GW-IU Undergraduate Research Exchange Program 2025-2026
Application Deadline: Friday, May 10th, 2025
The Institutes for Korean Studies at the George Washington University and Indiana University Bloomington invite undergraduate students to apply for the GW-IU Undergraduate Research Exchange Program. We are seeking to select students who are interested in conducting research about Korea. All students receive mentoring from faculty at the Institute for Korean Studies.
Selected students participate in research workshops during the fall and spring semesters, take part in a mini-conference, and present their papers at the annual GW-IU Korean Studies Undergraduate Research Exchange Conference in the spring semester. The conference alternates locations between Washington, D.C. and Bloomington, Indiana. This academic year’s conference will be held at Indiana University.
Benefits of the Program
Get close mentoring by faculty through monthly meetings
Produce a 15-20 page research paper on any Korea-related research topic such as politics, inter-Korean affairs, literature, film, K-pop, history, sociology, anthropology and more!
Participate in the annual GW-IU Korean Studies Exchange Conference to be held in Washington DC this academic year (expenses paid!)
Volunteer at the Institute for Korean Studies events
Earn 3 credits toward the fall 2025 or spring 2026 semester
Eligibility:
Undergraduates (juniors and seniors preferred)
Research proposal on any Korea related topic
Students must have a 3.75 GPA to apply
How to Apply:
IU students send an email to iks@iu.edu with a short personal statement explaining why you are interested in participating, your resume, and a one-page research proposal with the following information:
What is the title of your project?
Research questions: What questions will you be asking in your research?
Background information: Provide a list of potential sources.
Methods: How are you going to conduct your research? Using what data?
Significance: Why is your research important?
Current GW-IU Undergraduate Research Fellows
Michael Betar IV
Senior
Michael Betar IV is a Game Design Major at Indiana University's Game Design Program with the Media School. He is also studying Virtual Reality with the Luddy School of Informatics for his Minor. Michael is focused on Game Production and Team Management and is a co-lead ("Crow-Lead") of his independent game studio, Cozy Crow Studios, where he will release his Senior Capstone game, Decomposition, with this Spring. Although his background focuses on the development and distribution of video games, he is interested in studying how games are perceived and their impact on society. Outside of academics and game development, Michael works with videography for his personal YouTube channel.
Project Title: The Rise and Impact that Computer and Mobile Games Have Had on South Korea Both Socially and Economically. Research interests: video games and society, game distribution, game development
Carina Geissler
Carina Geissler is an undergraduate student at The Ohio State University working towards dual degrees in Korean studies and fine arts with a minor in art history. Carina has a wide array of academic interests and is drawn to multidisciplinary research that aims to bring together the esoteric wisdoms of various fields. In her current research, Carina works to bridge the gap between academic literary scholarship and visual art. Carina would like to thank her project faculty advisor, Assistant Professor Dr. Hayana Kim of the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at OSU, for exceptional feedback, encouragement, and advocacy.
Project Title: Fishing for (im)possibilities: A deep dive into image-ining Cheon Myeong-kwan’s Whale Research Interests: visual arts, literary studies, cross-disciplinary studies
Shruti Sivakumar
Senior
Shruti Sivakumar is a senior majoring in International Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington, with minors in Business, Korean, and Public and Environmental Affairs. She works three jobs as a Paging Assistant at the Lilly Library, a TA for an introductory Human Resources course, and a Research Assistant for the Institute for Korean Studies. Following graduation, she plans on getting her Masters in Public Administration and working in international program management or development. Outside of school, Shruti enjoys learning new cultures, traveling, and hanging out with her roommates.
Project Title: Protesting the Patriarchy: South Korea’s 4B Feminist Activism Research Interests: culture, gender, and the environment in South and East Asian countries.
Jess Smith
Senior
Jess Smith is a 21st Century Scholar and first-gen student from Northern Indiana. She is currently a senior majoring in International Studies with minors in East Asian Languages and Cultures (Korean) and Human Resources Management. After Jess graduates, she hopes to work in an innovative and sustainable corporation, with plans to work abroad as a Global HR professional. Jess loves learning new languages, appreciating different cultures, and she has some experience with both Spanish and Korean. In her free time, Jess loves to read, paint, and try new things.
