The Davidson Research Initiative (DRI) offers a wide range of opportunities for close collaborative research and in-depth study between students and faculty during the summer.
Rising sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply for DRI Summer Research Fellowships in any discipline. When applying for a DRI a student must specify whether the project they plan to pursue is an independent project designed solely by the student for training purposes, or a project that is intended to further an existing vein of a faculty members research. In the case of the latter, the student must be able to articulate (in the proposal) the unique contribution they will be making to help advance the faculty mentor’s work.
Collaborative research project proposals, involving two to four students, will be accepted. However, collaborative project proposals must be written and submitted by each student individually. Applications will be reviewed and rated as one project.
Under current policies, DRI Summer Research Fellows can propose to work up to 10 weeks on campus with a faculty mentor, five weeks on-campus with a faculty mentor and five weeks off-campus with a faculty mentor as long as the student and faculty mentor maintain regular contact, OR the student could work up to 10 weeks off campus provided the faculty mentor is travelling with the student. Students will receive $15 per hour, in addition to a $1000 stipend for travel/supplies related to their project. Please note that the stipend is reimbursable.
The following designated fellowships will be available through the DRI thanks to the generosity of Davidson donors, The Cannon Foundation, Ellen and Ernie Stevens, The Clark Ross Academic Innovation Fund and Larry Mimms '76:
- Mimms Summer Research Fellowships, designated for students exploring research in biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, genomics or bioinformatics.
- Ross Summer Research Fellowship designated for students who have an interest in the social sciences or humanities disciplines.
- Stevens Summer Research Fellowship designated for students who are interested in studying the attributes of chemistry.
- Cannon Foundation Fellowship designated for any student interested in pursuing independent research.
Please note that in the application, you will enter your faculty mentor's email address and they will receive an email link to complete an advising/mentoring plan. We recommend that you send your proposal and a copy of this advising/mentoring form to your faculty mentor before you complete the application. They will complete an online version of the form, but it will be helpful for them to see the questions in advance.
To see the rubric on which your application will be graded, click here.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Federal tax must be paid at the time of disbursement of grant funds. We advise you to reach out to Susan Caldwell (sucaldwell@davidson.edu) to determine your federal/state tax status so that you may account for this in your budget.
This funding supports visits from distinguished scholars, visiting faculty, writers, performing artists and professors of practice. The primary purpose of such visits will be to engage Davidson College students in innovative, stimulating, and meaningful ways. Preferences will be given to visits that enhance new areas of inquiry or promote new cross-disciplinary initiatives.
The Group Investigations Program provides funding for off-campus trips that support the learning objectives of a course or that provide a learning opportunity that enhances the undergraduate experience. Applications for a spring semester course/program (including summer trips) are due by October 1st in the prior semester (October 15th - 2023 only); applications for a fall semester course/program (including winter break) are due by February 1st of the prior semester. Funding is limited to $15,000 per grant. Higher budgets may be approved for international GIs.
Faculty members planning international programs, even optional excursions, must work with the Office of Education Abroad to ensure that all Davidson-sponsored travel follows consistent policies for program development, student selection and preparation, and sound risk management for travel plans. Faculty members are required to schedule a meeting with Naomi Otterness, the Director of Education Abroad, to discuss their proposed student group travel plans at least two weeks before completing the Group Investigations application. For further information about general practices and expectations for taking students abroad, please also review the Davidson Academic Excursions Leader Agreement, as well as the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad.
All programs must operate in accordance with the College's expectations for responsible budgetary practices. Leaders receiving grants for group travel will sign an agreement collected by the Office of Sponsored Programs on behalf of the VPAA before funds will be distributed. Group leaders are also required to have a post-award meeting with Julia Lisuzzo, Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs and Post-Award Manager, to go over accessing the funds while traveling and creating expense reports in Oracle upon return.
Funds may be provided to assist with the publication of manuscripts that have received final acceptance for publication by a scholarly press or public dissemination of artistic work. A copy of the letter of agreement and any invoices must be submitted with the application. Fundable expenses include: cost of reprints of articles published in scholarly journals; per page journal fees (not covered by publisher or royalties); indexing; preparation of photos, line drawings, or other artistic assistance; expenses related to exhibitions in which their work will be shown. A funding ceiling for these grants will be established on an annual basis by the VPAA.
Note:
1. Tenured and tenure-track faculty, professors of the practice and lectures, are eligible to apply.
2. These grants are independent of FS&R applications.
3. Decisions are made on a rolling basis.
4. Submit letter of agreement and receipts to Scott Claunch.
Application Deadline: Rolling.
The George L. Abernethy Endowment supports independent student research and other experiential learning opportunities in the humanities, arts, or social sciences. Research can occur in the United States and/or abroad and during the academic year and/or the summer. Grant awards average about $2,000.
Applications for winter break research and experiential learning can be submitted until October 13, 2023 at midnight EST. Applications for summer research and experiential learning can be submitted up to January 19, 2024 at midnight EST.
In the application, you will enter your faculty mentor's email address and they will receive an email link to complete an advising/mentoring plan. We recommend that you send your proposal and a copy of this advising/mentoring form to your faculty mentor before you complete the application. They will complete an online version of the form, but it will be helpful for them to see the questions in advance.
To review the rubric that will be used to grade your proposal, click here.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Federal tax maybe required at the time of disbursement of grant funds, there may also be state tax implications. Taxes are your responsibility. We advise you to reach out to Susan Caldwell (sucaldwell@davidson.edu) to determine your federal/state tax status so that you may account for this in your budget.
You are submitting a budget proposal for a Faculty Study and Research Chairs Grant. The application deadline is December 15, 2023. Please note that requests are limited to $5,000. Also:
- Project periods can start as early as January 1, 2024, with a completion date on or before September 30, 2024.
- Final budget reconciliations for projects are due no later than October 15, 2024.
- Once awarded, Chairs are required to attend a post-award meeting with Julia Lisuzzo, Assistant Director/Post-Award Manager, to go over accessing the funds, creating expense reports in Oracle, and P-Card use.