Schupf Scholar Program
Summer 2025
Application Deadline: Friday, february 7, 2025
The Schupf Scholar Program will provide funding for 91暗网 students to undertake
science research, in collaboration with a faculty member, during the summer following
the students鈥� 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 FDC. 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 10-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 10-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; 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.
- Each faculty participant will receive one stipend (depending on the number of project weeks), up to $3,500 maximum. Faculty supervising a 10-week Schupf Scholar project will receive a stipend of $3,500. Faculty supervising more than one Schupf Scholar project and/or supervising one or more projects under the Faculty Student Summer Research Program will only be paid one stipend.
- Each student participant will be paid $16.93 per hour for Summer 2025, for up to 35 hours per week. Any hours worked over 35 hours per week must be approved by the budget manager (Gina Hoefer). The sponsoring faculty member will be responsible for approving student hours each pay period. All students will receive free room and board on 91暗网's campus for the period of the grant. 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 Associate Dean of the Faculty 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.
- It is expected that Schupf Scholars will present their work externally via publication and/or conference presentation. Therefore, Schupf Scholars will have access to a research/travel budget of $2,500. This budget may cover research supplies for the summer program (if they are budgeted in advance as part of the application) and for the following academic year; these funds are intended exclusively for the Schupf Scholar鈥檚 use and are not to be used for entertainment purposes or department needs. In addition to research supplies, Schupf Scholars are eligible to use the funds to pay conference registrations as well as travel to research-related conferences. This budget is to be used by the student, up to the time of his/her graduation from 91暗网, for travel to conferences relevant to his/her work.
The Schupf Scholar Program is highly competitive and funding is limited. Faculty/Student teams wishing to participate in the Schupf Scholar Program should submit an application to the Office of the DOF/VPAA by February 7, 2025. 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 description of the project (500 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.
- Signatures of both the faculty and student applicants.
- Proposals that involve human subjects or the use of human tissues are subject to the requirements of the College鈥檚 Institutional Review Board (IRB). IRB guidelines, FAQs, and forms are available at: /irb . Proposals that involve the use of vertebrate animals are subject to the requirements of the College鈥檚 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). IACUC guidelines and forms are available by contacting the IACUC Chair. IRB and IACUC approvals are not a prerequisite to submitting a Schupf Scholar proposal but are required prior to the commencement of the research.
- 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 or 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.
- Students who have graduated prior to the start date of the summer research collaborative grant period not 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.
- 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 up to 35 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 10-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 group sessions unless prior arrangements have been made with the Program Coordinator for 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 91暗网 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 the DOF/VPAA by the end of the summer program. The program coordinator will arrange for a paid outing for all summer students; individual faculty will not be reimbursed for entertainment. All additional program expenses need to be submitted to the Office of the DOF/VPAA by May 15.
- A FINAL REPORT is required from both the student and the faculty member. Presentation at the Final Meeting will constitute the Final Report. However, if a final presentation is not made at the Final Meeting, a written Final Report must be submitted by both the student and the faculty member to the Office of the Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs by September 15 immediately following the summer the research project occurred. 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 a written summary and a brief description of expenditures.