Program Overview

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Introduction to the Mellon Research Scholars Program

The Mellon Research Scholars program at the University of Houston supports a cohort of students who are highly motivated to conduct research and attend graduate school in the humanities. Funded by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, the program aims to train future scholars in the humanities.

Program Details

Each participant receives a total of $5,000 for conducting a summer research project and participating in developmental academic and mentorship activities from spring of their junior year through spring of their senior year. Participants can also receive up to six points towards the Honors in Co-Curricular Engagement transcript designation.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Mellon Research Scholars program, applicants should be:

• University of Houston main campus undergraduate students in the humanities who are graduating in Fall 2026 or Spring 2027
• Highly motivated to conduct research and attend graduate school in the humanities Eligible fields within the humanities include:
  • Anthropology and archaeology
  • Area/cultural/gender studies
  • Art history
  • Classics
  • Geography and population studies
  • English
  • Film, cinema, and media studies (theoretical focus)
  • Musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory
  • Foreign languages and literatures
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Performance studies (theoretical focus)
  • Philosophy and political theory
  • Religion and theology
  • Sociology
  • Theater (theoretical focus)
  • Interdisciplinary studies with a humanities focus

Application Process

Students submit an online application to apply for the program. The online Mellon Research Scholars application asks for candidates' basic biographical information, a resume, and three short essays. Candidates should carefully review the programming below to determine if the Mellon Scholars Program is a good fit for their research and scholarly interests.

Programming

The program includes:

Spring | Faculty-Led Mellon Research Seminar Series and Proposal Development

The Mellon Research Scholars will attend a faculty-led seminar series throughout the spring semester. Students will be exposed to the types of research currently taking place on campus.

May | Mellon Boot Camp on Applying to Graduate School and Competitive Fellowships

Scholars receive $1,000 for participating in a full-time, two-week camp in May. The seminar series will cover topics such as how to find and evaluate graduate programs in your field, writing a personal statement, developing a curriculum vitae (CV), preparing for the GRE, applying for nationally competitive scholarships, and creating a writing sample.

Summer | Full-Time Research Experience

The Mellon Research Scholars receive a $4,000 fellowship to conduct a full-time, 10-week research experience during the summer. The faculty mentors will guide the students throughout their summer research projects.

Senior Year | Continued Research, Graduate Program Application Support, and Undergraduate Research Day

Mellon Scholars may build upon their research by conducting faculty-mentored senior honors theses or independent study projects during their final academic year. Mellon Scholars will also receive support as they complete applications for graduate programs.

Expectations

Mellon Research Scholars are expected to:

• Attend all Spring seminar events
• Attend every day of the Mellon Graduate School Bootcamp
• Conduct 10 weeks of full-time summer research
• Attend weekly summer webinars coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards
• Complete pre- and post-program surveys
• Present a research poster at Undergraduate Research Day in April

HCCE Points

Mellon Scholars will receive up to 6 points towards the Honors in Co-Curricular Engagement (HCCE) transcript designation. The HCCE transcript designation is awarded to students upon graduation who pursue a broad range of experiential learning opportunities from freshman to senior year.