Provost Internships Awarded to Ph.D. Students for Wide Range of Summer Research Experiences

Photos of 19 Ph.D. student grantees.
Top row: Mohammed Ali, Blake Beaver, James Chu, Rebecca Cook, Devin Cornell, Nova Déjardin; middle row: Natasza Gawlick, Nikolai Hay, Chloe Kaczmarek, Sinja Kuppers, Catherine Ji Won Lee, Botian Liu, Michael McGurk; bottom row: Joseph Ren, Elizabeth Schrader, Lorenza Starace, Nathan Tilley, Christopher Webb, Luoshu Zhang

Nineteen Duke University Ph.D. students have received Provost Internships for Summer 2022. These students will partner with Duke units and external organizations on research projects connected to their intellectual trajectories.

The recipients will be provided with a stipend as well as coverage of summer tuition and the summer health fee. They will also take part in an experiential learning workshop taught by Maria Wisdom or Rachel Coleman, or a relevant Duke Graduate Academy course.

Summer 2022 Provost Internships


Mohammed Ali, Ph.D. in History

Research and Publications, American Historical Association

Blake Beaver, Ph.D. in Literature

Preparation of Scholarly Work for Digital Projects, National Humanities Center

James Chu, Ph.D. in Music

Curriculum Development, Duke Curriculum Development Committee

Rebecca Cook, Ph.D. in Evolutionary Anthropology

Evolutionary Medicine Summer Programs Coordination, Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine

Devin Cornell, Ph.D. in Sociology

Data Analysis of Transfer Students, Creative and Liberal Arts, Durham Technical Community College

Nova Déjardin, Ph.D. in History

Humanities and Climate Communications, John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke University

Natasza Gawlick, Ph.D. in German Studies

Preparation of Scholarly Work for Digital Projects, National Humanities Center

Nikolai Hay, Ph.D. in Biology

Governance and Land Use, Duke Forest

Chloe Kaczmarek, Ph.D. in Romance Studies

Oral History, Historical Division, Duke Divinity School

Sinja Kuppers, Ph.D. in Classical Studies

Curriculum Development, Duke Curriculum Development Committee

Catherine Ji Won Lee, Ph.D. in English

Pedagogical Best Practices for College-Level Synchronous Online Instruction, Creative and Liberal Arts, Durham Technical Community College

Botian Liu, Ph.D. in Philosophy

Research and Grant Writing, The Purpose Project, Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University

Michael McGurk, Ph.D. in English

Preparation of Books for Publishing, Duke University Press

Joseph Ren, Ph.D. in Literature

Preparation of Books for Publishing, Duke University Press, and Qualitative Diversity and Inclusion Research, Duke Public Affairs & Government Relations

Elizabeth Schrader, Ph.D. in Religion

Curriculum Development, Duke Curriculum Development Committee

Lorenza Starace, Ph.D. in Romance Studies

Language Pedagogy for Undergraduate Education, Duke Department of Romance Studies

Nathan Tilley, Ph.D. in Religion

Oral History, Historical Division, Duke Divinity School

Christopher Webb, Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology

Evaluation of COVID-19 Relief Solutions, Duke Social Science Research Institute

Luoshu Zhang, Ph.D. in English

American Literature Research for Curriculum Diversification, Creative and Liberal Arts, Durham Technical Community College


More Ph.D. Resources

Register for Free Short Courses in the Summer 2022 Duke Graduate Academy

Register now for summer 2022 short courses in the Duke Graduate Academy.

The Provost’s Office is pleased to announce a new session of the Duke Graduate Academy, which offers online short courses that introduce Duke graduate and professional students and postdoctoral fellows to skills, tools and knowledge that augment their regular coursework and research.

These short courses help emerging scholars prepare for high-level research, innovative teaching, leadership and/or public engagement.

Courses in the Duke Graduate Academy cover topics not typically included in a graduate curriculum, or provide an intensive introduction for graduate students and postdocs who might not have the time or inclination to pursue a full course in a subject. Instructors are Duke faculty as well as highly trained Duke staff and Ph.D. students.

The Graduate Academy welcomes all current/active doctoral, master’s and professional students at any stage of their studies as well as all postdoctoral fellows. There are no prerequisites for any of the courses.

Program Details

Courses

2022 Graduate Academy Summer Session Course Descriptions

The Duke Graduate Academy Summer Session courses will be offered during Duke’s Summer Sessions I and II.

Each course meets regularly for one to two weeks. Participants may register for two (2) courses. Waitlists will be used for courses that are fully enrolled.

Courses are not for credit and are not graded, but will appear on Duke graduate student transcripts. None of the offerings require prerequisites or assume areas of knowledge. Classes are offered online with synchronous and asynchronous elements. Instructors will emphasize interactive discussion and group activities/projects to maintain a high level of student engagement.

Cost

There is no cost for Duke participants.

