Mary Gates Research Scholar · Winter 2024
A New Model of Hydrocephalus Reveals an Unexpected Role of Hedgehog Signaling on Cell Adhesion
Read Lily Nguyen's storyThe Mary Gates Endowment for Students supports University of Washington undergraduates in pursuing meaningful work and becoming independent learners and community leaders through a variety of scholarships.
- Mentored research or leadership project work is eligible for up to $5000 in funding for two quarters ($2500 per quarter).
- Community investment scholarships offer up to $10,000 to current students or recent alum for an ambitious community-based project lasting between three to eight months.
The Mary Gates Endowment for Students also supports students participating in our partner programs.
Scholarship deadlines & application links
Frequently asked questions
Am I eligible?
Mary Gates Research and Leadership Scholarships are open to all matriculated UW undergraduates pursuing a bachelor's degree at the Seattle, Bothell, or Tacoma campuses. Applicants are welcome from any major and at any stage of their degree or research and leadership development. The scholarships are competitive and require an application and review process.
Review the Who can apply page to learn more about scholarship eligibility.
Please note that eligibility for the Mary Gates Community Investment scholarship is distinct from the Research and Leadership scholarships.
How and when do I apply?
You apply during Autumn quarter for Research and Leadership scholarships through our online application portals. There are separate applications for each Mary Gates scholarship.
On the application you choose two quarters of award — the two quarters in which you would be actively working on your project and receive the scholarship money. Applying in Autumn, you may select any two of the following four quarters: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn quarters in the next academic year. Each quarter carries up to $2,500 in funding, for a total of up to $5,000.
You may apply for both the Research and Leadership Scholarships in the same cycle, though you can hold the financial award for only one at a time.
Deadlines and application links for the current application cycle are listed above.
Please note that the application cycle and funding for the Mary Gates Community Investment scholarship is distinct from the Research and Leadership scholarships.
Which scholarship should I apply for?
There are three Mary Gates Scholarships, each supporting a different kind of work.
Research Scholarship
The Mary Gates Research Scholarship supports University of Washington undergraduates who are engaged in — or preparing to begin — research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. It is a competitive award and gives students financial assistance to focus and go deeper into a faculty-mentored scholarly discipline or project.
Learn more about the Research Scholarship
Leadership Scholarship
The Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship supports University of Washington undergraduates who are taking on a leadership project that identifies a group or community need. It is a competitive award and gives students financial assistance to carry out a mentored leadership project and to grow leadership skills through the project work.
Learn more about the Leadership Scholarship
Community Investment Scholarship
The Mary Gates Community Investment Scholarship supports University of Washington undergraduates and recent alum who are already deeply engaged in community-based work. It is an advanced, competitive award and gives scholarship financial assistance to execute an ambitious project that meets a community-identified need.
Learn more about the Community Investment Scholarship
Choosing between them
The choice between Research and Leadership comes down to whether your project is fundamentally research under a faculty mentor, or a leadership effort you are building. Community Investment supports more ambitious community-based projects and is the only scholarship open to recent alumni.
The Scholarships Overview compares all three in detail.
How do I find a mentor?
Every Mary Gates scholarship application involves a mentor. For the Research Scholarship, the mentor is the UW-affiliated faculty member you do research under. For Leadership, the mentor can be any professional — a community leader, or faculty or staff on or off campus — who knows you and your project and cares about your leadership growth. For Community Investment, it is a mentor who can meet with you regularly across the project period, plus at least one community collaborator from the community your project serves.
The Finding a Mentor page offers more information about choosing someone, developing the relationship, what you and your mentor can expect from one another, and the additional need for a community collaborator for the Community Investment scholarship.