Summer Research Awards in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

The University of Puget Sound, with the support of the Richard Bangs Collier Institute of Ethics and Science and an anonymous donor, has established summer research programs for undergraduates in the social sciences, arts, and humanities. These programs offer students the opportunity to engage in independent research projects during the summer. Stipends of $3,000 and $3,500 will be awarded on a competitive basis to students who demonstrate research interest and ability. Students who receive awards agree:

  1. to devote full time to the project for at least ten weeks during summer 2007. Students who cannot devote ten weeks of full time work to their research should not apply;
  2. not to enroll in summer classes, and not to hold any other employment while engaged in research;
  3. to submit a written report of the research to the faculty research supervisor and to Associate Dean Sarah Moore no later than August 29, 2008; and,
  4. to give a presentation to the university or broader community, either during the summer orearly in the Fall 2008 semester.

Summer research awards are not open to students who will have graduated before their research is completed. Summer research award recipients are expected to be enrolled the following fall semester.

University Summer Scholars

For 2008, most summer research award recipients will be University Summer Scholars and will receive stipends of $3,000. Research may be proposed on any topic of interest. Recipients must be enrolled at UPS during Fall 2008.

Richard Bangs Collier Scholars

Two students (who will have completed their sophomore year by the end of Spring 2008 and who will be enrolled Fall 2008) will be named Richard Bangs Collier Scholars. These students will receive stipends of $3,500. Applicants for this award submit a proposal describing an interdisciplinary project that applies the concerns of a humanistic or social science discipline to scientific material, or that makes use of a science to explore a topic in the humanities or social sciences. The science involved in the project may be any of the natural or human sciences (including biology, chemistry, geology, natural sciences, physics, computer science, mathematics, economics, exercise science, and psychology). The project must involve both a humanistic or social science and a natural or human science sufficiently distinct from one another to encourage meaningful interdisciplinary perspectives.

Special Considerations

Each University Summer Scholar will receive a $2,500 stipend at the beginning of the summer, followed by a $500 payment after the final report is submitted and the presentation or display of the project in the Tacoma community is concluded. (Richard Bangs Collier Scholars receive a $3,000 stipend at the beginning of the summer, followed by a $500 payment after the final report is submitted and the presentation or display of the project in the Tacoma community is concluded.)

Note: Although the summer research project frequently becomes the student's senior thesis project, the required public presentation is not the same as the presentation that may be required by the department in connection with a senior thesis. Accordingly, if the public presentation required under the grant is not completed by November 21, 2008 the final $500 payment will be returned to the pool of funds to be awarded to another student the following summer.

The COMPLETE APPLICATION for the 2008 Summer Research Awards will contain the following:

  1. 1. Cover Page.
    Download this document. -- 48KB, Word format --
  2. 2. Summary of the project (one paragraph) in language appropriate for readers who are not specialists.
  3. 3. Description (no more than three pages) of the work to be done. Remember that the proposal may be reviewed by persons outside the field of study, so it is important to provide sufficient background to enable a non-specialist to understand the nature, significance, and methods of the proposed research.
    The Description must include:
    1. a plan outlining the question to be investigated and the student's approach to the problem in the context of existing approaches in the field. (If applying for the Richard Bangs Collier Award include also a statement about the interdisciplinary nature of the project).
    2. a statement of the project's goals and explanation of why this research is important.
    3. a description of the educational training, coursework, or other relevant experiences that have prepared the student for this project.
    4. a bibliography or list of data or materials to be consulted.
    5. a description of the audience, location, and approximate date of the proposed public presentation.
    Limited supporting materials such as illustrations and appendices may be attached. The strongest proposals usually show evidence that the applicant has already done preliminary work on the project. Visual or performance arts proposals may include a CD or DVD containing representative examples of your work.
  4. Letter from a University of Puget Sound faculty member with appropriate expertise who will serve as supervisor of the project. The letter should speak to the merits of the proposal as well as to the qualifications of the student applicant.
  5. UPS transcript (may be official or unofficial) and transcripts of other university work, if relevant. A Cascade printout of grades will not suffice as a transcript. Please obtain a transcript from the Registrar's office.

NOTE: Students who apply for a Summer Science Research Award are ineligible to apply for a Summer Research Award in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Submit the original and seven copies of the complete application to Sarah Moore, Associate Dean, Jones 212, no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 28, 2008. Awards will be announced by April 25, 2008 via letters sent through campus mail.

Revised 07/07

 
20% of Puget Sound students join one of 8 sororities and fraternities.