Location

All Duke Graduate Academy classes meet online/virtually. Individual class schedules are noted in the course descriptions and in DukeHub. Meeting details and coursework materials will be confirmed by instructor email or through course Sakai sites.

Registration

Duke Student Registration — Courses are open to all current/active doctoral, master’s and professional students. Duke participants may only register for two (2) courses. Waitlists will be used for all courses. All course changes must be completed by the Add/Drop deadline for the relevant Summer Session.

Duke Postdoc Registration — Participants may only register for one (1) course. Waitlists will be used for all courses. All course changes must be completed by the Add/Drop deadline for the relevant Summer Session.

For help with enrollment and withdrawals or for more information, contact Amy Feistel at amy.feistel@duke.edu.

Participation, Eligibility and Enrollment

Participation in the Duke Graduate Academy is open to current Duke graduate students, including Duke law and medical students, master’s and professional students. The Graduate Academy is also open to all Duke postdocs. Space is filled on a first-come, first-served basis during registration.

Most courses will enroll 30 students, although some courses may be smaller or larger. Courses with fewer than eight enrolled students may be canceled. Course participation will appear on Duke graduate students’ transcripts.

Contact and Additional Information

For questions regarding the Duke Graduate Academy, please contact Amy Feistel at amy.feistel@duke.edu.

Check out these reflections from past participants:

Summer 2022 Course List by Area

Courses are being offered in the following broad areas. Additional information and links are available in each area.

Technology

  • Innovation Co-Lab

Policy

  • Science Policy

Communication & Pedagogy

  • Best Practices in Mentoring
  • Science & Research Communication: Communicating Your Research to Nonexperts
  • Community-Engaged Research
  • Interdisciplinary Project Management
  • Online Teaching: Inclusive College Teaching
  • Planning and Publishing Digital Projects
  • Digital Humanities Research: Formulation to Publication
  • Digital Humanities: Working With Text
  • Public Speaking for Everyone
  • Teaching With Digital Archives

Business & Entrepreneurship

  • Leading Teams: Foundations of Teamwork & Leadership
  • Business & Organizational Fundamentals
  • Narrative Design Seminar

Interpretive Research Methods

  • Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods
  • Evaluation: Understanding Impact & Improving Effectiveness
  • Introduction to Interviewing
  • Exploring Race and History in Durham, North Carolina and the South

Digital Humanities Summer Research Grants for Ph.D. Students

Digital Humanities Summer Research Grants.

Deadline: March 20, 2022

The Digital Humanities Initiative at the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute is offering Digital Humanities Summer Research Grants to humanities Ph.D. students interested in developing their DH knowledge and projects. The grants are considered non-compensatory awards.

Grant recipients will be expected to consult with Duke Digital Humanities Initiative faculty/staff on their project plans upon receiving the award, to participate in at least one PhD Lab group meeting of grantees in Spring 2022, and to present their grant outcomes at a PhD Lab group event in Fall 2022. Grantees will also be encouraged to join the DHI community at events, workshops and other activities throughout the year.

Awards will be $2,750, paid out in May and June 2022. The deadline is March 20 with notifications by April 1.

Learn more and apply.

Duke Ph.D. Student Internship Opportunities for Summer 2022

Summer 2022 Provost Internships for Duke Ph.D. Students. Apply now.

Deadline: March 20 (priority), rolling through April 29, 2022

Duke’s Office of the Provost is offering a broad set of opportunities to support Ph.D. students during Summer 2022. A number of experiential internships with external organizations are available by application, along with other internship and research assistant opportunities with Duke units across campus.

Interested Ph.D. students should search the opportunities to match both skills/background and research interests. You may apply to only two (2) positions (this could be two external or two Duke internships, or one of each).

The priority deadline is March 20. Hosts will begin review of applications on March 21, and then consider additional applications on a rolling basis through April 29.

All interns will be required to take either the experiential workshop, GS950, or a relevant Duke Graduate Academy course, during Duke Summer Session I or II.

Please see the FAQ section below, and contact Amy Feistel (amy.feistel@duke.edu) with any questions.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through this Duke portal: https://dukeinterdisc.formstack.com/forms/duke_phd_summer_internship

You will be asked to provide the following:

  • Letter of application for each opportunity
  • Brief CV (2-page maximum)
  • Letter of support from your department DGS, indicating how the proposed internship(s) will enhance your intellectual trajectory.

Provost Internships

Browse, search or sort alphabetically by any column. Click on the link in the Internship Focus column to access more information.

