The Undergraduate Research awards support qualified students to create and implement a small research study of their own design, or to work with a faculty advisor on a project mutually agreed upon. It supports students for academic year, summer, or part-time employment in mentored research directly related to their interests and career objectives in aerospace studies.

The goal of this program is to support exceptional undergraduate students pursuing aerospace, space science, and space-related careers. The objectives of this program are to recruit and fund the research of broadly diverse, high-caliber undergraduate students in aerospace science. Special care is exercised to insure regional distribution, to encourage interdisciplinary studies, and recruit women, under-represented minorities, and developmentally challenged persons. In addition to NASA-funded awards, member institutions also offer WSGC fellowships, funded by their institutions and reported as match.

To maximize leverage, geographic distribution, and opportunities for special groups, summer undergraduate stipends may also be offered for research in space sciences. Participation in this program is encouraged by the dissemination of award opportunity announcements, coordinated through the Institutional Representatives of each Affiliate Member. Awards are competitive over all aerospace, space science, and space-related disciplines, and made available to the most qualified candidates, chosen through a review process defined by the Advisory Council and outlined in the WSGC Charter. The Associate Director for Fellowships and Scholarships receives and forwards proposals to a Technical Advisory Panel, a review panel comprised of leading scientists, engineers, and industrialists from around the state and balanced as much as possible by geographic location, gender, and racial and ethnic background. Awards are made by the Assistant Director based on recommendations from the Technical Advisory Panel and the Associate Director.

Award recipients are expected to make presentations at a subsequent WSGC Conference, to submit final reports and copies of all published papers, and to engage in the activities of the Consortium as may be deemed appropriate.