Program Components
Primer in Experimental Design and Research Methods
The fellowship commences with an in-person primer on experimental design and research methods. Throughout this week-long primer, students will engage in daily classroom sessions where they immerse themselves in activities centered around formulating an innovative and feasible research question, refine their experimental design, foster an understanding of research ethics, and navigate potential research biases. By the conclusion of the primer, students will present their proposed research methods to the Marine Lab community. This presentation will entail critical evaluations and discourse on their experimental design, involving peers and faculty research advisors.
Independent Research
For the subsequent nine weeks of the program, students will engage in faculty-mentored independent research, actively working on implementing the experimental design they initially proposed. The ultimate goal is for this research to form the foundation of a senior honors thesis for Graduation with Distinction. During these nine weeks, the students will participate in weekly research check-ins and journal article discussions where they will reflect on experimental design and variation in research methodologies. Moreover, students will have the opportunity to establish connections and foster relationships within the Duke Marine Lab community through weekly faculty lunches and various social gatherings. Lastly, at the end of the program students will hone their data synthesis and science communication skills by presenting their findings to the Marine Lab community.
Program Dates
June 3 - August 9, 2024 (dates subject to change)
Meet the Fellows
Current Fellows
Summer 2024 Cohort |
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Maya Brookens |
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Jake Frietze |
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Priya Goel she/her/hers Major: Marine Science & Conservation (intended) Graduation Year: 2027 Advisors: Dr. Zackary Johnson Contact: priya.goel@duke.edu |
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Molly Honecker |
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Ashley Huang |
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Akshaya Mohan |
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Maya Reilly she/her/hers Major: Biology and Evolutionary Anthropology; Minor Marine Science & Conservation Graduation Year: 2026 Advisors: Dr. Andy Read Contact: maya.reilly@duke.edu |
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Ming Shen he/him/his Major: Biomedical Engineering Graduation Year: 2025 Advisors: Dr. Tom Schultz Contact: jiaming.shen@duke.edu |
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Arielle Solomon she/her/hers Major: Marine Sciences & Conservation Graduation Year: 2025 Advisors: Dr. Andy Read Contact: arielle.solomon@duke.edu |
Past Fellows
Summer 2023 Cohort |
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Betty Alfaro |
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Zoe Ali |
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Danny Collins Major: BS, Marine Science and Conservation, BS Biology Graduation Year: 2024 Advisors: Dr. Tom Schultz and Dr. Jason Somarelli Contact: dsc49@duke.edu |
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Misaki Foster |
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Catalina Lopez |
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Ali Pagliery Major: BS Biology Graduation Year: 2024 Advisor: Dr. Andy Read Contact: anp52@duke.edu |
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Jilly Senk Major: BS Environmental Science Graduation Year: 2024 Advisor: Dr. Tom Schultz Contact: js944@duke.edu |
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Emma Sardy Major: BS Biology Graduation Year: 2025 Advisor: Dr. Andy Read Contact: els79@duke.edu |
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Henry Sun Major: BS Marine Science/Conservation Graduation Year: 2025 Advisor: Dr. Tom Schultz Contact: hs325@duke.edu |
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Kira Lichtenfeld |
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Kareena Sukhnanan Major: BS Biology, BA Neuroscience Graduation Year: 2026 Advisor: Dr. Tom Schultz Contact: kis15@duke.edu |
How to Apply
Deadline
March 8, 2024
Application
The application involves submitting the following components, which should be merged into a single PDF file named using the following format: LastName_FirstName_ApplicationYear_BSRFP:
- Project Selection (choose one of the options below):
- Please provide a ranked list of your top three preferred research topics.
- If you choose to pursue your own research topic that is not on the provided list, please submit a 500-word explanation of your proposed project design along with a faculty acknowledgement statement. The faculty statement should confirm that you have discussed the project with a faculty member who has agreed to mentor you during the summer. This agreement can be included as either a signed statement within your project explanation or as a forwarded email included with your application.
- Personal Statement: Craft a one-page statement (12-pt font, 1-inch margins) detailing your motivation for applying to the Bonaventura Summer Research Fellows Program, your relevant background, and your future aspirations.
- Statement of Need: Compose a 300-word statement illustrating how acceptance into the Bonaventura Summer Research Fellows Program will contribute to the fulfillment of your academic or career objectives.
- Resume: Your resume should be one page and include all pertinent coursework, experiences, and extracurricular activities.
All application materials should be emailed to the Bonaventura Summer Research Fellowship Program at BonaventuraFellows@duke.edu by the deadline. Applications that do not meet the formatting standards listed above will not be considered. Semi-finalists will be selected from the pool of applicants for interviews with the Program Leads and may be asked to provide additional information.