Organization or Duke UnitInternship FocusBrief Scope of Work
American Historical AssociationFILLED: Research & PublicationsWork with the Perspectives on History editorial team, write article(s), work on Racist Histories and the AHA project
Central Park School for ChildrenAnti-Racist Curriculum & Pedagogy DevelopmentWork with school’s equity coach to design, distribute and implement culturally responsive lessons and curriculum for K-8, and professional development for staff to support pedagogical practices
Don’t Waste DurhamEnvironmental Equity & Social JusticeFinalize ReCirculation Project design based on pre-pilot survey data, develop and finalize data collection tools, conduct monitoring and evaluation, report on results, draw conclusions
Duke Bass ConnectionsFILLED: Analysis of Interdisciplinary Research & LearningConduct landscape analysis of analogous interdisciplinary research and education programs, draft publications to share lessons learned from Bass Connections model with other institutions, help design symposium on interdisciplinary and collaborative learning
Duke Career ServicesAlumni EngagementDevelop and execute a plan to engage graduate alumni and local/regional employers about expanding and deepening experiential learning opportunities for Duke Ph.D. students; catalog known Ph.D. internship opportunities with Triangle area companies
Duke Center for Computational ThinkingFILLED: Ph.D. Computational FellowshipParticipate in Summer Bootcamp: Introduction to Data Science; give short oral presentation of research question, exploratory data analysis and findings as a final project
Duke Clinical & Translational Science Institute, Center for Equity in ResearchEquity in ResearchCollaborate with center’s team members on expanding six key focus areas; gather and organize evidenced-based practices; collaborate on design or improvement of trainings and workshops
Duke Curriculum Development CommitteeFILLED: Undergraduate Curriculum DevelopmentCollect scholarly research, work with data on curriculum and students’ paths, identify and summarize peer curricula, perform other research activities
Duke Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine (TriCEM)FILLED: Evolutionary Medicine Summer Programs CoordinationAssist in planning, facilitating and contributing to TriCEM’s summer programming including educational workshops, other trainings, science communication, and working group meetings to advance research
Duke Department of Romance StudiesFILLED: Language Pedagogy for Undergraduate EducationWork on research and development for set of best practices for Multilingual Writing Center, research parallel structures in English, examine literature writing pedagogy in different languages, collaborate with language program directors and faculty to understand student and faculty needs
Duke Divinity SchoolFILLED: Oral History ProjectPartake in interview training and practice, conduct background research on the school’s history of, interview former faculty
Duke ForestFILLED: Governance and Land UseAssess governance and land use contexts surrounding the Duke Forest Teaching and Research Laboratory, identify potential threats, vulnerabilities and risks to mission, management objectives and strategic vision
Duke Initiative for Science & SocietyScience Communication CurriculumCreate strategic scoping document of SciComm trainings from Duke, other universities and private sector; identify best practices and ethical issues; identify/develop assessment tools to determine effectiveness; conduct assessment Duke SciComm offerings; begin development of curriculum design
Duke John Hope Franklin Humanities InstituteFILLED: Humanities & Climate CommunicationsConceptualize and generate faculty/student interviews, profiles of research projects and collaborations, or other content; generate materials for campus communications and for FHI annual report
Duke Kenan Institute for EthicsFILLED: Research & Grant Proposal WritingResearch and draft grant proposal on developing and evaluating programs that integrate questions of meaning, purpose and character into undergraduate and graduate/professional education
Duke Public Affairs & Government RelationsFILLED: Qualitative Diversity & Inclusion ResearchAssess Duke communicators’ experience related to anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion using survey data; conduct focus group(s); prepare report with analysis and recommendations regarding current environment, culture and challenges
Duke Social Science Research InstituteFILLED: Evaluation of COVID-19 Relief SolutionsConduct community-partnered research and evaluation efforts based in SSRI; perform qualitative data collection exploring implementation to address COVID-related educational needs and inequities
Duke University PressFILLED: Preparation of Books for PublishingFormat manuscripts, organize art program for books, write book summaries to be presented to Editorial Advisory Board, help with other pre-production tasks
Durham Technical Community CollegeFILLED: American Literature Research for Curriculum DiversificationHelp diversify curriculum for key courses; connect with existing faculty and resources; research work from underrepresented communities in American literature; create course content
Durham Technical Community CollegeFILLED: Data Analysis of Transfer StudentsCollect and analyze data concerning key metrics for university transfer students; examine measures involving student success in key English and Math gateway courses as well as those that concern curriculum completion and equitable outcomes for students
Durham Technical Community CollegeEquity Gap ResearchWork with instructors to identify social factors affecting students, review literature to find promising interventions to support students, adapt intervention for first-year composition class
Durham Technical Community CollegeFILLED: Pedagogical Best Practices for Online InstructionConduct literature review concerning pedagogical best practices for synchronous online instruction as they are applied to college-level general education courses; help design and develop faculty training
Hope RenovationsMarket AnalysisPerform market analysis and offerings recommendations, including pricing; produce implementation plan, including marketing recommendations
JusticeMattersCommunity Health/Food Security & NutritionBuild knowledge around legal services and remedies, complete literature review, give presentation to leadership team and board members
MDCFILLED: Equity & Prosperity in the SouthDevelop data profiles that provide indicators of current state of equity and prosperity across the South; contribute to qualitative design, implementation and analysis of discussions that occur at community convenings
National Humanities CenterFILLED: Preparation of Scholarly Work for Digital ProjectCurate, frame, produce and translate scholarly work for new digital project, Humanities Town Square; work with digital and narrative content and platforms, engage partners and contribute to design and editorial framework
North Carolina Department of Justice, Consumer Protection DivisionExploration of Antitrust RemediesExplore interoperability, data portability and/or data sharing as potential antitrust remedies; analyze privacy issues such as use of data in advertising, anonymization of data and differential privacy in relation to remedies
RTI InternationalDiversity & Community EngagementSynthesize information to inform prototype development; analyze qualitative data generated from design sprints; contribute to digital strategy related to engagement experiences for health care providers and diverse community members
RTI InternationalGlobal Noncommunicable DiseasesInterpret data on performance of NCD screening and treatment programs, research disease burden, policy and health economics related to NCDs, prepare summaries of research findings

