Student research grant
Library Student Research Grant
Since 2003, Friends has awarded more than $22,000 to fund selected proposals by Messiah students for research projects.
2026 Grant: Application materials available now through April 3!
The 2026 Library Student Research Grant application deadline is Friday, April 3rd. This competitive grant, sponsored by Friends of Murray Library, provides funds for Messiah students who will be seniors in the 2026-2027 academic year to work on their senior honors project or senior capstone projects.
This is a great opportunity to experience a taste of graduate school or professional-level research using both Murray Library's print and digital collections as well as other relevant research materials for your chosen topic located at other institutions or organizations.
Proposals are selected for funding by an interdisciplinary panel of judges chaired by Sarah Fischer, Co-Chair of Friends of Murray Library. The grantee will be awarded $1,000 in the spring for the 2026-2027 academic year. Grant recipients will present an overview of their project and research process at the Friends Annual Dinner in the fall of 2026 or alternative venue as appropriate. Award recipients will be announced Monday, April 27th.
Recent Awardees
2025: Olivia Reardon, The Great Books and Me: Ethical Formation in the Classroom
2023-2024: Michael Azar, Effects of Proglumide on Expression of Fibrosis in Pancreatic Cells
2022-2023: Micaiah Saldana, My Last Military ID and Other Stories From Growing Up Army
2021-2022: Hye Lim Jung, Tracing My Identity through Korean Myths and Folklore
2020-2021: Anya Benninger, Social Stories: Bookmaking in the Life of an Autistic Artist