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RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCOMING HAMILTON COLLEGE STUDENTS
Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation
National Science Foundation STEP Program
CAMILLE & HENRY DREYFUS FOUNDATION
The Chemistry Department has received a grant from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation to build a national model to increase the number of chemistry majors. The program centers around an intensive summer research program, that aims to create an environment that retains chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical physics majors and increases the number of Hamilton College chemistry graduates who go on to graduate programs. Chemists have a unique role to play in ongoing efforts to improve national security, to develop alternative energy sources, and to improve health care.
The initiative is a program that enables students to receive additional preparation and motivation for the study of chemistry and provide undergraduates with incentives to enter into the study of science and technology. The Hamilton College Program will group together incoming first year students who will actively participate in scientific research. Students will be introduced to the institution through Hamilton’s summer research program. The chemistry summer research program is an intensive five-week program, which provides these students with interdisciplinary, hands-on, research projects. With the Dreyfus Foundation funding, the program will allow 8-12 incoming students per year the chance to attend Hamilton College and spend multiple summers working on research projects in biochemistry, chemistry, or chemical physics. In addition these students will have extensive interactions with the chemistry faculty, through small classes, frequent advising, and social activities. Class sizes at Hamilton are limited to 16 for the accelerated general chemistry proseminar courses, and average around 30 for the traditional general chemistry lecture courses. The two-semester organic chemistry courses average about 30 students per class. Last summer we had 36 students work on research projects in chemistry during the summer, and all Hamilton science majors complete senior thesis research projects prior to graduation. High school students interested in applying for this program should contact Leslie North, the Summer Science Coordinator, for further information (lnorth@hamilton.edu; 315-859-4584).
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION STEP PROGRAM
Hamilton College has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to build a program that will increase the number of underrepresented students majoring in the sciences. The NSF-STEP program centers around an intensive summer research program, that aims to create an environment that retains women and minority science majors and increases the number of Hamilton College science graduates who go on to graduate programs. At the same time a peer support network for female and minority students in the science division fosters close and interactive relationships between these science majors and the science faculty members.
The initiative is a bridge program for entering freshman that enables students to conduct hands-on scientific research before they begin their Hamilton education and provides incentives to enter into the study of science and technology. Selected students receive a stipend of $350 per week and subsidized on-campus housing. The Hamilton College Program will group together incoming first year students who will actively participate in scientific research. Students will be introduced to the institution through Hamilton’s summer research program. With the National Science Foundation funding, the program will enroll 14 incoming students per year, who will have the chance to attend Hamilton College and spend multiple summers working on research projects in one of the following scientific disciplines: biochemistry, chemistry, chemical physics, computer science, neuroscience, or physics. About 80 students work on research projects at Hamilton in the summer, and all Hamilton science majors complete senior thesis research projects prior to graduation. High school students interested in applying for this program should contact Leslie North, the Summer Science Coordinator, for further information (lnorth@hamilton.edu; 315-859-4584).