Picker ISI Scholars Program

• Must be a rising junior or senior at Colgate University.
• Projects must integrate at least two distinct disciplines, broadly defined, and align with the Picker ISI mission and goals.
• The project must be feasible within one summer and a semester of the academic year.
• Must have a Colgate faculty sponsor and an external mentor.
• The external host site should be appropriate for the research (university lab, research institute, government or corporate R&D site) and enable meaningful interdisciplinary training.

• A clear, rigorous project that requires multiple disciplines with well-defined roles and methods.
• Concrete objectives, timeline, and a realistic plan for data access, training, and deliverables.
• Strong, coordinated support from the external mentor and Colgate sponsor.
• Potential to strengthen student problem-solving, broaden perspectives, and prepare for future research, grad school, and fellowships.
• Alignment with Picker ISI’s mission and goals, and opportunities for ongoing engagement with the University.
• Clear need for external placement (facilities, datasets, instrumentation, expertise).

• Summer stipend for student: $6,000; faculty honorarium: $2,000
• Scholars can receive up to $2,000 for transportation, lodging, living costs during the placement.

Please contact the director if you have questions about funding categories that are not listed here.

Write for a broad interdisciplinary audience. Be clear, concise, and concrete. Incomplete applications will not be considered. To ensure fairness, the use of generative AI tools is not permitted in the preparation of this proposal.

1. Cover page: Project title, applicant name, major(s)/minor(s), class year, Colgate faculty sponsor, external mentor, and host site (institution, unit, location).
2. Project summary, less than 250 words: Summarize interdisciplinary goals, identify the external host site, highlight key methods or training to be acquired, and describe expected outcomes.
3. Research or internship proposal, less than 500 words: Explain how the project advances an interdisciplinary question and why it should be conducted at the chosen host site; describe what you will do, what you will learn, and how different disciplines integrate in the project; outline host site resources, supervision plan, schedule, and compliance considerations; and detail anticipated skills, products (e.g., presentation, paper, submission), and next steps such as graduate school or fellowship applications.
4. Personal statement, less than 500 words: Describe your research interests, preparation, and motivation; summarize prior experiences (if any); and explain how this program aligns with your academic and career goals.
5. Timeline, less than one page: Pre-summer preparation, eight- to 10-week summer plan with milestones and training, and academic-year integration and dissemination targets.
6. Detailed budget: Itemize travel, lodging, and living expenses using actual costs; tie each line to the plan. View the Colgate grant budget guidelines, and use actual costs.
7. Mentor and sponsor letters, one to two pages each: The external mentor letter should confirm the mentor's commitment, the relevance of site facilities, and the supervision plan. The letter from the Colgate faculty sponsor should discuss project fit, student readiness, and the academic-year integration plan.
8. Unofficial transcript
    

Formatting tips: Use Times New Roman, 12-pt font with standard margins. (References are separate.) Single-spaced text is acceptable, provided it has clear headings. Combine all materials into a single PDF, if possible.

• Applications are reviewed by the Picker ISI Executive Committee; recommendations are subject to institutional approval as appropriate.
• Awards are competitive and based on criteria outlined above.
• Post-award changes that substantially alter the mentorship plan, host site, or budget require prior approval from the director.

• Enroll in a senior seminar or independent study aligned with the project.
• Participate in Picker ISI events, workshops, and discussions throughout the year.
• Present findings at a Colgate research seminar in fall or spring.
• Submit a final eight- to 10-page research paper, or participate in a poster session.
• Pursue external dissemination where appropriate (e.g., conference presentation, journal submission, or poster session.)