2025 Summer Research Opportunities with the Bill Lane Center for the American West: Self-Designed
Overview
The Bill Lane Center for the American West offers on-campus research opportunities for Stanford undergraduates to work with faculty on topics related to Western land and life in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Center's vision of the West extends from San Francisco Bay to the 100th meridian, from Western Canada to all of Mexico and outward to the Pacific world. The Center supports research, teaching and reporting about Western land and life through three broad areas: history, arts, and culture; energy and environment; and Western governance and policy.
The Center’s Research Program supports undergraduate students to undertake original research with faculty, working full-time for 35+ hours per week for 10 consecutive weeks during Summer 2025. Students meet regularly with their mentor(s) to discuss research goals and plans. The Center also organizes regular gatherings among its summer research students to foster community. Summer research students present their results during the Bill Lane Center’s seminar series on the American West during fall quarter.
The Center supports students to engage in two types of research projects, both with a priority deadline of Feb. 14, and open until April 1:
- Self-designed projects proposed by students about topics related to the American West, including the arts. See below for details.
- Research projects organized by the Center. Focused on environmental policy and governance in the West, these projects are undertaken in collaboration with government and other stakeholders to inform decision-making. Learn more and apply through this separate SOLO opportunity.
We also have limited part-time opportunities available during Winter/Spring 2025 focused on water and climate resilience and a just energy transition. Email esther@stanford.edu for more information.
To learn more about the kinds of research students have undertaken in the past, this article provides an overview of student research during Summer 2024.
Research Topics for Self-Designed Projects
The Center’s areas of focus are research related to history, arts, and culture of the West; energy and environment; and Western governance and policy. However, proposals on all topics related to the American West are welcome. Topics of recent self-designed research projects have included:
- Poetry of the Colorado Rockies
- History of Asian-American theater in the West
- Religion and politics in Mexico
- Ethics of true crime podcasting in the American West
For Summer 2025, special funding is available for projects related to arts and culture in the West. We are seeking to support several undergraduate students who will focus on arts-related projects. Please submit your application through this self-designed project application.
How to Propose a Self-Designed Project
Below are the elements you will be asked to provide in your application. If you have questions as you prepare your proposed project, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We will begin reviewing applications on Feb. 14. If possible, please apply by this date, or at least reach out via email to esther@stanford.edu with a short description of your project.
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A summary of the proposed research project: please describe your project and approach in as much detail as possible. Please be specific about your research goals, and realistic about what you can achieve within the timeline of a 10-week full time commitment during the summer. Be sure to address:
- How does your project relate to the American West, as defined by the Bill Lane Center?
- What research question will you focus on, and what methods will you use?
- How will your research contribute to knowledge about your topic of choice?
- What output do you plan to produce (a paper, artistic piece, etc)?
- A cover letter: please describe why you are interested in pursuing this research project. How does it relate to your academic interests, and how will it help further your academic and/or professional career?
- Your resume and unofficial transcript
- The name/names of potential faculty mentors for this project. Mentors must meet VPUE’s mentor eligibility guidelines. If you have not yet identified a mentor, please describe the type of supervision you think you will need and the Bill Lane Center may be able to help identify an appropriate mentor.
After reviewing your application, the Center’s research manager will reach out to discuss your proposal. In some cases, we are able to offer input on potential faculty mentors, and/or ways to refine your research proposal. It often takes some back and forth to refine proposals and identify appropriate faculty mentors. So, please apply by Feb. 14, or as soon as you can before April 1!
Undergraduate students from all years and disciplines are encouraged to apply. Coterm students are eligible if they are paying undergraduate tuition in Spring 2025. Eligibility for this program follows VPUE student research eligibility guidelines. Please review these requirements in detail before applying. In particular, please note:
- Student athletes should confirm the impact of any awarded stipend on their athletic eligibility by contacting the Compliance Services Office prior to committing to a research project.
- Stipends, prizes, or awards paid to undergraduate students who are receiving other forms of financial aid for any purpose are a form of financial assistance and may require adjustment to a student's scholarship eligibility, and/or adjustment to their overall cost of attendance. The Financial Aid Office has the responsibility to determine whether adjustments are necessary and it's the individual responsibility of the student to contact the Financial Aid Office about the impact of their grant to their overall cost of attendance. This policy applies during quarters when students are registered for classes and therefore should not affect students participating in our summer research program.
Students participating in the Bill Lane Center’s summer research program are not permitted to engage in another full-time internship, research position, job, or volunteer opportunity (whether funded by Stanford or otherwise).
Requirements and Stipend for Summer 2025 full time research roles
- Work 35+ hours/week for 10 consecutive weeks, beginning in late June or early July 2025.
- Participate in weekly meetings with the faculty mentor and/or the Center’s research manager
- Participate in cohort gatherings if possible (typically, we organize 3-4 lunches on campus each summer).
- Present your research findings during the Center’s American West Seminar Series in Fall 2025.
- Complete an evaluation at the end of the program
- Stipend: $8,000, plus up to $1,500 supplemental stipend based on financial aid status.
