Graduate and undergraduate opportunities at Marsh
Marsh Research Intern Program
The George Perkins Marsh Institute (GPMI) is offering assistance to graduate students working on
faculty research projects for the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 semesters. The goal of the Program is
to assist faculty in developing and conducting research projects. The program is intended to
support projects related to GPMI's focus on the environment, technology and/or development,
with an emphasis on risk management, human-environment relationships and sustainability. Marsh
is multidisciplinary and conducts research through associations with departments on campus
including Biology, Economics, Geography, Government, IDCE, and Clark Labs, among others.
For a listing of recent projects, please see:
http://www.clarku.edu/departments/marsh/projects
During the 2008-09 academic year approximately $4,500 will be available for the Marsh
Research Intern Program. It is anticipated that the program will support 2-4 interns working 6-10
hours per week. Support may be requested for up to 18 weeks during the remainder of the
academic year. The pay rate is $12/hour.
Marsh Intern applications must be submitted by faculty, who may (but need not) identify
specific students as part of their application requests. Graduate students may not apply
independently for this program. Interested students are encouraged to contact faculty
who may require research assistance, who may then apply on their behalf.
How to apply: Faculty should provide a formal letter of application (two-pages maximum)
that includes:
- A description of the project or purpose for which support is requested.
- The relationship of the request to the focus areas of GPMI.
- A brief description of the student who would be working on the project (if known).
- The date during which the work would commence, the number of weeks for which support is requested and the average number of hours requested per week.
- The benefit of the requested support (to the faculty member, student and/or project).
- Any anticipated outcomes or results of the requested support.
- Contact information (phone and email).
In addition to the application letter, faculty who are not currently engaged in research at
GPMI must include a two-page curriculum vitae. Materials must be combined into a single
electronic file (Microsoft Word or pdf) and submitted via email to
Pamela Dunkle at PDunkle@clarku.edu. The deadline for
submissions was November 17, 2008. However, this program will be available again in the Fall of 2009.
Evaluation: Applications will be evaluated based on such factors as the quality, relevance
and impact of the proposed project, cost-effectiveness, qualifications of the faculty applicant,
and relationship to Marsh Institute priorities. Final decisions will be made by the Director,
who may request recommendations from the GPMI Steering Committee. Decisions will be announced
by early December.
Geller Student Research Awards for Projects Relating to Sustainability
Geller Student Research Awards were established by the family of Dr. Howard Geller.
Howard graduated from Clark in 1977 with a degree in Physics and in Science,
Technology and Society (now Environmental Science and Policy). He earned graduate
degrees at Princeton and the University of Sao Paolo and became the first executive
director of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). After
twenty years of accomplishments at ACEEE, including contributions to the National
Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, he left
ACEEE to found and direct the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) in 2001.
Remembering his own experience as an activist student researcher at Clark,
through these annual awards Howard hopes to support other Clark students as they
combine research with action that moves society toward sustainability. The awards
are intended to support student-initiated research projects that have the potential
to advance both our understanding of opportunities for greater sustainability in the
human use of resources and the environment and practical improvements that can be
implemented. Preference will be given to the new or exploratory projects, rather
than well established ongoing research programs, as well as projects that cannot
be carried out without the financial support from the Geller award. After
completion of their projects, awardees will be expected to present their
findings at an appropriate university forum. Both undergraduate and graduate
students are eligible for awards.
Given the intent of the Geller award, proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- relevance to practical approaches to advancing sustainability
- originality
- clarity and feasibility of research plan
- clarity and feasibility on how the project will contribute to linking knowledge to action
- potential for the Geller financial support to enable a project that may not be possible without the award
We anticipate making approximately three awards in amounts ranging from $1,500 to
$2,000, and several smaller grants, up to $1,000.
Applications for a regular award ($1,500-$2,000) must contain a 3 to 5 page description
of the proposed project which
- describes the issue or problem that the project will address;
- describes how the project will be conducted and, for projects involving more than one student,
how the tasks will be divided or shared among the participants;
- discusses the results that can be anticipated and how they will be documented; and
- places the proposed work in the context of other studies and activities and explains why this
project is worthwhile (should include a bibliography).
In addition to the project description (and not counted in the 3-5 page limit),
the application must contain a short (250-300 word) project summary, a one-page proposed
budget with an explanation of the purpose of the proposed expenditures.
Applications for a small award (<$1,000) should be shorter (2-3 pages) but also include a
project summary and an itemized proposed budget. Before submission, final proposals should be
reviewed and approved by a faculty advisor who should be clearly identified on the first page
of the proposal. Proposals exceeding the page limits will not be accepted.
Please also include the following additional information:
- whether the proposed project is part of your final paper, thesis, dissertation or class work; and
- a short description of any other sources of funding for this project.
If the proposal is for a portion of a larger project with a more extensive budget, the proposal must state clearly and explicitly
how financial support from a Geller award would compliment the larger project.
The deadline for applications was November 17, 2008. A faculty committee that shares Howard's interests in student research and activism for
sustainability will select the successful proposals. Announcement of the awards will be
made before the end of the fall 2008 semester.
Marsh Graduate Internships
Details coming soon
Other Research Opportunities
Visit the
Research Projects Page
Our faculty are not just teachers and scholars. They care about
what happens in each student's progress to academic maturity, acting
as mentors, respecting individual learning styles, and taking pride
in pushing each student beyond his or her own expectations. That's
why our faculty of experts give undergraduates the unique chance
to work side by side with them.
| ...Our faculty of experts
give undergraduates the unique chance to work side by side with
them. |
Today, more than 50 percent of the undergraduate students are involved
in research with a faculty member. (Read about Clark students' research.) You can find out more about pursuing
academic research by talking to your faculty advisor or the head
of your chosen major. Plans are also in the works for a Virtual
Research Center, where research opportunities will be posted
on this site. Watch for more information in the next few months.
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