Some of the Class of 2007's most academically driven students will soon have the opportunity to further their research at Dartmouth through the Presidential Scholars program.
A list of 102 available positions was recently posted on the dean of the faculty's website for interested students to peruse. The research assistantships are available in the humanities, sciences and social sciences.
Initiated in 1988, the Presidential Scholars Program is designed to prepare top students to write honors theses during their senior years. It allows a select group of students from each class to work alongside a faculty advisor as a research assistant.
The positions are only open to rising juniors who have attained a grade point average in the top 40 percent of their class by the end of their sophomore fall. Eligible students are contacted by mail and encouraged to apply for the program. Those who choose to apply are interviewed during either the Winter or Spring term of their sophomore year.
Adam Shpeen '07 is one of the students who plans on applying for a position as a research assistant.
"This program seems like a great opportunity for students to learn from faculty members on how to conduct research," Shpeen said. "I want to work with faculty members to acquire the skills needed in more advanced research."
Professors are encouraged to participate in the program by working with a student on a topic in which both individuals share a research interest.
"The list of research opportunities is comprehensive. However, some departments seem to be overrepresented, while others offer only a few topics," Shpeen said.
History professor Annelise Orleck is seeking a student to work with her on her research project, entitled "Rethinking the War on Poverty."
"This assistantship will give the student a chance to acquaint him or herself with a range of local programs that brought improved housing, medical care, day care, job opportunities and business development to poor communities across the U.S.," Orleck said. "It is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in either the history of poverty policy in the U.S. or in doing policy development themselves."
Government professor Ned Lebow is offering an assistantship in which a student will assist him with a forthcoming book on a theory of international relations. Lebow said he sees the program as being mutually beneficial for both students and faculty mentors.
"This is my second year with a presidential fellow, and once again I have a winner. He learns from me, and I from him," Lebow said.
For another position, economics professor Eric Edmonds plans to give the student with whom he works a unique insight into research skills by working on a project concerning the economics of child labor in developing countries.
"I hope that the presidential scholar will get a sense of what it means to do research on children's issues in developing countries," Edmonds said. "Rather than trying to educate the scholar on an interesting topic like child labor, I hope to give the scholar some insight into what a research career might be like."
Ivy Schweitzer, an English and women and gender studies professor, also plans on helping her assistant hone skills that will prepare him or her for a future career in research.
"For this particular scholarship, the student will help me prepare my manuscript on friendship and politics in early American literature for publication," Schweitzer said. "This will include checking references and quotations, researching last minute questions about the history and culture of early America to 1830, proofreading and perhaps working on the index. All of these tasks develop skills of research, analysis and synthesis that are important to almost any career a student may choose to pursue."
Successful applicants to the program will be notified by April 30. Scholars will spend two terms working alongside their faculty advisors.
