MERCK/AAAS SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
for STUDENTS WORKING at the INTERFACE of BIOLOGY and CHEMISTRY
Award Criteria
Merck/AAAS awards are designed to support students who are engaged in undergraduate research projects that span the biology-chemistry interface.
Students must be mentored by a faculty member in either the Chemistry or Biology Department (or collaboratively by faculty in both departments).
Since the goal of this award is to increase collaboration, projects that are formulated as interdisciplinary partnerships are particularly encouraged (for example, a Merck student, or multiple Merck students, spending partial time in both Chemistry and Biology research labs).
However, projects may still be considered as “interfacial” even when more formally constrained so long as there is evidence of significant interaction (e.g., regular consultation between faculty and students in both departments).
In the latter case, it may be advantageous to submit simultaneous applications for support of two students from the two collaborating faculty in each department.
Four awards are provided each year, which include:
- $4,000 summer research stipend provided to the student
- $500 in research supplies provided to the faculty mentor
In addition to the research stipend and supplies budget, Merck/AAAS students are expected to participate in biweekly summer seminars (which also includes HHMI and NSF-RII fellows), and present their research at Furman
Engaged! and at Furman’s annual Merck Awards Symposium.
Application Instructions
Interested faculty applying for this funding should submit:
(1) A 1-page (single space, 12-point font Times New Roman, 1–inch margins) description of the research to be conducted and the activities in which the Merck student will be involved.
In addition, the nature of the proposed collaboration with
faculty from the partner department should be presented in adequate detail for evaluation (half-page minimum).
(2)
An abbreviated CV (3-page max)
(3)
Student name and qualifications (if available).
Merck/AAAS is particularly interested in students who desire to pursue scientific careers, and this will strengthen the overall application.
A Furman Advantage application that includes a half-page description of the proposed collaboration can be submitted in lieu of the above application. Application review will occur by internal/external review panels as necessary based on proposal pressure.