willis Research Grant is a competitive grant awarded to undergraduate students in the Gender Studies Program who plan to undertake research in preparation for a senior thesis or essay in either Gender Studies or their primary major.
Grant Terms
The grant awards up to $1,100 to an individual student for expenses incurred during research, including but not limited to books, materials, and travel expenses. Recipients of the grant have the opportunity to receive feedback on their work from faculty, graduate students, and fellow undergraduates.
Gender Studies majors undertaking a senior thesis in the upcoming academic year have priority in the selection process for the grants. Junior minors, sophomore majors, and sophomore minors who plan to undertake research for their senior theses or essays in either Gender Studies or their primary major over the course of the following two summers may also apply for these grants. Applicants’ research must be explicitly related to the interdisciplinary field of gender and sexuality studies. Interested students should meet with the Gender studies Director of Undergraduate Studies and their chosen faculty advisor(s) about their grant applications. The amount of funding awarded will be determined by the number and quality of applications received.
Recipients conduct research over the summer months, then submit to the Gender Studies Director of Undergraduate Studies and other faculty advisor(s) a 5-page summary of the results of the research. Summaries must be submitted before September 1.
Recipients are expected to submit their thesis/essay for the annual Genevieve D. Willis Gender Studies Senior Thesis Award competition or the annual Philip L. Quinn Essay Award competition. Recipients are also encouraged to submit their work for publication in Through Gendered Lenses.
Application Guidelines
To apply, prepare the following materials and submit them using the form below before noon on the first Friday in April:
- 1- to 2-page project prospectus that includes a working title, statement of topic and/or research questions, proposed methodology, projected scope of project, and rationale for the receipt of a summer research grant to advance the project.
- 1-page budget (up to $1100 for domestic projects; see the Director of Undergraduate Studies to discuss international projects) for archival or field research and/or books and materials for the summer portion of the research project.