FAQ: Summer 2022 Provost Internships

Are master’s students or professional students, including professional doctorates like Th.D. students, eligible to apply for these opportunities?

We are sorry; the internships are only available to Ph.D. students.

I am graduating from Duke with a Ph.D. this spring. Am I eligible to apply for one of these opportunities?

No, only currently enrolled Duke Ph.D. students are eligible.

I already have full summer funding, but one of these positions would be a perfect fit for me. May I still apply?

No, these internships are available only to current Ph.D. students without full summer funding.

I have partial summer funding. Am I still eligible?

Interns may receive other Duke summer funding; however, total Duke summer funding may not exceed $8,750.

I would like to apply to several opportunities. Is this allowed?

No, you may only apply to two (2) opportunities (two external or two internal internships, or one of each).

I’m an international Ph.D. student. May I apply?

Yes, so long as you are residing in one of the U.S. jurisdictions approved for Duke employment: North Carolina, District of Columbia, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. You also need to verify your visa status and confirm your eligibility for this funding opportunity with Duke Visa Services before applying.

I am a Ph.D. student currently in the United States but living outside North Carolina. Can I still apply?

Yes, as long as during the internship you are residing in one of the jurisdictions approved for Duke employment besides North Carolina: District of Columbia, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.

What would a strong application for an internship look like?

Beyond submitting all the required pieces of the application, we recommend giving special attention to the letter of application and brief CV. The application  letter should explain how the opportunity would enrich or further develop your academic interests. At the same time, internship hosts are particularly keen to identify the best candidates for the job at hand. Help the readers understand how you are well qualified for the position, and give some sense of what unique contributions you can make to the position and the organization or Duke unit.

How do I abridge my CV to two pages?

Only include the most important information from your longer CV (key elements of your scholarship; your most important fellowships and teaching assignments; etc.). Highlight details that best demonstrate your qualifications for the position. As an example, for a research-intensive position, you should include evidence of your skills in research and writing, such as publications. For other positions, you may want to offer more information about your experience with collaborative projects, website development and relevant nonacademic work.

How will candidates be evaluated and selected?

You will apply through this Duke portal. Complete applications that are well suited to the positions will be forwarded to the internship hosts. Hosts may or may not reach out to candidates for virtual interviews, which may happen on very short notice. Hosts will make the final decision on candidate selection, but notification letters will come from the Provost’s Office. If you wish to check up on your application status or have questions, please contact Amy Feistel (amy.feistel@duke.edu). Please do not contact the host directly.

What is the timeline for these opportunities?

Hosts will begin review of applications on March 21, and then consider additional applications on a rolling basis until April 29, 2022. They should make their decisions by that date. We ask all students to expeditiously confirm their acceptance/decline of offers. Internships will begin no earlier than May 16, 2022 and will end no later than August 19, 2022.

When will the internship take place? How many service hours are expected?

Internships will begin no earlier than May 16, 2022 and will end no later than August 19, 2022. All internship opportunities listed are configured in one of the following formats:

  • Three months (12 weeks, 19.9 hours/week)
  • Two months (8 weeks, 19.9 hours/week)
  • One and a half months (6 weeks/19.9 hours/week)
How much will I be paid for the internship, and how will I be paid?

You will receive a stipend commensurate with the three options for length of engagement:

  • Three months: $8,250
  • Two months: $5,500
  • One and a half months: $4,125

You will receive your stipend through your department payroll, June – August, 2022. Your summer tuition will be covered, and your department will also receive the summer health fee.

I am not eligible to apply, but I would love to collaborate with one of these external organizations in some way. How can I reach out?

This is not the time to reach out unless you’re eligible to fill the organization’s posted position. Please consider contacting Maria Wisdom, director of interdisciplinary mentoring and coaching programs, to discuss a long-term networking strategy.

I will be traveling during the summer. Am I still eligible for an internship?

Though brief travel outside the internship jurisdiction is permitted, you need to be physically residing in the jurisdiction approved for Duke employment for the duration of the internship to be eligible for the opportunity. International students should confirm their visa/residency status with Duke Visa Services.

