Applications for Freshwater@UW are open!
- The application deadline is February 15, 2025.
- Review the 2025 Project Catalog to decide if this program is right for you.
- The application is managed through UW-Madison Graduate School. Use the link below set up an account to start or manage your application.
- Select Freshwater@UW as your program when you begin the application.
- Rank the top 5 projects you want to match from the 2025 Program Catalog.
- University of Wisconsin students should consider and select at least one project off their home campus.
2025 Freshwater Project Catalog New project added (MIL06) 11/30/24
Freshwater@UW is a mentored summer research program offering a range of research opportunities. Students will review, then select their top five projects during application. This year, we will offer at least 27 funded positions. Students attending school within the UW System should list options off their home campus. Students from a university outside of the UW System may select research opportunities on any campus. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. See below for more information.
The 2025 Research Project Catalog is here.
Freshwater@UW 2025 Project Catalog
Be sure to check out the important information below – particularly that related to Eligibility.
Freshwater@UW Applications are open.
Start or manage your SROP application
Return to UW-Madison SROP Page
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Program details
2025 Program information coming soon!
Below are the program details from 2024, which will be similar this year.
Information for 2024
Dates: May 28 – Aug. 3
Location: Varies by project, sites include UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW-La Crosse, UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Stevens Point and Manitowoc, WI.
Applications open: Nov. 1, 2023
Applications close: Feb 15, 2024
Stipend: $6,000 + $600 for food
Housing is provided, options vary by site but are usually dorm style.
Travel to and from Madison will be paid by the program, travel by car is reimbursable.
Orientation will take place from May 28-31 in Madison, the program will then aid with transportation off site for those working on other campuses.
Students will present a Capstone flash talk and poster on the UW-Madison campus on August 1, 2024. Check out the image of last year’s event to the right!
Event details:
Freshwater@UW + STORM Summer Research Symposium
August 1, 2024
3-5:30 pm
Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI
Eligibility
If you are interested in water research, we’re here to provide an experience you’ll need to chart your career path. As a candidate you should:
- Have a strong interest in water research. Graduate school hopefuls as well as those seeking employment in industry or government will benefit from this program.
- Be an undergraduate student through at least the fall 2025 semester.
- Maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Compelling applications from those with a lower GPA may be accepted when submitted with an exceptionally strong letter of recommendation.
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Commit full-time to the research program, appx 32-40 hours per week. In addition, students may not be employees of the Universities of Wisconsin during the program.
Mentored projects
Our program is diverse, with projects that range widely: from microbes to maritime history, from hydrogeology to wetland ecology. Wisconsin has over 15,000 lakes and over 13,500 stream and river miles. The Great Lakes contain about 20 percent of all the liquid fresh water on Earth.
Wisconsin is a great place to come and study Freshwater!
Past projects: Freshwater@UW Project Descriptions – Summer 2023.
Accepted Students
The match process starts shortly after the Feb. 15, 2025 application deadline. We expect to notify all successful candidates by mid March.
Program details coming soon, but will be similar to the 2024 calendar below
2024 Calendar
- May 28 – arrive on UW-Madison campus
- May 29 & 30 – Orientation programming
- May 31 – UW-Milwaukee SFS Tour and Neeskay Voyage
- Jun 1 – Travel to final research site
- Thursdays, 4-6pm, Professional Development Seminar
- Jul 31 – Travel back to Madison for Capstone
- Aug 1, 3-5:30 – Summer Research Symposium, UW-Madison Campus
- Aug 2 – End-of-Summer Celebration
- Aug 3 – Travel home
Program Contact:
Dr. Alison Mikulyuk
alison.mikulyuk@aqua.wisc.edu
UW-Madison
1975 Willow Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1103
Funding for the Freshwater@UW Summer Research Opportunities Program is provided by the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin*, Wisconsin Sea Grant, the UW Water Resources Institute and Water@UW-Madison. The program runs from late May 31 through early, August, 2024. We expect that student summer stipends will be similar to 2023, which were $6000 plus a $600 meal allowance. Housing and travel costs are provided by the Freshwater@UW program. Applications will open on November 1.
* The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is a partnership of Wisconsin’s 13 public universities, connecting with industry partners, local communities, policymakers and advocacy groups. Its mission is to establish Wisconsin as a world leader in freshwater science, technology, entrepreneurship and economic growth. The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is training the next generation of scientists to solve global water resource problems through academic programs, collaborative research and career development across the UW System. Learn more at freshwater.wisconsin.edu.