Research

Research
Fletcher Family Fund

Undergraduate Fellows

Please read the guidelines carefully. Proposals that do not conform to the guidelines cannot be funded.

Please check back soon for spring 2005 deadlines and further submission information.

How to apply for Koelln, Surdna, Langbein, James Stacy Coles, Martha Reed Coles, and Doherty:

Nominations for the following fellowships are to be made by a faculty or staff member. In framing the proposal, the faculty/staff member and the student collaborate in the formation of objectives and the relationship of the student to the project. The student should understand that the project will involve a substantial commitment of time each week. To promote the student/faculty/staff collaborative nature of the application, the Faculty Resources Committee requires that the student applicant supplement the Faculty/Staff nomination letter with his or her own written description of the proposed research.

A complete application to the Koelln, Surdna, Langbein, Coles, or Doherty Funds includes the following items:

A. Provided by the faculty/staff member:

1. A cover page or heading, including:

a. title of the project;
b. name and e-mail address of both the student and faculty/staff member;

c. (for Surdna and Coles applications only): period of research: summer or academic year.

2. A concise description of the project, its objectives, appropriateness to the expertise and interests of both student and faculty/staff member, and how the research will be carried out.

3. A description of the qualifications of the nominee.

4. A copy of the student's transcript. (Unofficial transcript copies are acceptable.)

5. An explicit description of the role of the faculty/staff member in the project (for Surdna, Coles, and Doherty applications only).

6. Any request to cover the cost of expenses for materials for the project (e.g., laboratory supplies, analytical costs, travel beyond the local area to do field work) that may merit additional funding ($500 maximum) as part of the award. Such requests are limited to covering expenses that would otherwise be imposed on the Department.

B. Provided by the student:

1. A heading, including:

a. title of the project;

b. name of student;

c. Smith Union (or other) and e-mail addresses.

2. A concise written description in the student's own words of the goals and study plan for the proposed research. How the student's academic background prepares him or her for the proposed project should also be explained. For the Langbein awards only, the candidate must describe the proposed research and its relation to her or his major field or life work.

3. Off-campus study status for the academic year 2003-04.

All completed applications should be submitted in eight copies to the Office of the Dean for Academic Affairs. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

KOELLN RESEARCH FUND

This fund was established in 1972 by John A. Gibbons, Jr., to honor Fritz C. A. Koelln, George Taylor Files Professor of Modern Languages Emeritus. A one-semester grant consisting of a stipend of $700 and an expense budget of up to $500 may be awarded annually to a faculty/student research team to support exploration of a topic that surmounts traditional disciplinary boundaries. The purpose of the fund is to encourage broad, essentially humanistic inquiry, and will be awarded with preference given to worthy projects founded at least in part in the humanities. Applications to the Koelln Research Fund must be made early in the Fall semester of the academic year the money is to be used. Each student awarded a Koelln grant will be invited to submit an expense budget request. Such a request must be detailed, specific, and of clear relevance to the proposed research project.

SURDNA FOUNDATION UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

An undergraduate research fellowship program originally established in 1959, this fund was renamed in 1968 the Surdna Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program in recognition of gifts from the Surdna Foundation. The income from the fund established by these gifts underwrites the program's costs. Fellowships are awarded annually to highly qualified seniors to be used during the summer preceding the senior year or during the senior academic year. Each Surdna Fellow participates in a research project under the direction of a faculty/staff member(s) who is independently interested in the area under study.

The purpose of the Surdna Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program is to engage the student directly in serious research. Each project to which a Surdna Fellow is assigned must therefore justify itself independently of the Program. The Surdna Fellow is expected to be a participant in the research, not a mere observer or helper. The nature of an appropriate project differs from discipline to discipline, but all should give the Fellow firsthand experience with productive scholarly work. Should the results of the research be published, the faculty/staff member in charge of the project is expected to acknowledge the contribution of the Surdna Fellow and of the Surdna Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.

Surdna Fellowships are announced early in the spring term, and Fellows are chosen each spring for the following summer or for both semesters of the next academic year. Awards are made on the basis of the candidate's academic record, particular interests and competence, the availability of an appropriate research project, and a faculty/staff member recommendation. Acceptance of a Surdna Fellowship does not preclude working for Honors and the financial need of a candidate does not enter into the awarding of fellowships. Surdna Fellows are, however, obligated to refrain from employment during the period of their appointment. The stipend is $3,000 for part-time research during the academic year or full-time research in eight weeks of the summer. In addition, a housing allowance of $200 to cover the cost of eight weeks of summer College housing will be provided. Requests of up to $500 to cover the cost of expenses for materials for the project (e.g. laboratory supplies, analytical costs, and travel beyond the local area to do field work) will be considered as part of the award. Such requests are limited to covering expenses that would otherwise be imposed on the College.