I am available for less time than the full duration of the internships to which I am applying (e.g., I am only available for 8 weeks instead of 12 weeks). Will I still be considered for selection?

Your application will still be sent to the host for consideration. Your limited availability may affect selection if timing is important to the host, though you may be able to negotiate timing for the internship if selected for an interview.

I am planning to teach a course in one of Duke’s Summer Sessions. Am I still eligible for an internship?

You are not eligible for an internship if you are teaching a Summer Session course. When offered an internship, you will be required to make a choice — to move forward with plans to teach the course or to cancel the course in order to pursue the internship opportunity. The timing around this decision may be tight (a few days) so it is important to consider your preferences in advance.

Duke Libraries Offers Summer Research Grants for Undergraduates

Duke University Libraries Summer Research Fellowship for LIFE Students.

Extended Deadline: March 29, 2022

Overview

The Duke University Libraries Summer Fellowship is awarded to first-generation and/or low-income undergraduate students to support library research. The goal of the Summer Research Fellowship is to strengthen opportunities for 1G and low-income students by providing financial support for original research projects. Qualified projects can be at any stage of completion and research may be conducted utilizing resources within Duke University Libraries. The Summer Fellowship is meant to encourage deeper engagement with library resources including special collections and archives and offer students in need the opportunity to further explore their research interests.  Students will have a faculty or staff member as a mentor and will be paired with a librarian mentor to help navigate their research experience. Ultimately, students will gain confidence in research skills that will support them throughout their academic and professional careers.

Examples

  • Continue research on a Story+ or Data+ project using special collections
  • Build upon a recent paper or research project you completed in a previous course
  • Extensively use library collections (such as University Archives or government documents) for a senior thesis
  • Use the foreign language collections at Perkins Library
  • Undertake any interdisciplinary research project involving extensive use of library collections

To learn about the projects undertaken by the 2021 Summer Fellowship recipients, see their reflection blog posts on the library website:

Awards are granted up to $4,500 to cover expenses such as campus housing, lodging, meals while conducting research, online trainings, and digitization expenses. Because research expenses can vary depending on the field of research and the duration of the project, students are able to pool Fellowship funding with other awards.

We expect Duke will allow on-campus housing and in-person research this summer. However, this is subject to change and subject to university policies. We will communicate regularly with fellows, but please be patient and flexible. To help facilitate planning for alternative means of researching, we will be asking in the submission form for a brief description of alternative ways to work on the project. For example, a student might be able to do part of their research using DUL Digital Collections if they are unable to use a collection in person. Fellows will have opportunities to consult with librarians about alternative approaches, if it becomes necessary.

Learn more on the Duke Libraries website.

Contact

Arianne Hartsell-Gundy

Bass Connections Offers Student Funding for Collaborative or Individual Projects

Student researchers.
Previous recipients working on their funded research projects in the lab, at a clinic in Honduras, and in a forest in Gabon

Deadline: March 5, 2022

Bass Connections creates opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to work alongside faculty to explore societal challenges through interdisciplinary research teams. The Bass Connections Student Research Award provides funds of up to $3,000 (for one to two students) or $5,000 (for groups of more than two students) to support student-directed research projects that meet one of the following parameters:

  1. Undergraduate and graduate students who have completed (or are completing) a Bass Connections year-long project team or summer program may propose to continue some aspect of the team’s work through a faculty-mentored research experience. Such research experiences may be either individual or collaborative although collaborative projects are preferred.
  1. Students who have participated in Bass Connections may also propose a research project that is not related to their Bass Connections experience so long as the proposed project is collaborative (i.e., involving at least two students) and interdisciplinary in nature.
  1. Undergraduate and graduate students who have not yet participated in Bass Connections may also apply so long as the proposed project is collaborative (i.e., involving at least two students) and interdisciplinary in nature.

Teams that include at least one Trinity undergraduate student might consider applying for the Student Team Grants opportunity, which is also accepting applications for 2022-2023 through March 5, 2022.

Other Eligibility Criteria

  • All projects must have a faculty mentor.
  • Projects must involve research.
  • Projects must occur within the next year (from May 2022 to May 2023).
  • Students must be active students during the time of the proposed research (i.e., graduating students are not eligible).
  • Students who have previously received a Bass Connections research award may not apply again.

A note about COVID-19 restrictions:

While we aspire to support applied, student-driven research projects, the health and safety of students and the community are our top priority. All projects, if selected, will be expected to follow all applicable university policies.

For Summer 2022, we anticipate that students will be able to conduct on-campus research and live in on- or off-campus housing. Students may propose projects involving domestic or international travel, but all travel plans will be subject to change in accordance with the Duke Global Travel Policy, as it applies at the time of travel.

