The Levinson Emerging Scholars (LES) Program is designed to support promising students who work on creative and sophisticated research projects in biosciences and related fields under the guidance of UW faculty. Art and Rita Levinson generously support this program in an effort to recognize and support undergraduates who achieve a high level of motivation and independence in research.

Levinson Emerging Scholars will receive critical, flexible support to do independent research projects guided by faculty; this support may include funding for research supplies, transportation, or other reasonable project expenses and scholarship support. Once selected, Levinson Emerging Scholars are also eligible to apply for funding to present their work at a national professional research conference. Students applying for a LES award need to submit a project budget, approved by their faculty mentor. The Office of Undergraduate Research reviews all requested items and reserves the right to negotiate each award based on the proposed project and applicant needs.

To apply for support from the Levinson Emerging Scholar award, a student must:

• Be a current UW (Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma) undergraduate engaged in a research project in bio-science or a related field during their award period.
• Propose to continue or initiate a research project for the duration of the award (2-3 quarters) that shows some level of independence and originality.
• Be registered full-time (at least 12 credits) during the award period, pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the UW Bothell, Seattle, or Tacoma campus. Exceptions to this requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis by connecting with the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.
• Have completed the equivalent of two years of university-level coursework and have had at least 3 quarters of prior research experience at the time of application.
• Receive guidance from a UW faculty member serving as the student’s research mentor (applicants may also be working with a graduate student, staff, and/or post-doctoral associate in addition to the faculty mentor).
• Submit a completed online application.

If you have other scholarships, fellowships, awards or stipends supporting your research project and you are also selected for as a WRF Fellow, you may not be eligible to receive the full amount of the award. Those who receive WRF or Levinson funding are not eligible to receive Mary Gates Research Scholarship funds at the same time.

Applicants may be awarded the WRF Fellowship/Levinson Award up to two times during their undergraduate education.

• junior
• senior

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident
• International or Other Visa Status
• Undocumented

Get details about application components, application resources and selection criteria at https://www.washington.edu/undergradresearch/academic-year-programs/levinson/application-info/. 

Office of Undergraduate Research

undergradresearch@uw.edu
206-543-4282
171 Mary Gates Hall