Scribner-Mellon Summer Faculty/Student Research Program

Thanks to a Mellon Grant for the First-Year Experience, a collaborative research opportunity focusing on partnerships between first-year students and faculty was created.

The collaborative research program implemented in the summer of 2007 affords Skidmore faculty and first-year students the opportunity to engage in significant projects over a ten-week period during the summer, beginning at the end of May. The projects are closely related to the faculty member's curricular, pedagogical, scholarly, or creative interests; are planned and will be executed by the student and faculty member working together; and will ensure good student learning outcomes. The research projects may be collaborative but could also include other kinds of mentoring experiences including guided independent study; may advance the research agenda of the faculty member; and may be student initiated. Each project is defined in such a way as to permit completion of a substantial portion by the end of the ten-week period. Each team will give an oral report on the planned project, explaining goals and methods, early in the period; participate in a discussion with other summer collaborative research projects in early July; and submit a final report, demonstration, poster show, or other appropriate activity on progress and achievements at the close. A final written report is due from both the student and faculty member no later than September 15. The students will also give an oral report or other appropriate activity in November of the sophomore year. Awards include faculty stipends of $3,000; student stipends of $2,500 and free room and board at the campus. Faculty/student teams may apply for funds to pay for the costs of travel to libraries and/or sites that will advance the goals of the research project (not more than $3000), and for funds to purchase supplies and equipment of modest cost (not more than $750). Faculty may also request funds to pay for the costs of travel to conferences where faculty/student teams will report the results of their research or further costs of printed publication.

The six teams receiving funding during the summer of 2008 represent a broad and diverse set of research interests:

Margart Ashur '11 and John Anzalone (Foreign Language), "Mentored Study: French Existential Literature and the Problem of Engagement Social"

Jariel Arvin '11 and Catherine Berheide (Sociology), "Growth, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Learning of Students in College"

Mary Rynasko '11 and Rik Scarce (Sociology), "Exploring Environmental Justice along the Hudson River"

Russell Turner '11, Paul Jake '11 and Mary Crone Odekon (Physics), "The Loss of Heavy Elements in Galaxie: Clues from the Arecibo Legacy Fact ALFA Survey"

Catherine Baranowski '11 and Sylvia Franke (Biology), "Copper - Silver Cross Resistance in Escherichia Coli"

Maria DiSanto-Rose '11 and Thomas Reynolds (Exercise Science), "The Effect of Aging on PKB/FOXO Signaling and Skeletal Muscle Proteolysis"