Bailey COE 2025-26 Research Fellowship Program

Welcome to the Bailey College of the Environment (COE) Research Fellowship Program application! 

Welcome to the Bailey College of the Environment (COE) Research Fellowship Program! The Bailey COE Research Fellowship Program allows current Wesleyan undergraduate students to undertake research on environmental topics under the guidance of a Wesleyan faculty mentor during summer OR fall or spring semesters. The projects must relate to any of the broad themes covered by environmental studies and the Bailey College of the Environment. The scope of environmental topics is intended to be interpreted broadly; research may be undertaken using techniques, approaches, and paradigms from all majors or major programs. Fellowships are available to all current Wesleyan first-years, sophomores, and juniors, regardless of major or intended major, and may be undertaken at Wesleyan or off-campus. Students must be current Wesleyan undergraduate students for the duration of the opportunity.

Completed summer 2025, fall 2025 & spring 2026 applications due by 11:59 pm, February 24, 2025. The application is now open!

The Bailey COE Summer Research Fellowship Program runs from June 2 through July 25, 2025. Summer research fellows will receive a total of $5000, paid in two sums (May and July). Fall and spring semester fellowships run for the duration of the semester and typically involve working with a Wesleyan faculty member or a local organization. Fall and spring semester fellowships are paid at $17.50 per hour. Total amounts for fall and spring fellowships will vary based upon duration and hours per week spent on research. Fall fellowships may extend into the spring semester but spring fellowships must be completed in the spring semester.

Some examples of Bailey COE-supported research opportunities might include: investigating organic farming in California, conducting research in a science lab at Wesleyan, undertaking an environmental justice art project in Costa Rica, writing an environmental-themed play, or researching the economics of a carbon tax. Read about some of our past research fellowship recipients!

How to access the Bailey COE Research Fellowship application

The application is hosted on Submittable, a social impact platform being used by Wesleyan's Gordon Career Center. Please follow the directions below to begin. 

• Create a free Submittable account or sign in (see below)
• You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the application at a later date.
• To be considered, the student application must include two short letters of recommendation: one from a Wesleyan faculty mentor, even if your research is off campus, and one from a second recommender. In addition to recommending the student, the Wesleyan faculty mentor must briefly (1-2 paragraphs) explain the project and its importance. Wesleyan faculty mentors can be found across the university and should have expertise in the student's area of study. For example, a student proposing a film project with an environmental focus could reach out to a member of the film faculty.
• Please note: Mentors and recommenders will be notified of your request through your application in Submittable, and all must submit their statements by February 24. Your requests can and should be sent through Submittable as soon as you know who you will ask, to give your mentor and recommender time to complete and submit the forms by the deadline. As noted above: In Submittable you can send your mentor and recommender requests and save a draft of your work at any time, if you would like to finish filling out the application at a later date.
• If anything changes with the information you submitted, please request to edit the submission. Edits can only be made prior to the deadline.
• We will follow-up with you about your submission by email. Please be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable account regularly. Check out the Submitter Resource Center or reach out to Submittable's customer support team with any technical questions here.

Ready to apply?

All applicants will complete the common application. Please read through carefully as questions will populate throughout based on your experience. You may save your progress by clicking "Save Draft" at the end of the application. Once you are ready to submit your application, please click "Submit Form." The applications, including required statements by faculty mentors and second recommenders, will be judged by the oversight and awards committee after applications close on Februrary 24. Decisions will be announced prior to spring break. Failure to meet application or program requirements will result in your application being withdrawn. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

For further information, please contact Laurie Kenney at lkenney01@wesleyan.edu.