When submitting a proposal, you should carefully consider whether the proposed research will be feasible under the current circumstances, and address in the proposal how you might adapt your research plan if aspects of the project are not feasible due to COVID-19 restrictions. If the proposed research involves in-person contact or fieldwork, the proposal should address how the team will adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

Proposal Criteria

Proposals should be no longer than five pages and should be submitted as a single document using this online form. The online form will also request some basic background information on the composition of your team. Proposals are due Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. ET and should include:

  • Project title (no more than 75 characters)
  • Abstract: Provide a brief summary of the project and the issue it will address (1-2 paragraphs, no more than 200 words).
  • Research plan: A brief narrative that articulates: 1) the goals of the research; and 2) a plan of how the research will be conducted, including a timeline for key activities.
  • Connection to Bass Connections: If this research follows directly from a Bass Connections team experience, please articulate this connection. For projects that are not connected to a Bass Connections team experience, please explain how the proposed project aligns with the Bass Connections model (team-based, interdisciplinary research around societal challenges), and the origins of the proposed work (e.g., inspired by an experience in a particular course, DukeEngage, Study Away, Duke Immerse, a humanities lab, an extra-curricular experience).
  • Team composition: List all students who will be involved in the research and any external partners.
  • Student development: For each student involved, explain how this project fits within their overall academic and professional plan.
  • COVID-19 contingencies: Please address any risks to your project plan based on evolving COVID-19 restrictions and how you might adapt the project as needed. If you are proposing research involving contact outside of the Duke community, please address how you will ensure that university COVID-19 protocols are followed.
  • Budget: Submit a budget plan (up to $3,000 total for projects involving one to two students or up to $5,000 total for projects involving more than two students) and timeline for the use of funds. Please list all other sources and amounts of support for the research project, both confirmed and anticipated/applied for (if applicable).

The following expenses are not allowable:

  • Students may not pay themselves for time spent conducting this research. This award is intended to cover material costs to enable you to accomplish your research goals.
  • Funds may not be used to purchase specific equipment costing more than $1,000 (e.g., computers, cameras).
  • Funds may not be used to cover personal living expenses at a permanent residence. Funds may only be used to cover temporary living expenses to conduct field research (which can include Durham during the summer only).

Allowable expenses might include: transcription services, local ground transportation, attendance at a conference to present your research (although note that this should not be the entirety of your proposal), travel expenses for field research (when COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted), minor equipment such as recording devices for interviews, lab tests and materials, minor software not already offered by Duke, minor payments to research participants, subscriptions to surveying/data management tools, printing/publication expenses and books/training to support your research.

Please note that neither of these lists are all-inclusive, but rather are intended to help you consider common, allowable expenses.

  • Faculty letter of support: Please attach a letter of support in the online form or ask your faculty mentor to email a letter of support to laura.howes@duke.edu. This letter should articulate the faculty mentor’s willingness to supervise the project; why they feel the research is worthwhile; and any other relevant information about their connection to the proposer(s).

Resources

We strongly encourage prospective applicants to attend our Foundational Research Module series for additional grounding in common research practices. In particular, if your project involves human subjects, you should make every effort to attend one of the two Institutional Review Board modules on February 25 or April 8. This module will satisfy the Human Subjects Certification requirement, allowing you to proceed with setting up an IRB protocol.

Review and Selection

We anticipate awarding funds to at least seven projects, with a preference for collaborative projects. Proposals will be reviewed by the Bass Connections Faculty Advisory Council and Bass Connections leadership. Decisions will be announced by March 31, 2022, and funds will be awarded as appropriate to the timing of the project.

As a condition of funding, awardees will be required to provide a 400-600 word reflection on their research experience, with photos, by no later than April 30, 2023. The Bass Connections program team may also check in with awardees during the year to request a short update.

Contact

Laura Howes, Director, Bass Connections; (919) 684-9021

Student Team Grants Available for Research Projects Starting This Summer

Deadline: March 5, 2022

Are you and a group of fellow students excited about testing a new idea or exploring a compelling research question? Do you want to extend work that you started through a course, extra-curricular activity, or Bass Connections, DukeEngage, Data+ or Story+ project?

Bass Connections and the Undergraduate Research Support Office are pleased to introduce a new research grant available for students involved in collaborative team-based research projects. This research award will provide funds of up to $5,000 to support collaborative research projects involving two or more students. Calls for proposals will be issued in January of each year and funds will be awarded for a period of one year. Five to eight awards will be issued each year.

Projects can address a broad range of research topics and result in an array of research outputs, from traditional theses, research papers and conference presentations to prototypes, exhibits, websites and media campaigns, data sets and apps, performances, and more!

We are now accepting proposals for 2022-2023. All proposals must be submitted through the online proposal form by March 5, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. You may work directly within the online form and save and return to the form as you work. You may also preview the proposal questions and draft your responses using the following Word template.