Project Title:From Policy to Practice: Gender Bias and Inequality in South Korean Universities Research Interests: HR development, global businesses, gender in the workplace
Past GW-IU Undergraduate Research Exchange Fellows
Julia Beechler (Junior, Political Science and East Asian Languages and Cultures) "The South Korean Government and the Use of K-Pop as Soft Power"
Hannah Katinsky (Sophomore, Linguistics, Korean, Spanish, and Second Language Acquisition (minors)) "Noun Incorporation and the Korean Light Verb Construction"
Bella Packowski (Senior, East Asian Languages & Cultures (Korean), Political Science (minor)) "Stalinism's Role in Inspiring and Shaping North Korea's Juche Ideology"
Julianne Hatcher (Sophomore, International Studies, Environmental Sustainability) "Nuclear Energy in South Korea"
Yongxing Tang(Junior, Business (Finance and Marketing)) “Infinite Challenge - Societal Lessons Behind the Korean Reality Show"
Kaelyn Klatte, (Sophomore, International Law and Legal Institutions) “Pessimism: South Korean Youth’s Perceptions of the Likelihood of a Korean Reunification"
Lillian Rogers (Junior, International Studies) “K-pop and the Sewol Ferry Tragedy: Protest and Activism in K-Pop"
Alex Vensel (Junior, East Asian Languages and Cultures, Management and Human Organization) “Organized Chaos: Fanchants and the Accessibility of K-pop to International Fans"
Haleigh Nightenhesler (Senior, East Asian Studies) “From Kimchi to Airplanes" BTS and Anti-Hallyu in China in 2020 and 2021"
Dakotah Meadows (Senior, English, East Asian Languages and Cultures) “Domestic Materiality in 1970's Korean Short Stories"
Toby Huter (Senior, English, East Asian Languages and Cultures) “Traditional Symbols in K-pop Music Videos"
Veronica Coffey(Junior, International Studies and East Asian Languages and Cultures) "Understanding the Influence of Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 in the Time of #MeToo”
Natalya Cohen(Senior, East Asian Languages and Cultures and International Studies) “Rural Migrant Worker Advocacy and Organization in South Korea”
Tony George(Senior, Media and East Asian Languages and Cultures) “LGBTQ+ K-Pop Fans and Gender Performance of K-Pop Idol Celebrities"
Katherine Lawrence (Senior, East Asian Languages and Cultures) “Marketing Tradition: Globalization of Korean Cuisine and Preservation of 'hansik' as a Symbol of Korean Culture, Heritage, and Identity in the 21st Century"
Toby Huter (Sophomore, East Asian Languages and Cultures) “The Transformative Effect ofHallyuon Korean History”
Caitlyn Ranieri (Junior, East Asian Languages and Cultures and International Studies) “A Shift in Reunification Sentiment”
Callie Rhoades (Senior, East Asian Languages and Cultures) “Perfectly Imperfect Koreans:The Return of Superman’s Park Family and Multicultural Representations in South Korean Media”
Summer Snyder (Sophomore, Political Science and East Asian Languages and Cultures) “The Developmental State of North Korea and Its Reluctant Marketization”
Yvonne Thomason (Senior, Biochemistry and East Asian Languages and Cultures) “TheSampoGeneration: Socioeconomic Contributions and Repercussions”
Paola Flores(Senior, International Studies) "The Marginalization of Elderly Women in 21st Century Korea"
Emily Gibson(Senior, East Asian Languages and Cultures and International Studies) "North Korean Perspectives on Democracy, Human Rights and Capitalism: The State vs. Migrants"
Chaewon Lee(Junior, East Asian Languages and Cultures and International studies) "Perceptions and Dimensions of Peace: The Divergent Discourse of Inter-Korean Peace between Hankyoreh and Chosun Ilbo in South Korea"
Lucas Maurer(Junior, East Asian Languages and Cultures) "Identifying Phonological Patterns Underlying Korean Orthography Revision"
Margaret Suh(Senior, Political Science and International Studies) "South Korea's Energy Choice and Climate Diplomacy"
