The Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics annually invites applications from Calvin College faculty members for research awards to be used to fund student fellows to work in collaboration with a Calvin faculty member on their particular research endeavors.   Student fellows are expected to work approximately five hours per week, for which the student fellow is to be paid a $500 stipend per semester.  While this funding opportunity seeks to enable Calvin faculty to facilitate certain aspects of their research endeavors, it also seeks to provide Calvin faculty with the opportunity to mentor undergraduates in scholarly research. 

The research projects associated with the application proposals should relate in some manner to the Christian faith and public life; no particular methodological approach to the study will be given preference over another.  Faculty members are free to choose the particular student with whom they wish to work in this capacity. 

For the initial year, applications were submitted in early April of 2008, and decisions related to the funding of proposals were made by the Henry Institute Governing Board.  Ffor the 2008-2009 academic year, research projects were funded based on applications submitted by Stephanie Sandberg (Communication, Arts and Sciences), Randall Bytwerk (Communication, Arts and Sciences), Amy Patterson (Political Science) and Janel Curry (Geology).

Applications are required to provide the following: (1) a brief description (two or three paragraphs) of the research project and the length of time it is anticipated that the research project is likely to last—e.g., a semester, a year, more than a year, (2) how it is anticipated that the student fellow will be used in relationship to the research project—i.e., the kinds of tasks envisioned for the student researcher, the extent to which mentoring will occur, and (3) the potential name(s) of the student who is to work with you and the basis for the student’s selection. 
 
The student researchers associated with the selected projects are also expected to meet together as a group with Prof. Smidt for about an hour once every two weeks.

For additional information, contact Corwin Smidt.

Application Form for Research Award