Eligibility criteria
  • Research projects must be conceived of and directed by students.
  • Projects must have a faculty mentor.
  • Projects must occur within the next year (from May 2022 to May 2023).
  • Students must be active students during the time of the proposed research (i.e., graduating students are not eligible).
  • Project teams must include at least one Trinity undergraduate student; Pratt undergraduate students and/or graduate students from any Duke School are also eligible to apply as long as their team includes at least one Trinity undergrad.*
  • Projects may be focused on any topic within, or across disciplines, with a preference for interdisciplinary projects.

*If you are seeking funding for a project that does not include a Trinity undergraduate student, consider applying for the Bass Connections Student Research Award.

A note about COVID-19:

While we aspire to support applied, student-driven research projects, the health and safety of students and the community are our top priority. All projects, if selected, will be expected to follow all applicable university policies.

For Summer 2022, we anticipate that students will be able to conduct on-campus research and live in on- or off-campus housing. Students may propose projects involving domestic or international travel, but all travel plans will be subject to change in accordance with the Duke Global Travel Policy, as it applies at the time of travel.

When submitting a proposal, you should carefully consider whether the proposed research will be feasible under the current circumstances, and address in the proposal how you might adapt your research plan if aspects of the project are not feasible due to COVID-19 restrictions. If the proposed research involves in-person contact or fieldwork, the proposal should address how the team will adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

Proposal requirements

All proposals must be submitted through the online proposal form by March 5, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. You may work directly within the online form and save and return to the form as you work. You may also preview the proposal questions and draft your responses using the following Word template. For planning purposes, key proposal elements include:

  • Details about the team composition
  • A description of the project including an abstract, a research plan, information about how the team will operate and how the project will contribute to the development of student team members, a timeline, and information about how the team will adapt as needed to emerging COVID-19 circumstances
  • Project details including whether the project includes research with animals or human subjects, and a risk management plan for any projects involving fieldwork
  • Budget (see additional guidance below)
  • Letter of recommendation from a faculty mentor: Your faculty mentor should submit their letter of recommendation directly by email to laura.howes@duke.edu by March 5, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Your mentor’s letter should address the scholarly value of your research project, their assessment of your preparedness for completing the project, and how they intend to support you (including how often the mentor and students will meet, how the mentor will provide guidance, oversight, and assistance).
Budget limitations

When submitting a proposal, you will be asked to submit a detailed budget plan for the entire proposed project, noting other sources of funding that you have secured or applied for. Maximum funding for this award is $5,000.

For planning purposes, please note the following limitations, which may be subject to change.

Reasonable expenses include:

  • Fees associated with use of archives, lab equipment, etc.
  • Software licenses
  • Research participant incentives
  • Research supplies and materials
  • Transcription services
  • Books/training to support your research
  • Travel for field research that cannot be conducted remotely (dependent upon COVID-19 travel restrictions)
  • Summer housing expenses to allow students to conduct research in instances when students need to be on-site

Funds may not be used:

  • As stipend or salary
  • To purchase personal equipment or durable items costing more than $1,000 (cameras, computers, clothing, etc.)
  • To cover personal living expenses at a permanent residence (funds may only be used to cover temporary living expenses to conduct field research, which can include Durham during the summer only)
  • To cover personal taxes

Please note that neither of these lists are all-inclusive, but rather are intended to help you consider common, allowable expenses.

Funds will generally be administered via a Duke “fund code.” To process expenditures, students will need to work with their faculty advisor to use a departmental purchase card, or file for reimbursement. Some expenses (such as housing) will be issued as a non-compensatory payment to students and will be considered taxable income.

Resources

We strongly encourage prospective applicants to attend the Bass Connections Foundational Research Module series for additional grounding in common research practices. In particular, if your project involves human subjects, you should make every effort to attend one of the two Institutional Review Board modules on February 25 or April 8. This module will satisfy the Human Subjects Certification requirement, allowing you to proceed with setting up an IRB protocol.

Contact

For questions or more information about the Student Team Grants program, please contact laura.howes@duke.edu.

These research awards are supported by the Eberts Family Fund, and are administered by the Undergraduate Research Support Office in partnership with Bass Connections.

Also see the Bass Connections Student Research Awards for another opportunity.

Support for External Organizations to Host Duke Ph.D. Student Summer Internships

View of Duke campus.

Deadline: February 4, 2022

Overview

During Summer 2022, the Duke University Provost’s Office in collaboration with the Office of Durham and Community Affairs will support professional development opportunities for current Duke Ph.D. students who do not have full summer funding. Organizations that would like to host such an opportunity may submit a proposal by February 4, 2022. Proposals will be accepted via Formstack (https://dukeinterdisc.formstack.com/forms/duke_phd_internships_external).

