The Barry M. Popkin Senior Honors Thesis Research Grant enables Honors students completing senior Honors thesis research in the field of economics or another social science to conduct original research on some aspect of a lower-middle-income country outside of Europe, which requires the student to travel to the country for the project. The grant was endowed in 2015 by Professor Barry M. Popkin.
Barry M. Popkin Senior Honors Thesis Research Grant recipients receive $3,500.
Students must complete the L&S Honors Summer Senior Thesis Research Grant application to be considered for the Popkin Research Grant. Review the Summer Senior Thesis Research Grant information.
Application opens: December 15, 2025
Deadline: mid-March 2026
Info sessions are typically offered in late fall and winter for students to learn more about the application process and to ask questions. See upcoming Honors information sessions.
Students are eligible for the Barry M. Popkin Senior Honors Thesis Research Grant if they meet the criteria outlined on the Summer Senior Thesis Grant webpage.
Eligible research projects must include:
- Student research that falls within the academic field(s) of economics or another social science on some aspect of a lower-middle-income country outside of Europe
- Travel to the identified country
- A clear and explicit description in the proposal of the research that will be conducted in that country
Students must complete all parts of the L&S Honors Summer Senior Thesis Research Grant application. Review the Summer Senior Thesis Grant information.
Students interested in the Popkin Research Grant must complete all parts of the L&S Honors Summer Senior Thesis Research Grant application. The L&S Honors Summer Senior Thesis Research Grant application is available in the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH). You can access WiSH through your MyUW or by logging in at wisc.academicworks.com.
Applications for this grant are reviewed by the Faculty Honors Committee. Applications are evaluated based on the criteria outlined on the Summer Senior Thesis Grant webpage.
All recipients will need to:
- Travel to and complete the proposed research in the identified country
- Present their research at the Senior Honors Thesis Symposium in the spring of the next academic year (mid- to late-April)
- Submit a copy of their completed thesis to the L&S Honors Program. The L&S Honors Program will then, with the permission of the student, submit completed theses to MINDS@UW, the University of Wisconsin’s open access institutional repository. Click here to view recent senior Honors theses.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is Barry M. Popkin?
The Barry M. Popkin Senior Honors Thesis Research Grant was endowed in 2015 by Professor Barry M. Popkin. Barry M. Popkin came to UW-Madison from Superior, Wis., and earned his B.S. in 1967 and his M.S. in 1969. He is currently the W.R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he teaches about and conducts research, outreach, and public service at the interface of economics, public health, and nutrition.
As an Honors student at UW-Madison, Popkin completed his senior Honors thesis on the economics of nutrition. That thesis experience, combined with studying abroad in India in 1965-66, helped shape his career and life.
In recognition of his transformative experience, Popkin has established an endowment to provide annual funding for an undergraduate Honors student majoring in economics or another social science to conduct original research in a lower-middle-income country outside of Europe and to lay a foundation for a career in global work.
What are some examples of projects that have received funding?
This document is an example of a recently funded senior Honors thesis project. This applicant received the Barry M. Popkin Senior Honors Thesis Research Grant.
Can I receive a Popkin Research Grant if I have received a Hilldale Fellowship for the academic year?
No. Students are not permitted to accept funds from another university (UW) source for the same research over the period of time covered by this grant, which is funded during the academic year.
What does it mean for my thesis to be “more demanding and extensive”?
A more demanding and extensive thesis typically requires deeper intellectual engagement and a broader scope. This could mean the following, although this list is not exhaustive:
- Stronger Argumentation: Your thesis should present a nuanced, well-supported argument that goes beyond surface-level claims.
- Expanded Research: Your topic needs to draw from a wider range of credible sources, including scholarly literature, primary data, or interdisciplinary perspectives.
- Greater Originality: Aim to contribute fresh insights or challenge existing viewpoints, rather than simply summarizing others’ work.
- Increased Depth: Expect to explore complex ideas, engage with theoretical frameworks, and critically analyze multiple dimensions of your topic.
- Longer and More Structured: The final product may be more substantial in length and require a more sophisticated organizational structure.
In short, it’s about pushing your thinking further and demonstrating a higher level of academic rigor. Your faculty mentor(s) and department advisor(s) will be able to provide a great deal of experience and expertise. Please connect with them as soon as you are able!
Would it be possible to review recently submitted senior Honors theses in my field?
The L&S Honors Program has recently partnered with UW Libraries to collect digital copies of senior Honors theses in the institutional repository, MINDS@UW. Please take a moment to review the recent submissions to the L&S Honors collection.
If you are unable to locate any theses in your specific field, we encourage you to connect with your major advisor(s) to learn more.
How will I receive the funds?
The Popkin Research Grant is processed as a scholarship. These funds are applied to the recipient’s tuition bill in the Fall semester. Students receiving scholarships may have financial aid package adjustments. If you have questions about your financial aid and/or the potential impact of receiving this scholarship, please contact L&S Honors Program Administrator Kendra Ramthun (honorsprogram@honors.ls.wisc.edu).
Further questions?
Please reach out to Associate Director of Admissions and Engagement, Pete Keys, at pkeys@wisc.edu.
Additional Resources
Attend an upcoming information session to learn more about the Popkin Research Grant and other Honors funding opportunities.