Math & Science Research
To get an idea of the scope, in the 2022-23 academic year, approximately 70 students conducted research, collaborating with faculty on projects in archaeology, biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental studies, geosciences, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, and psychology. Many of these projects resulted in student presentations at professional meetings and papers co-authored by students.
Any Hamilton student with a serious interest in science research who can meet the following requirements is encouraged to explore the Summer Science Research Fellowship (SSRF).
Students are required to:
- Self-select their discipline of research;
- Complete at least one credit-bearing course before the date the SSRF is scheduled to begin;
- Be enrolled as a full-time student during the Spring term before the SSRF begins and be expected to return as a full-time student during the Fall term upon completion of an SSRF;
- Participate in authoring and presenting a poster at the Science Research Poster Session.
PLEASE NOTE: Competition becomes more intense each year, and no student can be assured that they will be awarded a fellowship. We encourage all students to back up their applications by applying for off-campus research positions and by pursuing other summer employment opportunities.
Faculty Sponsorship
The first step of the application process is to attend a departmental or program information session and/or contact the Summer Research Coordinator (contact information is listed below). Students will go through the application process to seek the support of a faculty sponsor to identify and commit to a single research project. Although atypical, in some cases, students may be permitted to work with more than one sponsor.
Applications
Once a member of the faculty has agreed to serve as a student’s sponsor, the student will be asked to complete a departmental or program application (available links provided below). The applications are due Friday, February 9, 2024, or as indicated. Accepted and alternate candidates will then complete a second application (registration) for the Dean of Faculty’s office. This application requires each candidate to specify their faculty sponsor and is due this year no later than Friday, March 8, 2024. Grant decisions will be announced later in March.
About the Program
Research appointments of eight- to 10 weeks are typical, but applications for both longer and shorter projects will be considered. Research usually begins in late May or early June, but the time frame is flexible and will be determined by the goals of the project and the research sponsor’s schedule.
Students accepting an SSRF agree to abide by the Hamilton College Standards of Conduct as outlined in the Student Handbook. Students should understand that research will be the primary focus of their summer work for the duration of their project. As previously noted, students receiving an SSRF are required to write an abstract at the end of the project and present a poster at the annual Science Research Poster Session during the fall semester.
Funding
Substantial funding for the SSRF is provided by Hamilton College. Additional support for student research comes from grants received by individual faculty members from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Petroleum Research Fund of the American Chemical Society, and the Research Corporation. Generous funding also comes from:
- The Ralph E. Hansmann Science Student Support Fund
- The Edward and Virginia Taylor Fund for Student/Faculty Research in Chemistry
- The Sergei S. Zlinkoff Student Medical Research Fund
- The Bonnie A. Urciuoli Student Research Fund in Anthropology
Housing
On-campus housing is available at the College at a reasonable cost to students who are employed on campus. Additional information concerning summer housing is available online on the Summer Housing Guide page or from the Office of Community Living. Students can expect to receive an all-campus email in the spring that will outline updated summer housing details.
Contact Information
If you have questions, please contact the coordinator for the department or program in which you are interested in working :
- Archaeology: Hannah Lau (hxlau@hamilton.edu)
- Biology: Rhea Datta (rdatta@hamilton.edu)
- Chemistry: Karen Brewer (kbrewer@hamilton.edu)
- Computer Science: Mark Bailey (mbailey@hamilton.edu)
- Environmental Studies: Aaron Strong (astrong@hamilton.edu)
- Geosciences: Catherine (Cat) Beck (ccbeck@hamilton.edu)
- Mathematics: Jose Ceniceros (jcenicer@hamilton.edu)
- Physics: Gordon Jones (gjones@hamilton.edu)
- Psychology/Neuroscience: Jennifer (Jen) Borton (jborton@hamilton.edu)
