Women and Gender Summer Fellowship Program

The Women and Gender Summer Fellowship Program (WAGSFP) provides a stipend for U-M students to conduct cutting edge research with a University of Michigan faculty member for 10 weeks. The community of scholars who participate in WAGSFP will also engage in programming throughout the summer in addition to their research. Students will participate in seminars to learn more about current and emerging research in women and gender studies, read and share articles related to research in women and gender studies, learn how to publish their research and engage in other professional development activities. At the end of the 10 weeks, fellows are required to present their research project at the UROP Summer Research Symposium.

This program is funded by a generous gift from the Riecker Foundation in collaboration with the Center for the Education of Women.

Projects are welcome in a wide variety of areas including: women’s cancers (ovarian, endometrial, etc.), gender and sexuality, queer studies, third world feminism, cultural representation and literature, women and labor, feminist theory, immigration and citizenship, and social activism. Research projects can be in any field or discipline including laboratory and clinical research studies related to maternal health, genetic research related to diseases affecting women such as breast and ovarian cancer, genetic screening, health care disparities related to women or LGBTQ populations, women and gender studies including work in history, American culture, global studies, anthropology, psychology, political science, public policy, economics, literature, etc. WAGSFP Fellows are matched with a project in our database (submitted by UM faculty, research scientists, and postdoctoral fellows) according to their interests.

Previous Women and Gender Summer Fellowship Program research projects:

“Identifying Learning Outcomes for a Reproductive Justice Curriculum for physicia”

“University Responses to Sexual Assault on Campus”

“Social Position, Childbearing, Contraceptive Use, and the Economy”

“Biomaterials for fertility preservation”

“Three-dimensional ovarian follicle culture”

“Parental Decision Making For Children Born With Disorders of Sex Development”

“Using the Web to Enhance Healthcare in Differences of Sex Development”

“Assisted Reproduction for HIV-Affected Couples in Kenya: Current Practices”

“Community-based Sexual Health Project in Detroit”

“Estrogen and Human Affective, Behavioral, and Cognitive Sex Differences”

“Women of Color and Asthma Control Study”

Students applying should be one of the following:

• Applicants must have already graduated from High School (or earned a GED).

• Applicants must be a currently enrolled student at the U-M.
  

• All gender identities are welcome to apply. WAGSFP is not just for women.

• University of Michigan UROP summer research participants will NOT be allowed to enroll in Spring-Summer classes at the University of Michigan unless the summer fellow is pre-approved by the Director of UROP.  Summer research fellows receive paid stipends and if a summer research fellow is enrolled in spring-summer classes and receiving financial aid, the stipend could have a negative impact on the research fellows’ financial aid for spring and/or summer terms.  
  

• Note to International Students currently in the U.S.: Because these fellowships come with a stipend, it is important for any F-1 or J-1 status holders to obtain authorization through F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or J-1 Academic Training (AT) to be able to participate. Please consult with your Academic Advisor and International Student Advisor at your institution to verify CPT/AT eligibility, requirements, and application procedures.

For an application to be considered for review, the following requirements must be met:

• Online Application Form 
• Personal Statement
• 1 Letter of Recommendation (due one week after application deadline)
  • The application will request your recommender's email address. After submitting your application, the recommender will receive an email with instructions for submitting their letter. Please instruct the recommender to contact UROP if they are having trouble.  
    
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Blank application for your reference

If you would like an application link that allows you to save and continue your progress, please request one by emailing emilypen@umich.edu.

The Summer Fellowship typically begins in late May and ends in Late July or early August (actual program dates are updated online).

Hours and Stipend:

Research fellows receive a  $3,000 - $6,000 stipend depending upon their level of participation in the program (approximately 200-400 hours total over 10 weeks).

International Students:

Please see “WAGSFP Eligibility” for more information.

Please Note: Stipends will be prorated for fellows unable to complete the agreed-upon hours in the time allotted.

Due to parking restrictions, UROP is unable to cover on-campus parking for fellows. However, UROP will work with students to find accessible commuter parking lots and access to free public and university transportation.