We are seeking Ph.D. student internships opportunities that provide Ph.D. students with research experience outside the university while remaining connected to their intellectual trajectory. To cite a few examples, in past years, Duke Ph.D. interns have engaged with:

  • The Modern Language Association to design and marketed a resource toolkit around curricular innovation and teacher training
  • Governance and Youth Economic Opportunities group at RTI International to deploy social network analysis (SNA) to facilitate international development projects, create user-friendly SNA guides and reports, and contribute to workshops and a community of practice event
  • The Consumer Protection Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office to analyze regulatory developments in the European Union and report on findings to representatives from offices of Attorneys General in other states
RFP released 1/11/22
RFP deadline for submission 2/4/22 at 5:00 p.m.
Anticipated organization notification 2/11/22
Anticipated student application period 2/18 – 3/20/22
Anticipated priority application/selection period (rolling consideration thereafter) 3/21 – 3/25/22
Internship start/end 5/16 – 8/19/22

Restrictions and Parameters for Students

  • These opportunities will only be open to current Duke Ph.D. students without full summer funding. Students who will matriculate in the summer/fall of 2022 are not eligible.
  • Interested students will apply for posted opportunities through a central Duke portal, though the selection process and decision will rest with each internship host.
  • Internships can involve six weeks, eight weeks or twelve weeks of engagement, and must take place between May 16 – August 19 with no more than 19.9 hours/week, leaving time for students to engage with their own research, study and/or writing. Stipend amounts vary by the amount of time required.
  • The earliest date an internship may start is May 16, 2022; the latest an internship may end is August 19, 2022.
  • Duke Ph.D. students will receive a stipend commensurate with the three options for length of engagement paid across Duke’s June – August payroll cycles.
  • International Duke Ph.D. students who reside in North Carolina or an approved U.S. jurisdiction detailed below and who wish to apply for a summer internship should consult as soon as possible with Duke Visa Services for assistance with filing applications for Curricular Practical Training and any other visa-related requirements.

Restrictions and Parameters for Host Organizations

  • Proposals from host organizations that can provide a 50% cost share on the stipend or receive Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs stipend support (see below) will be given priority consideration. Where relevant, organizations will be invoiced in September 2022 for the stipend cost share.
Internship Duration

Stipend

Host 50% Cost Share

Three-month (19.9 hours/week)

$8,250

$4,125

Two-month (19.9 hours/week)

$5,500

$2,750

One and a half month/6-week (19.9 hours/week)

$4,125

$2,062.50

  • In an effort to support community partners unable to fund internships, regional nonprofit organizations may request support through the Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs. To be eligible for stipend funding support, organizations must serve the regional community in one of Duke’s five strategic focus areas:
    • Community/nonprofit capacity
    • Housing affordability and infrastructure
    • Early childhood education and K-12 readiness
    • College and career readiness
    • Community health/food security and nutrition
  • Organizations requesting stipend assistance may inquire with Sandra Martinez Zuniga, sandra.martinezzuniga@duke.edu, senior program coordinator for civic engagement at the Office of Durham and Community Affairs.
  • Internship hosts must either be based in North Carolina or an approved U.S. jurisdiction available for Duke employment: California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Selection Criteria and Review Process

Host organizations and supervisors must detail a program of work, with clear goals, deliverables, and identification of a supervisor, in their proposed job description. We encourage host organizations to plan for regular interaction with interns and to include them in team meetings. The review process will be overseen by the Duke vice provost for interdisciplinary studies.

Scope and Duration

In-person, remote and/or hybrid internships will be considered. The proposed internship experience should last for up to three months in the summer and proposals may be configured in one of the following formats:

  1. Three-month (19.9 hours/week) internship; intern will receive a stipend of $8,250
  2. Two-month (19.9 hours/week) internship; intern will receive a stipend of $5,500
  3. One and a half month/6-week internship (19.9 hours/week); intern will receive a stipend of $4,125

The proposed internship will take place between May 16 – August 19, 2022 and interns will receive a stipend paid across Duke’s June – August payroll cycles.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals will be accepted via Formstack (https://dukeinterdisc.formstack.com/forms/duke_phd_internships_external) through February 4, 2022 at 5 p.m.

You will be asked to provide the following information:

  • A title and brief description (one paragraph) for the proposed internship position
  • The number of interns your organization anticipates hosting
  • The start and end dates for the internship
  • The name and contact information for the organization/unit business manager
  • The name and contact information for the internship coordinator and the direct supervisor (if different)
  • A brief plan (maximum one page) that articulates the anticipated project or projects, describes the nature of engagement with organizational staff members, and specifies how the organization envisages a remote/virtual work experience (if relevant)
  • A confirmation of cost share, or explanation of why cost share is not possible

Contact

For questions related to the online application and/or other logistical questions, please contact Amy Feistel, amy.feistel@duke.edu.

Organizations based in the Triangle are encouraged to contact Sandra Martinez Zuniga, sandra.martinezzuniga@duke.edu, senior program coordinator for civic engagement at the Office of Durham and Community Affairs, especially if they wish to explore stipend coverage.

For questions related to internship work plans or cost sharing, please contact Edward J. Balleisen, eballeis@duke.edu, vice provost for interdisciplinary studies.