Summer Research and Creative Projects: For Students

Each summer, many faculty members from across the university will have positions available to students to collaborate on existing faculty research and creative projects. Students interested in collaborating in one of the projects (listed below) may apply to the faculty member through an online application form.

The student will collaborate in the project at a high intellectual level for up to 10 weeks over the summer, receiving a stipend of $600 per week.

Available Positions, 2027

Positions for 2027 will be announced in January 2027. There are positions available in each of the following departments and programs. Students may submit a single application to express interest in up to three positions (positions may be in any department/program or combination of departments/programs). 

This type of funding envisions research or creative projects supervised by faculty mentors but proposed by students. Projects do not need to be related to the faculty member’s research or specific area of scholarly or artistic interest, but the faculty member must agree to supervise the student for the duration of the project. Students apply for funding in consultation with faculty mentors. Information about applying and application deadlines may be found at the student-initiated summer research page.

Colgate and its generous alumni and parent donors offer grants to support the living costs and supplemental expenses of students who pursue unpaid and underpaid summer experiences.

Explore Summer Funding

The Kraynak Institute for the Study of Freedom and Western Traditions sponsors students (current second or third-year students) to pursue faculty-mentored summer research projects focused on themes related to the Western heritage of freedom, culture, and civilization. These opportunities are available through the James Madison Fellowship and the International Security and Intelligence Programme at Emmanuel College, Cambridge University.

More about the Kraynak Institute

The Lampert Institute grants several fellowships each summer allowing Colgate students to design research projects analyzing a policy issue of the student's choice under the mentorship of a faculty member. Students must also participate in a seminar course during the fall of their senior year.

Lampert Institute

The Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute awards Picker Scholar fellowships to support Colgate students in pursuing ambitious, interdisciplinary scientific research through summer research or internship placements, at leading external institutions. Scholars perform science projects that integrate multiple disciplines and work under the joint mentorship of a Colgate faculty sponsor and an external research mentor. Through immersive research experiences, structured academic-year engagement, and public dissemination of their work, Picker Scholars develop the skills, perspective, and preparation needed for graduate study, prestigious fellowships, and impactful careers.

Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute

The Office of Sustainability offers a 10-week, paid internship for five students each summer. Interns will spend approximately half of their time supporting the Colgate Community Garden and the other half dedicated to various sustainability projects within the office. Applications will open on the portal early in spring semester. 

Student involvement in sustainability

Summer Field School Fellows work with community, government, or non-profit partners in the local and Adirondack region to complete independent research work on projects that benefit the upstate New York community in a variety of fields.

Field school