Application Deadline is Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Are you ready to put that scientific/mathematical brain of yours to work on a challenging and fun project? To bring your creative and innovative A-game? Read on.
We’re writing to invite you to apply to the Middlebury STEM Innovation program, back for 2020 after a two-year hiatus, which is an exciting opportunity made possible by a generous donor in support of science and mathematics at Middlebury College. The project will bring together a group of students and faculty from a variety of disciplines in science and mathematics to solve a real-world scientific or technological problem.
What will the project be?
That’s your first challenge! As described below, students participating in the project will play a major role in deciding what the project will be and the range of potential topics is wide open. It will draw on “STEM” (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields in an interdisciplinary way. The only fixed goal is to produce a concrete, working “deliverable” at the end of the project. This could be a commercial product, a research tool, or some other kind of innovation. It might involve software, biotechnology, electronics, and/or a wide range of other areas of science and technology. New for this year, we are also interested in longer-term projects for which the 2020 deliverable could be part of a larger product.
How will the project be carried out? What is the time commitment?
That’s your second challenge! There are two components to the program, and students selected for participation will be expected to commit to both. First, there will be an independent study course during Winter Term 2020, through which students and faculty will work together to research possible projects, select the one to be pursued, learn and apply the necessary scientific and technical background, order equipment, and carry out preliminary research and design work. Then, during summer 2020 (June 15 – Aug 7), students will live and work full-time on campus for eight weeks to carry out the project, culminating in a deliverable at the end of the summer. The Winter Term component will count for one general college credit (it will not satisfy any major or distribution requirements). Students will receive a stipend for the summer component.
How do I apply?
Complete the application form (available at http://www.middlebury.edu/science/stem-innovation-program ) by Wednesday, October 16, 2019. In the application, you’ll be asked to:
1. Summarize your course of study at Middlebury and scientific/mathematical interests.
2. Propose a super-cool, innovative, interdisciplinary project that the team could pursue, clearly stating the problem you would solve. (Even though we’ll only pursue one project in the end, we’re interested in hearing lots of creative ideas!)
3. Include the names of two references (most likely Middlebury faculty but others are OK too) who can speak to your ability to contribute to this project.
Who is eligible? How many students will be selected?
All students who have demonstrated a significant interest in science via coursework, major, and/or other activities are eligible, as long as you will be enrolled in the College in January 2020. (So this year’s supersenior Febs are eligible, but new Febs entering in 2020 are not.) We expect to be able to choose eight students for this project, and to announce our selections in time for Winter Term registration.
I don’t know much about practical applications—I just study science and math because they’re so fascinating. Can I possibly contribute to a project like this?
Absolutely, and that’s the point: Learning the big, fundamental ideas of mathematics and science is great preparation for a wide range of applications. We’ll be bringing together students and faculty from a range of different disciplines with complementary areas of expertise. We just need you to be ready to apply your current knowledge and skills in new and innovative ways.
Why try a project like this at a liberal-arts college?
We believe that a broad liberal-arts education combined with a solid foundation in science and mathematics is the ideal preparation for a project like this. We encourage you to draw broadly on your Middlebury experience both within and outside of the sciences in proposing a problem to be solved or formulating a new innovation.
Who are you, anyway?
We are three faculty members who have seen from first-hand experience how valuable a basic science and mathematics education can be for applications outside of our specific areas of research. We’ll be advising the project.
Can you suggest some ideas?
Yes and no. We aren’t listing any suggestions in this solicitation because we want you to think broadly about the possibilities. But if you stop by and talk to us, we probably won’t be able to resist throwing out some of our own ideas to get the conversation started.
What if I have more questions?
Please ask! You can get in touch with one of us.
Innovatively yours,
Noah Graham, Professor of Physics
Frank Swenton, Professor of Mathematics
Jeremy Ward, Albert D. Mead Professor of Biology