Faculty Deadline:  January 15

Through support from major grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and INBRE (IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence, an NIH program), the College makes funds available to Faculty and Bates students for the pursuit of research in the sciences.

Hughes grants support research in biological chemistry; biology; chemistry; environmental science; geology; mathematics; neuroscience; and physics and astronomy. Interdisciplinary projects connected to one of the sciences listed above may also be considered. Six to fourteen Hughes grants are awarded each year.

INBRE grants (2 per year) support research in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, and neuroscience with preference given to projects focused on functional genomics.

Note: To apply for a summer Student-Faculty Research Grant, the faculty members submits only one proposal. The Hughes Council, which reviews all proposals, determines the funding source. In all other ways, the grants are managed identically.

Two types of research opportunities are currently available through this program:

1) Faculty/Student Group Projects
For one science Faculty member and up to two students. The project budget, including student wages, student housing, travel, equipment and supplies, do not usually exceed $15,000 (for two students) or $10,000 (for one student). Faculty/Student Group Projects may take place for eight to ten weeks during the summer, or may extend from the summer into the next academic year; project budgets should reflect research schedules.

2) Individual Student Projects
For an original summer research project designed by a student and supervised by a Faculty member or an outside researcher. The grant includes student wages and housing ($3,500). Details on this program are available on the student research website (http://www.bates.edu/hughes-science-edu-fellowships.xml).

Note: Faculty members should consult grant announcements or contact the Office of the Dean of the Faculty regarding funding opportunities through the Hughes and INBRE grants.

Faculty:

Application Procedure for Student-Faculty Research Grants:

1) Proposals for Faculty-Student Research Grants must be submitted by the Faculty member (project director) to the Dean of the Faculty by January 15. Applications should not exceed three pages and must include an abstract and a detailed project budget. Please submit 8 copies of the entire proposal.

2) The Hughes Council, a committee of science and mathematics Faculty members, reviews applications and recommends awards, funding levels, and funding sources. In granting awards, preference is given to a) applicants who have not received previous Hughes/INBRE funding; b) untenured Faculty, or Faculty without other means of research support, independent of rank; c) projects designed as preliminary investigations for major grant proposals.

3) In early February, all first-year students, sophomores, and juniors, regardless of conditions of financial aid, are informed of opportunities to work on those Faculty research projects for which the Faculty member has not already selected a student collaborator. Interested students may apply for a position to the Dean of the Faculty by March 1. Upon receipt of an award, each student is required to meet with the Faculty project director to discuss the project, its goals and schedule, before accepting the grant.

Conditions:
1) Faculty members who receive external funds for the same project will usually be required to decline Hughes or INBRE awards. Likewise, students receiving support from other grants will be ineligible for Hughes or INBRE funding.

2) Hughes and INBRE Grants are intended to give students an opportunity to engage in long-term, intensive research. Students are expected to work eight to ten weeks full time during the summer (up to forty hours per week or the equivalent).

3) Because funds are limited and grants are competitive, the Hughes Council may reduce project funding, if such a reduction does not undermine the efficacy of the project.

4) Faculty receipients of the Hughes or INBRE grants are required to submit written reports within two weeks of the completion of the project to the Dean of the Faculty's Office.  See below for the requirements of reporting.  Any future future grants are contingent upon these reports.

Students:

Application Procedure for Student-Faculty Research Grants:

In early February opportunities to work on Faculty research projects for which the Faculty member has not already selected a student collaborator will be announced to all first-year students, sophomores, and juniors, regardless of conditions of financial aid. Interested students may apply for a position tot he Dean of the Faculty by March 3. Upon receipt of an award, each student is required to meet with the Faculty project director to discuss the project, its goals and schedule, before accepting the grant.

Important Information for students:

• All summer funding is contingent upon a student maintaining a GPA of at least 2.5.
• Students can not use research grant funding to participate in a credit-earning summer academic program or receive academic credit for summer research.
• This research involves a full-time (up to 40 hours per week) commitment for eight to ten weeks; therefore students cannot earn additional funds at the College during the weeks they do this research.
• Hughes/INBRE Student Research Grant recipients are expected to submit a brief progress report on their work within two weeks of the completion of the project to the Dean of the Faculty's Office (see reporting requirements below) and to present their research during the Parents Weekend Poster Session unless they are studying off campus in the fall. Future grants are contingent upon these requirements.

More information on the student application process for group and individual student projects is available in the Office of the Dean of the Faculty.

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RESEARCHER REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Hughes/INBRE Student-Faculty Research Grants
Summer Research Apprenticeships

In order to assess the value of our summer research programs, make improvements to them and secure further funding to support them, it is critical that the Dean of the Faculty's Office secure specific feedback on each summer research project from each participant. We excerpt the reports for our own reporting to HHMI and INBRE.

What Do We Need from You?  For student-faculty research projects funded through the Dean of the Faculty's Office, we need a report from both the student researcher(s) and the faculty researcher. In addition, we need an abstract of the work completed.

When Do We Need the Information?  We need all abstracts and reports submitted within 2 weeks of the completion of the project (i.e., the last day of the student's payroll contract). We recommend that you spend time during the last week of the project to compile the report. We require timely submission of the reports because of our own reporting requirements to our funding agencies.

Abstract. The student or students in the research team should prepare a 100- to 150-word abstract summarizing the research question, the methodology, and the results of the research. The abstract must be reviewed by the faculty research director and approved before submission to the Dean of the Faculty. The faculty should add a statement to the end of the abstract stating his or her approval. Do not use the abstract originally submitted by the faculty researcher in his or her proposal; report on what you actually did.

Student Report. Each student on the project should submit a separate report of 500 words or less addressing the following questions:

 1) What were the significant findings of the research?
 
 2) Did you actually conduct original research? Do you now know more about your research topic that you knew before?

 3) Did your understanding of the material under investigation change as a result of this research experience?

 4)  How did your summer research experience compare to your previous academic experience in the discipline under study?

 5) Are you continuing the research following the summer experience (e.g., thesis, independent study, paid assistantship, following summer)?

Faculty Report. The faculty research director should submit one report assessing the work of the student or students on the project, addressing these questions:

 1) Was progress made on your research?

 2) Please assess the contribution of each student to the project.

 3) Do you anticipate that you and/or the student(s) will present the research at a scholarly meeting or publish the work?

Submission of Approved Abstract and Reports. Please submit the abstract and all reports ELECTRONICALLY by sending Word attachments or pdf files to Denise Begin (dbegin@bates.edu) in the Dean of the Faculty's Office. Any future grants are contingent upon these reports.