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 Faculty 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:   

 DRI Review Guidelines   

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.

ELIGIBILITY: Students on personal leave or those ineligible to return in the fall semester are not eligible to participate in Davidson research programs unless expressly permitted by the Dean of Students Office.