FORGE: Foundations Of Research for Graduate Student Education Fellowship

Spring 2027

This opportunity is for Graduate students enrolled in the Spring 2027 semester who are looking to work alongside a faculty mentor to develop research skills through experiential learning. This semester-long fellowship will provide graduate students with an opportunity to contribute to faculty research and/or creative activity.

Graduate student awardees will receive a $750 (Masters) or $1000 (Doctoral) stipend to assist a faculty member with a research and/or creative activity project for 5 hours/week for ten weeks during the 2027 Spring semester. Awardees will also be expected to present their research at Research and Creative Activities Day (4/15/2027) either in person through a poster or lightning talk or virtually through a lightning talk. Additionally, awardees will complete a post-FORGE survey to summarize and reflect on their experience.

All sections of the application (student portion and faculty mentor portion) are due by 5:00pm Thursday, November 6th, 2026.

Requirements:

  • Spend five hours per week for 10 weeks during the Spring 2027 semester with your faculty mentor on the research/creative activity project
  • Complete a post-FORGE Fellowship survey providing a summary and reflection of your experience
  • Present at RCAD April 15th, 2027

Please note the following: All WCU students who will be enrolled as Graduate Students during the Spring semester of 2027 may apply. If you will have a paid graduate assistantship during the Spring 2027 semester, you may NOT work with your existing supervisor. The research project must be with a new faculty mentor. These projects must be carried out during the Spring of 2027, under the approved mentorship of a WCU faculty member.

Student Profile Information

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    Faculty Mentor Information

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      Project Information

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        *These three questions are to be completed by the Graduate Student Applicant and will then be approved by the faculty mentor in the next step. Please work with your faculty mentor prior to submitting.

        Provide a brief description of the project you will be working on including (a) background and significance and (b) description of what specific skills you will acquire during the FORGE experience (300 words or less).

        Please describe your research or creative activity plan (how often you are meeting, goals for each month, communication expectations, tentative timeline) with your faculty mentor across the Spring 2027 semester (250 words or less).

        Provide a brief explanation of the potential impact the WCU-FORGE opportunity could have on your future education and/or career aspirations (250 words or less).

        Additional Information

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