Schupf Scholar Program
Summer 2018
CLOSING DATE: Friday, December 15, 2017
The Schupf Scholar Program will provide funding for Skidmore students to undertake
science research, in collaboration with a faculty member, during the summer following
the students’ first or second year on campus and through the following academic year.
All freshman and sophomore students will be eligible to apply to the program, but
selection will be competitive, with applications evaluated by the Faculty Development
Committee. Applications will be judged on the potential of the student to undertake
a successful collaborative research project, his/her success in finding a faculty
partner, and the scientific merit of the project itself.
Preference will be given to students pursuing projects in STEM disciplines and engaged
in laboratory or field based research activities. The Schupf Scholars Program will
give special attention to female students whose interests and/or research are in the
sciences with low female representation (e.g. chemistry, mathematics, computer science,
geosciences, or physics), or students who are doing interdisciplinary science research
involving the physical sciences, and mathematics or computer science.
In addition, Schupf Scholars will have the opportunity to access additional funds
that could serve a number of purposes, including materials, travel to conferences,
and supplies. Schupf Scholars are expected to present their work externally, such
as a publication and/or a conference presentation. Finally, Schupf Scholars will receive
encouragement and assistance to continue their collaborative research work with faculty
members into their junior and senior years and to consider graduate and professional
school in the natural sciences.
Projects:
- May advance the research agenda of the faculty member
- May be student-initiated
- May be collaborative but could also include other kinds of mentoring experiences
The project period will include participation in the ten-week Faculty Student Summer
Research Program as well as continuing research throughout the following year. The
project should be defined in such a way as to permit completion of a substantial portion
of the project by the end of the ten-week period. Participants in this summer research
program are expected to work from campus for the duration of the program. However,
if remote off-site work is required, a project may involve time spent at another location
(e.g., as part of field work for data collection purposes). In this case, the proposal
must include a rationale for this special request.
Each team will give an oral report on the planned project, explaining goals and methods,
early in the period; participate in a discussion about the Faculty Student Summer Research
Program in early July; and submit a final report, demonstration, poster, exhibition,
or other appropriate activity on progress and achievements at the close of the summer
session. If the project involves time spent at another site(s), participants are required
to attend the opening and closing summer sessions. A final written report is due from
both the student and faculty member no later than May 15 in the year following the
summer program.
AWARDS
- Each faculty participant will be given a stipend of $3,000.
- Each student participant will be paid $3,000 and receive free room and board on Skidmore's campus for the duration of the ten-week summer portion of the program. Because the program emphasizes the sharing of ideas and experiences, students are strongly urged to live on campus. In exceptional circumstances, students may be granted permission by the FDC and/or the Associate Dean of the Faculty for Personnel, Development, and Diversity to live off campus (in such cases the students will have to provide for their own housing). Whether living on or off campus, students are expected to participate in all Faculty/Student Research group activities.
- Schupf Scholars will have access to a Research/Travel budget of $2,500. This budget may cover research supplies for the summer program and for the following academic year. It is expected that Schupf Scholars will present their work externally via publication and/or conference presentation. This budget may also be used by the student, up to the time of his/her graduation from Skidmore, for travel to conferences relevant to his/her work.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The Schupf Scholar Program is competitive. Faculty/Student teams wishing to participate
in the Schupf Scholar Program should submit an application to the Office of the DOF/VPAA
by December 15, 2017. The FDC will communicate its selection of funded proposals to
all applicants prior to spring break. The application should consist of the following
clearly marked components:
- the names of the student and faculty team members. Indicate if either has participated in the Faculty Student Summer Research Program before, and if so, when;
- the title of the project;
- a brief description or abstract of the project (125 words maximum) written in a fashion comprehensible to non-specialists;
- a statement written by the faculty member providing a description of the working relationship with the student and how the experience benefits the student's educational, professional, and/or creative goals;
- a statement written by the student providing a description of the working relationship with the faculty member and how the experience benefits his/her educational, professional, and/or creative goals;
- a statement of the goals, proposed activities, and format of the final outcome (e.g., journal article, exhibit, website, conference presentation, etc.);
- an itemized budget listing the costs of equipment and supplies needed to complete the project. The Schupf Scholar may apply for travel funds in the initial application and/or at a later date; applications for travel funds submitted after the initial summer period shall be submitted to the Associate Dean of Faculty and should include a detailed rationale for the travel and an itemized list of requested funds;
- a complete description of the project in language accessible to the non-specialist (1,500 words maximum); where appropriate, details about the duration of time spent at other sites and a rationale for this aspect of the project should also be included;
- signatures of both the faculty and student applicants.
FORM (Word Format): SCHUPF SCHOLAR PROGRAM - APPLICATION COVER PAGE
The Cover Page must be attached to materials submitted by both the student and the
faculty member.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
- These are highly competitive awards. Each proposal will be judged on the potential for the student to undertake a collaborative research project, the scientific merit of the project, its feasibility, the clarity of presentation, and the nature of student learning.
- Projects will also be judged on the potential and nature of the continued research which is to take place in the academic year after the summer program.
- Preference will be given to students pursuing projects in STEM disciplines and engaged in laboratory or field-based research activities. The Schupf Scholars Program will give special attention to female students whose interests and/or research are in the sciences with low female representation (e.g., chemistry, mathematics/computer science, geosciences, or physics) or students who are doing interdisciplinary science research involving the physical sciences and mathematics/computer science.
- Because of the expectation of continued research in the academic year following the summer program, only proposals from faculty who will return to the College for the following academic year will be considered.
- This program is available to only those teams that apply to the FDC.
- Projects will be selected by the Associate Dean of the Faculty following recommendation by the FDC.
CONDITIONS
- Other summer commitments that either the student or the faculty member may have must not interfere with the demands of this program. Please note that during the grant period students may not enroll in summer school since they are expected to commit to the project a minimum of 35 – 40 hours per week. The collaborative work schedule shall be the priority over all other commitments and will be determined in consultation with the faculty mentor. Students may not stay on campus beyond the ten-week period for which they have been funded. Faculty members are discouraged from teaching in summer school or participating in any other grant program during the grant period.
- Teams are expected to be present for the three group sessions unless prior arrangements have been made with the Program Coordinator for the Faculty Student Summer Research Program when the awards are accepted.
- Teams may be asked to participate in programs where they can present reports of their work from the summer to the larger Skidmore community during the succeeding academic year.
- All financial documentation and itemized receipts for the summer portion of the program need to be submitted to the Office of DOF/VPAA by the end of the summer program. All additional program expenses need to be submitted to the Office of the DOF/VPAA by May 15. A Final Report must be submitted to the Office of the DOF/VPAA by May 15 of the year following the summer research period. Each faculty member and student must submit one report for each award. Failure to file a final report may result in advances being treated as taxable income and will disqualify participants from future grant opportunities.
The Final Report, submitted online, will consist of the following:
- An itemized expense form and receipts for expenditures that supported the work of the project.
- A brief written summary.
- A description of the future educational and professional plans of the student participants, including plans for additional research in their junior and senior years.
- All materials and/or equipment purchased with the aid of grant funding become the property of Skidmore College when the funded project is completed.