Natural Sciences and Engineering

Fall 2024 NSE Department Informational Session List - Join us to learn more about ongoing research in your department of interest!

Divisional grants within the Natural Sciences and Engineering provide students the opportunity to pursue research or other scholarly engagement designed to enhance the student’s overall exposure to intellectual inquiry and research. Due to the vertical nature of scientific study and the need for lab resources beyond what a student could access independently, it is difficult for students in the natural sciences and engineering fields to conduct independent research. Therefore, the Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering awards only mentored research projects with rare exceptions. Students who participate in existing faculty projects are able to engage with faculty members, often working in their labs on campus or participating in their field research. Students work side by side with faculty members gaining valuable exposure to the foundation of research principles and practice.

NSE awards fall into two categories: working with a Swarthmore College faculty member on campus or in the field; or working with a non-Swarthmore faculty member or supervisor off-campus at another institution. The vast majority of awards fall into the first category.

On-Campus/Field work with a Swarthmore Faculty Memeber

Students interested in applying for a mentored research project within the Natural Sciences and Engineering division must follow any existing department-specific protocol, including substantial consultation with their intended faculty supervisor, who will offer guidance on the content of the student’s proposal, and will also serve as the faculty recommender for the project. These discussions should come well in advance of the application period. During the application process, students will submit the faculty member’s name as part of their online application which will then prompt the faculty member to respond to the recommender prompts.

Off-campus without Swarthmore Faculty Supervision

The NSE division awards a limited number of summer research stipends to students who want to work with faculty at other institutions. Only the strongest applications for these off-campus opportunities can be funded. Here are the requirements for applying for off-campus research stipends and some guidance about what will make your application competitive:

You need a letter from your off-campus faculty mentor that includes:
- A description of the research project you will work on and a detailed description of what you will be doing
- A description of who will directly supervise and mentor you (the faculty member or a member of their lab) and what that supervision and mentorship will consist of
- A clear statement that the faculty member does not have their own funding to support you
You need a recommendation from a Swarthmore faculty member who has expertise in the field of research you are proposing to work in. Their recommendation needs to contain:
- A strong recommendation based on previous interactions with you
- Substantive (meaningful/thoughtful) comments about the merits of your proposed research project
Your own description of the research you plan on conducting over the summer and how the summer research experience you’ve proposed will benefit you academically and professionally

Please note that putting together these materials will require multiple discussions with both your on and off campus faculty mentors. This will take time so you will want to get started with this well in advance of the stipend application deadline. Please read this NSE off-campus stipend FAQ before you talk to your mentors.

For more information regarding the application process and the program, students should familiarize themselves with the INFORMATION and FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

NSE Division - Summer Research Opportunities

The sources and the criteria for the various fellowships and grants are outlined below:

View the list of opportunities available through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Division

Fall 2024 informational sessions for the NSE Departments are listed here

The maximum award for all opportunities is $6,000 (unless otherwise indicated) and questions about these grants can be directed to either your faculty advisor or the Natural Sciences and Engineering Division Chair - Nick Kaplinsky (n kaplin1@swarthmore.edu).

Fellowship Conditions

The standard fellowship for a research project lasting ten weeks is $6,000. These research grants and fellowships are intended to allow students to engage in full-time research and to relieve students of the need to seek other employment during the summer. Therefore, a condition of the acceptance of any fellowship is that the student agrees to engage in full-time research for ten weeks and not to pursue other paid work on campus during the summer.

Moreover, a student may not receive more than the equivalent of one full stipend ($6,000) during a single summer from any combination of College sources. This includes scholarship awards and other Swarthmore College fellowship programs, for example, the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship program, Evans Scholars, and the Summer Social Action Award (S2A2). Students who receive financial aid or fellowships from non-Swarthmore sources should also check whether the terms of their awards limit their eligibility for a Swarthmore summer stipend.

Although all students working on NSE projects over the summer are welcome, those students who remain at Swarthmore for on-campus work are encouraged to participate in one of the College's summer initiatives, the Science for Kids program.

Furthermore, all students receiving a summer research fellowship are required to submit a report at the end of the summer about their research activities. Students should submit their reports to Debbie Thompson in the Office of the Provost no later than the first Friday after classes begin for the Fall Semester. You will receive an email at the end of the summer with instructions on how to submit your report.

Students receiving summer research fellowships from any of these sources are expected to cooperate with requests from College offices to participate in surveys designed to assess their research experience.

Summer Research Abroad

For students whose proposed projects take place abroad:

Students who plan on conducting research or engaging in an international experience during ANY part of their summer are required to complete a Travel Registry with the Global Engagement Office. In addition, students must complete a Summer Pre-Departure Orientation program, and complete a travel health consultation by the Worth Health and Wellness Center. As part of the proposal, students must indicate all countries they plan to travel to as part of their project. Students must contact the Global Engagement Office if their proposed project is in a country for which a Level 3 or Level 4 travel advisory has been issued, or if they plan to travel to a portion of a country with a level 1 or 2 travel advisory that has increased risks. In these cases, additional vetting of the project proposal is necessary before permission and funding will be granted. Successful applicants will receive information about these requirements and a timeline for completion.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Please visit the IRB website for information about the IRB submission and review process, guides for preparing a submission for IRB review, and training requirements for human subjects research.

The IRB has created a web-based survey to help you determine if your project may require IRB review. Please visit the IRB website to learn more and to access the survey at http://www.swarthmore.edu/institutional-review-board/human-subjects-research-decision-guide.

If you have questions or need assistance in navigating the IRB submission process, please contact Jena Fioravanti at jfiorav1@swarthmore.edu.

Tax Information

Taxes are not withheld from fellowship awards, nor does the College report the award to the IRS; however, it is considered income to the recipient. When filing your tax return, the amount of the grant should be reported. Please consult a tax professional if you have questions or require assistance.

Contact Information

If you have any general application questions, please contact Corey Falls, (c falls1@swarthmore.edu or x8085)