EDWARD E. LANGBEIN SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

This gift of the Bowdoin Parents Association is in memory of a former president and secretary of the Association. A Langbein Fellowship is awarded annually to an undergraduate or recent graduate to enable the recipient to participate in summer research or advanced study directly related to his or her major field or life work. This relationship must be described in the candidate's letter to the Faculty Resources Committee. The maximum award is $1,200.

DOHERTY COASTAL STUDIES RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

This fund was established in 1999 with a gift from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation Coastal Studies Research Fund. The Doherty Fund is restricted to support of student research in marine and coastal studies. Doherty Fellowships in marine and coastal studies are intended to support substantial participation in a scientific research project by a student under the direction of a faculty/staff member who is independently interested in the area under study. Research projects should give the student firsthand experience with productive scholarly scientific research. In making awards, consideration will be given to the candidate's academic record, particular interests and competence, the availability of an appropriate research project, and a faculty member's recommendation. Financial need is not taken into account in making awards; however, Doherty Fellows are obligated to refrain from employment during the period of appointment. Any publications resulting from this research should acknowledge the support of the Doherty Fellowship. The stipend is $3,000 for part-time research during the academic year or full-time research in eight weeks of the summer. In addition, a housing allowance of $200 to cover the cost of eight weeks of College housing during the summer will be provided. Requests of up to $500 to cover the cost of expenses for materials for the project (e.g., laboratory supplies, analytical costs, and travel beyond the local area to do field work) will be considered as part of the award. Such requests are limited to covering expenses that would otherwise be imposed on the College.

JAMES STACY COLES NATURAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS FELLOWSHIP

This fund was established in 1999 to honor James Stacy Coles, a noted scientist and former president of Bowdoin College. Like the Surdna fund, the Coles fund supports fellowships for students doing research under the guidance of a faculty/staff member. The Coles Fund is restricted to research in the natural sciences and mathematics. Coles Fellowships in the Sciences are intended to support substantial participation in a scientific research project by a student under the direction of a faculty member who is independently interested in the area under study. Research projects should give the student firsthand experience with productive scholarly scientific research. In making awards, consideration will be given to the candidate's academic record, particular interests and competence, the availability of an appropriate research project, and a faculty member's recommendation. Financial need is not taken into account in making awards; however, Coles Fellows are obligated to refrain from employment during the period of appointment. Any publications resulting from this research should acknowledge the support of the Coles Fellowship.

The stipend is $3,000 for part-time research during the academic year or full-time research in eight weeks of the summer. In addition, a housing allowance of $200 to cover the cost of eight weeks of College housing during the summer will be provided. Requests of up to $500 to cover the cost of expenses for materials for the project (e.g. laboratory supplies, analytical costs, and travel beyond the local area to do field work) will be considered as part of the award. Such requests are limited to covering expenses that would otherwise be imposed on the College.

The stipend for fellowships is $3,000 for full-time research over eight weeks of the summer or part-time research during the academic year. In addition, a housing allowance of $200 covers the cost of college housing for summer projects. Requests of up to $500 to cover expenses (e.g., laboratory supplies, analytical costs, and travel beyond the local area to do field work) will be considered as part of the award.

MARTHA REED COLES ARTS AND HUMANITIES FELLOWSHIPS

The Martha Reed Coles fund supports fellowships for students doing research under the guidance of a faculty/staff member. Coles Fellowships in the Arts and Humanities are intended to support substantial participation in an arts or humanities research project by a student under the direction of a faculty member who is independently interested in the area under study. While the nature of the project will differ from discipline to discipline, all should give the students firsthand experience with productive scholarly research.

The stipend is $3,000 for part-time research during the academic year or full-time research in eight weeks of the summer. In addition, a housing allowance to help defray the cost of housing during the summer will be provided. Requests of up to $500 to cover the cost of expenses for materials for the project (e.g. art supplies, analytical costs, and travel beyond the local area to do field work) will be considered as part of the award.