Applying for Carleton Summer Research Funding in Science & Math Fields
Carleton now has four programs to which Carleton students and faculty can apply for funding to pay for student stipends for winter break and summer research. In most cases, programs support faculty-student research with Carleton faculty, but in some cases funding can be used to work with scientific investigators elsewhere. These programs provide the equivalent of ~35 full-time summer research positions for Carleton students. Typically, 50-60 students are on campus each summer doing research with Carleton faculty in science and math fields.
The four programs are:
- HHMI Science Fellows for summer research at Carleton or elsewhere (4 per summer per cohort). Students apply; deadline January 15, 2011.
- Clare Boothe Luce Research Scholar awards for women interested in doing research with Carleton faculty in physics, astronomy, computer science and related cross-disciplinary fields (8 per summer). Students apply; deadline February 1, 2011.
- Regular HHMI awards for summer research at Carleton (10-11 per summer). Faculty apply; deadline Feb. 7, 2011.
- Kolenkow-Reitz awards for winter break or summer research at Carleton, or elsewhere (~9 per summer, ~14 per winter break). Students apply; deadline March 1, 2011.
For each of these programs, we provide information below for summer 2010. The Carleton College student stipend for summer 2010 research is $4,200 for 10 weeks of full-time work (an all-college rate that is provisional at the moment but will be finalized at the Trustee's meeting in mid-Feb. 2010).
Program faculty coordinators stay in close touch during February and March as awards are made to maximize the benefits to students and faculty, within award constraints and criteria.
If you have more questions, please talk to the program contact(s) for details.
We will continue to improve this informational page as we learn more what faculty and students need to effectively navigate issues related to these awards. If you have a suggestion for improvement, please contact Mary Drew (mdrew@carleton.edu).
HHMI Science Fellows
Contact: Debby Walser-Kuntz, Science Fellows Mentor (Biology)
Application Deadline: Jan. 15, 2011
Who Applies? Carleton students. Carleton faculty must express interest in mentoring a Science Fellow to Debby Walser-Kuntz. Prof. Walser-Kuntz will select the cohort and match student Fellows to faculty mentors. Several students may be placed in research groups away from Carleton (University of Minnesota, for example). This is a research "cohort of excellence" for students, with cohort mentoring and activities included.
Student eligibility: Must be a first- or second-year Carleton student with a strong excitement and interest in graduate study in fields of biology, chemistry, computer science, geology, physics, or psychology. Must have completed at least one introductory science course with lab. Students from the following groups are especially encouraged to apply.
- from groups underrepresented in science and math fields
- from low-income backgrounds
- from under-resourced high schools
- first-generation to attend college
Approx. number of positions: 4-6 per summer for full-time (10 weeks), plus cohorts of 4-6 from past summers who are continuing on.
What does the award fund? Per student, a summer stipend and funds for conference travel and research supplies. Each summer, HHMI funds a cohort of 4 new Science Fellows, plus student Fellows in previous cohorts. Each Science Fellow is assured of two to three summers of research support. Students can use the funding to work with Carleton faculty, or with scientific investigators elsewhere.
Who provides funding? Carleton's Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Grant (for summers 2009-2012). In addition, support is also provided through the North Star STEM Alliance, through Minnesota's National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) award. Funding is available for summers of 2009-2012.
Clare Boothe Luce Research Scholars
For more program information and online student applications:
Contacts: Cindy Blaha, Melissa Eblen-Zayas (Physics/Astronomy) and Amy Csizmar Dalal (Computer Science)
Application Deadline: Feb 1, 2011
Who Applies? Carleton women students who wish to do summer research with Carleton faculty in the areas of physics, astronomy, and computer science as well as cross-disciplinary research projects in computational physics, geophysics, biophysics, computational chemistry, and physical chemistry.
Student eligibility criteria: Female students who are US citizens interested in physics, astronomy, computer science, or related cross-disciplinary fields (see above).
Approx. number of positions: 8 per summer for full-time (10 weeks)
What does the award fund? Per student - a summer stipend ($420/week, 10 weeks) plus funds for research expenses and conference travel.
Who provides funding? A grant to Carleton by the Henry Luce Foundation in the Clare Boothe Luce Program. Funding for summers of 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Regular HHMI Summer Award
Online application for Carleton faculty applicants
Contacts: Joe Chihade (Chemistry)
Application Deadline: Feb. 7, 2011
Who Applies? Carleton faculty in science and math departments and programs (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Math, Psychology, Physics/Astronomy, Cognitive Science, and ENTS). Faculty receive the award and hire students of their choice.
Student eligibility criteria: All students with a demonstrated interest in science and math are eligible - but they must be enrolled at Carleton for the year after the summer they apply to do research. Carleton graduates are not eligible for this award.
Approx. number of positions: 10-11 per summer (for full-time at 10 weeks, or part-time at 5-6 weeks)
What does the award fund? Per student, a summer stipend plus funds for student conference travel and research supplies.
Who provides funding? Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Grant to Carleton (for summers 2009-2012)
Kolenkow-Reitz Endowment
For more information and an online student application, click here.
Contact: Joe Chihade (Chemistry)
Application Deadline: March 1, 2011
Who Applies? Carleton students who wish to do research at Carleton or elsewhere. Student fill in an online application.
Student eligibility criteria: Any Carleton student who wishes to do research at Carleton or elsewhere. Student proposes a research mentor, institution, project, and budget. Awards are intended to expose students to research early in their college careers. GPA is one criterion, along with preference given to research done at institutions other than Carleton.
Approx. number of positions: ~ 9 per summer for full-time (10 weeks); ~ 14 per winter break
What does the award fund? Per student, summer or winter stipend ($420/week), and expenses for travel, lodging, and/or meals. Winter break 2010 awards did not exceed $1000, and summer 2010 awards will likely not exceed $4300.
Who provides funding? A Carleton endowment given by David Ignat ('63) and named in honor of his Physics Professors Robert Reitz and Robert Kolenkow. Currently the endowment provides just over $50,000 yearly for these awards. Typically, about 75% of these funds are spent on summer awards, and the rest on winter break awards. Funding is long-term due to the nature of college endowment support.