The Institute of Governmental Studies will award up to four research grants annually in the amount of $1,000 each to UC Berkeley undergraduate students who are conducting research on an aspect of American politics, including public opinion, electoral behavior, civic participation, government institutions, social movements, and public policy. Students from a broad range of disciplines are encouraged to apply.
This grant is made possible by a generous donation from the late...
The Percy Grant application is due by Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 11:59pm.
The application includes:
Brief questionnaire Essay Budget and brief description of research expenses Resume Transcript(s) Name of recommender (faculty member or GSI) Recommendation
All applicants are required to secure a recommendation from a UC Berkeley faculty member or GSI. Your recommender must submit a letter of recommendation via the...
February 28, 2025 2:00pm - 4:00pm Please join us as we congratulate the 2025 recipients of the Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant for Public Affairs Research and the Mike Synar Graduate Research Fellowship.
The Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant for Public Affairs Research 2025 Recipients:
Joselen X. Contreras (Public Health; Minor: Public Policy): "From Prop 187 to Power: How Rising Latino Representation in California's Assembly Has Shaped Healthcare Legislation"
Jack Guan (American Studies, Political Science; Minor: Public Policy): The...
February 23, 2024 2:00pm - 4:00pm Please join us as we congratulate the 2024 recipients of the Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant for Public Affairs Research and the Mike Synar Graduate Research Fellowship
The Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant for Public Affairs Research 2024 Recipients:
Alina Zarate (Environmental Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies): "The Multiple Fronts of the Fight for Farm Worker Rights: An Analysis of UFW Political Advocacy in the 21st Century"
Andrew Huong Yet Chen (Political Science, Psychology): "Unveiling Voter...
February 24, 2023 2:00pm - 4:00pm Please join us as we congratulate the 2023 recipients of the Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant for Public Affairs Research, and the Mike Synar Graduate Research Fellowship.
An Awards Ceremony and Reception for the 2023 Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant and the Mike Synar Graduate Fellowship Recipients, by the Institute of Governmental Studies.
Each year, the Institute of Governmental Studies awards up to four Charles H. Percy research grants in the amount of $500 each to U.C. Berkeley undergraduate students who...
Jack is a third year student originally from San Francisco. He is double majoring in American Studies (concentration in "The American City") and Political Science (subfield in American Politics) as well as double minoring in Political Economy and Public Policy. His research interests include electoral geography, political behavior, and urban structures. After his undergraduate studies, he hopes to attend graduate school and pursue a doctoral degree in Political Science.
Amy Lee is a current second-year majoring in Legal Studies with minors in Asian American & Asian diaspora studies and education. She hopes to attend law school with an aspiration to work as a public defender in the future. While always having an innate interest in the legal field, her specific passion for criminal justice and public defense began after being exposed to the harsh realities and inequalities of the criminal justice system and the carceral state through classes, extracurriculars, and the media. She hopes to represent or assist those who do not have access to legal...
River is a fourth-year, from Fresno, California, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Data Science. His fascination with the intersection of art and politics began in his youth when he noticed his worldview changing in accordance with the creative content he enjoyed. This interest inspired him to assist in research that studied the use of narratives in experimental political science and their effects. This experience led him to pursue a project that studies music as a vessel of political content, one of the strongest influences on his life. In addition to these interests, he...
