The Hoffman Research Support Grants support students in all disciplines engaged in research during the summer. Hoffman Research Support Grants can be used to support a short-term summer research project in any discipline. They can support travel to a research site, research supplies, or other expenses related to research. This award may be used in conjunction with other sources of support (faculty grants, work study, etc.), but the need for additional funds must be demonstrated. Hoffman Research Support Grants may be used to support student-faculty research or independent student research conducted under the direction of a faculty member.

The Hoffman Research Support Grants supports up to $1,000 for Summer Research. Students awarded Hoffman Research Support Grants access their funds through reimbursement for documented expenses.

Actively enrolled and full-time first-year students, sophomores, and juniors working in all disciplines may apply.  Graduating seniors may apply to conduct research during Short Term only and cannot be registered for a Short Term course.

Because the goal of summer grant programs is to contribute to a student’s academic success and persistence at Bates, all summer funding is contingent upon a student maintaining a G.P.A. of at least 2.0.

You can not use research grant funding to participate in a credit-earning summer academic program or receive academic credit for summer research.

Students must submit an application form and a combined, SINGLE pdf of the following:

• a one paragraph (NO MORE THAN 100 words) abstract;
• brief project description of NO MORE THAN 2 DOUBLE-SPACED PAGES that includes a timetable and totaled, detailed budget of expenses; **if you are also applying for a summer research fellowship, and this is to supplement those funds, you need only attach the application form and budget.
• letter of support from the research advisor. If the research is to be conducted at another institution, a letter of support from that institution as well as a letter of recommendation from a Bates faculty member must be secured and attached to the application. Letters of support may be submitted directly to the Dean of the Faculty’s by emailing Alison Keegan (akeegan@bates.edu) by the application deadline.

In order to assess the value of our summer research programs, make improvements to them and secure further funding to support them, it is critical that the Dean of the Faculty’s Office secure specific feedback on each summer research project from each participant.  Hoffman Research Support Grant recipients are expected to submit an abstract and a brief final report (in the form of a letter to the Hoffman Foundation – see below) to the Dean of the Faculty’s Office. We include your reports for our own reporting to the Hoffman Foundation.

What Do We Need from You? We need a research project abstract and a narrative statement describing the research project, prepared in the form of a letter to the Hoffman Foundation. Any future grants from this office are contingent upon receiving these items.

When Do We Need the Information? We need all abstracts and letters submitted to the Dean of the Faculty’s Office within two weeks of finishing their project (i.e., the last day of the student’s contract), and to present their research during the Back to Bates Summer Research Poster Session unless they are studying off campus in the fall.

Abstract. Describe in a concise paragraph the nature of your work and your research goals for the summer.  Please include the names of all project personnel and all sources of funding. Do not use the abstract originally submitted; report on what you actually did.

Narrative Statement. This short narrative statement about your summer research opportunity (one to two pages) should be prepared in the form of a letter to the Hoffman Foundation, which seeks to hear directly from you about your experiences. It should describe your project goals and role in the research effort. If you are continuing your research into the academic year, be sure to mention that!

Please address your letter to:

Ms. Marion Barrak
President
Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, Inc.
970 Farmington Avenue, Suite 203
West Hartford, CT 06107

Submission. Please submit the abstract and your letter ELECTRONICALLY by sending pdf files to Alison Keegan (akeegan@bates.edu) in the Dean of the Faculty’s Office.  Any future grants from this office are contingent upon these items.

If you are applying for ONLY a Hoffman Research Support Grant (HRSG), please provide the materials list above through this portal. If you are applying for a summer research fellowship and are seeking a HRSG to supplement those funds, please just submit the application form with an attached budget. For questions, please contact Alison Keegan, akeegan@bates.edu.