Herchel Smith Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

The Fellowship Experience

The fellowships support projects of ten-weeks duration in computer science, mathematics, the natural sciences, and the physical and engineering sciences at established research centers or laboratories, domestic and international. The goal of this experience is to provide an opportunity for recipients to explore their scientific interests, and ultimately to prepare to compete for postgraduate fellowships or to apply for graduate study in these fields.

Qualifications

All Harvard undergraduates in good academic and disciplinary standing, who will return to the College after completing their proposed research projects, are technically eligible. However, the target audience primarily is freshmen and sophomores for whom exposure to research and exploration of scientific environments would be a formative experience early in their academic careers.

The fellowship does not support thesis research, or basic or practical clinical training. Candidates must have superior academic records and/or demonstrate sufficient preparation for their proposed research projects. Proposed projects should prepare students for eventual graduate study; initial explorations are encouraged, as are continued pursuits.

There is no preference for the kind of research project, the focus of the research, or the research environment, as long as the project falls within program guidelines. However, applicants must arrange for their own laboratory placement. Ideally, candidates will incorporate some form of Harvard faculty participation in the preparation of their proposed projects. Selection committees will look favorably on projects that otherwise might not be feasible and that will be formative in recipients' academic careers.

HOW TO APPLY TO THE HERCHEL SMITH HARVARD SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP: The application deadline for 2008 has now passed. Please check back in late fall for 2009 application information. 1. REGISTER with CARAT ~ Common Application for Research and Travel. NOTE: This registration is for the purpose of data collection only and does not constitute an application. Please print a copy of your CARAT registration to include with your application. 2. DOWNLOAD the required Herchel Smith Application Form. 3. SUBMIT in person to OCS:   o Herchel Smith Application Form   o CARAT Registration   o CARAT Budget Proposal   o List of Activities or Resume   o Proposal   o Official Transcript   o Two Letters of Recommendation   o Letter of Invitation from Host or Research Organization

A successful proposal generally will include the following:

• Outstanding academic achievement, demonstrated in undergraduate course work completed at the time of application
• A compelling, well-designed research project that includes sound justification for the chosen research site, and a general plan of action (methodology) for the ten-week program
• Strong letters of recommendation from individuals who will be able to illustrate your suitability for the project

The 2007 Herchel Smith Awardees
The 2006 Herchel Smith Awardees
The 2005 Herchel Smith Awardees
The 2004 Herchel Smith Awardees

The Award

Individual awards will be determined according to recipients' budget requests for their projects, in support of a ten-week research experience. The budgets may include funds for living expenses, travel, and research costs excluding equipment purchases (such as computers). In addition, summer savings requirements for students on financial aid may be included in the budget proposal.

Additional Resources

The following programs are normally part of the OCS Fellowships Office’s grantsmanship series and deliver key information for any student pursuing the Herchel Smith or any other type of funding. Please consider attending the following:

• Proposal Writing Workshop
• Budget Preparation Workshop
• Evaluating Applications: Conversation with Selection Committee Members
  

If you have questions about applying for Herchel Smith funding, finding a faculty member or some other aspect of your application, you may make an appointment at OCS by calling the front desk at (617) 495-2595.  In addition, OCS normally holds Herchel Smith Roundtable Q&A sessions following winter break, which all applicants are encouraged to attend.

Faculty members:
If you are looking for a faculty member to work with this summer, this link available on the PRISE website should be helpful.  Use it to peruse department websites and those of individual faculty members.
http://www.priselink.harvard.edu/faculty_profiles.html

Some helpful information about developing a research topic and finding a faculty member is available on the Life Sciences website.  This information may be helpful to you even if you are conducting research in another discipline.
http://www.lifesciences.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k5526&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup12719

PRISE:
The PRISE program is another program that Herchel Smith applicants whose research will take place at Harvard may want to apply to. 
http://www.priselink.harvard.edu/

Funding info:
The Science Research Funding Database is a great resource for those looking for funding to conduct research in the sciences. The link below requires a PIN login.
http://www.funding.fas.harvard.edu/science/search.cgi

 

Questions?

For advice on drawing up specific plans or finding a suitable research site, students should consult their department tutors and faculty, House Fellowships Advisers, and/or OCS.

For more information or an appointment, contact OCS:

Nancy Saunders
nesaund@fas.harvard.edu
Lisa Unangst
lunangst@fas.harvard.edu
(617) 495-2595 and press ‘0'

Harvard University
Office of Career Services
54 Dunster Street
Cambridge, MA 02138