• Are you interested in politics, government, political philosophy, or law and legal theory?  

• Are you concerned about polarization, extremism, political violence, and the prospects for democracy?  

• Do you want to engage with moral and political disagreement and approach moral and political questions using reason and argumentation? 

• Do you want to do research in Political Theory, Moral and Political Psychology, Ethics, Political Philosophy, Legal Theory, Religious Studies, or Legal Studies? 

The Civil Society Initiative is pleased to announce four undergraduate research fellowships for 2026-27. Fellows will:

• Conduct independent research under the supervision of a WashU faculty member, to be determined by the topic and disciplinary focus of the project 
• Help organize one of our Dinner & Dialogue events in Spring 2027 and moderate a faculty panel at that event
• Participate in Civil Society Initiative and related events throughout 2026-27, including the Civil Society Brunch series, the Dinner & Dialogue series, and the Workshop on Politics, Ethics, and Society.
• Present a draft of a research paper at a work-in-progress session in February 2027.
• Present a short talk about their research at a public-facing symposium in April 2027. 

Fellows will receive a $1,000 stipend and receive 4 units of independent study credit. 

Fellowships are open to all undergraduate students at Washington University in St. Louis. 

Applicants should submit, by May 1, 2026, using this form:

• An unofficial transcript
• A statement of interest, describing your background, motivation, and what you hope to get out of the fellowship, of no more than 1 page
• The name and email address of one WashU faculty reference

References will be contacted and asked to provide a short statement of support for your application.  Decisions will be made by June 1, 2026.