Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium

UCI's commitment to undergraduate research is exemplified by programs like the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), while also extending to national platforms such as the Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium, where students travel to Johns Hopkins University to present their original work alongside peers from across the country.

Every year, the UCI School of Humanities sponsors UCI Humanities students to present their research at the Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. All Macksey Symposium participants also have the opportunity to submit their work to a peer-reviewed journal of conference proceedings.

Six UCI Students at the Macksey Symposium
2025 UCI Humanities Undergraduate Presenters at the Macksey Symposium in Baltimore, MD

Application for 2026 Sponsorship and Funding

The School of Humanities and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) will sponsor up to five Humanities majors to participate in the 2026 Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium taking place March 19-21, 2026 on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus in Baltimore and provide funding up to $1,500 for travel-related expenses (such as symposium registration, flights, and hotel).

To apply for funding from the School of Humanities and UROP, you must complete the following:

  1. Reach out to humcareerdevelopment@uci.edu with your intent to apply.

  2. Have or find a UCI faculty member to work with as your mentor.

  3. Complete the School of Humanities Application for Macksey Travel Sponsorship/Funding before you submit your application for the Symposium at Johns Hopkins University and by November 3, 2025. (Note: as part of your application for School of Humanities funding, you must submit your abstract, your draft or final research paper, and an endorsement from your UCI faculty mentor.)

  4. Complete UROP’s Research Experience Fellowship Application before you submit your application for the Symposium at Johns Hopkins University and by November 3, 2025.

  5. Apply directly to the Macksey Symposium by December 1, 2025 and be accepted by that program to present.

  6. Submit a final, high-quality research paper to UCI Humanities no later than January 16, 2026.

  7. Submit UROP’s Travel Award by the Winter 2026 deadline (exact date TBD).

  8. Present at the UCI Undergraduate Research Symposium and the School of Humanities Research Symposium in May 2026.

Want to learn more about this exciting and unique opportunity?

Check out this article about the 2024 participants and check out this article about 2025 participant, Myra McCants!

Questions?

Contact humcareerdevelopment@uci.edu