Student Application Process for 2013/2014
Application Information and Procedures
Program Overview
Students accepted into Consortium projects will spend approximately four weeks in the field or laboratory collecting data. See the project announcements for specific descriptions of the time and activities involved.
Preparation: Project faculty help the students prepare for the summer work by preparing reading lists designed to provide an introduction to the field area and problem as well as providing information on project logistics. In the field: Students receive a short introduction to the field area or laboratory, which will help them identify their individual research project within the context of the research group's overall problem. Students spend the rest of the field time collecting their data, assisting other students, and discussing problems and results with the rest of the group.
Continuing Research: During the following academic year, the students are required to continue their work as independent study projects or senior honors theses at their home institutions under the guidance of an on-campus research advisor. The research group continues to communicate through e-mail.
Presentations: The student project culminates with participation in the annual Keck Research Symposium in Geology, which is held in April. Students present results in poster format, and may also be expected to give a short talk. All students are expected to submit a four-page 'Short Contribution' to be published in the symposium volume. Participation at the symposium is expected of all program students.
Eligibility (Note: approximately 30% of the student participants will come from non-Keck schools).
*Rising senior at the time of the summer field work.
*Declared geology or geology-related major enrolled in a degree program leading to a bachelor's degree.
*Completed course prerequisites for the project, and willing to complete a semester, block, or year of independent study or a senior thesis based on the Keck summer research project.
*Citizen or permanent resident of the United States or its possessions.
Fellowship and Expenses
Fellowship: The fellowship for student participants is $1500.00 (pending NSF funding and approval). Fellowships are disbursed to the student during the summer field season.
Travel and Travel Reimbursements: Reimbursement for travel to and from the project site depends on project location. For all domestic projects, the Consortium will pay up to $500 (in some cases more than $500 will be paid) for round-trip travel costs to the research site from home or college. NOTE: OVERSEAS (and some domestic) TRAVEL IS LIKELY TO BE GREATER THAN $500; STUDENT PARTICIPANTS MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE EXPENSE. The Consortium also pays full costs of room and board during the summer project, and for extra research expenses required for successful completion of the Keck project (e.g., thin sections, chemical analyses, etc.). The Consortium pays all expenses related to attending the symposium, except for the cost of transportation to and from the home airport.
The Application and Selection Process
For questions about the application process, or about the Consortium in general, contact Dr. Robert J. Varga (bob.varga@pomona.edu; 330-465-7184); Carol Morgan, Administrative Assistant (keckgeology@pomona.edu); or review additional documents on our website (keckgeology.org).
Student selection is based on the applicants 1) potential to succeed in the geosciences, 2) research interests and educational goals, 3) compatibility with the research goals of the project, and 4) potential contribution to the success of the project. Students will be notified of acceptance in late February by email and paper copy.
Application materials for 2012 summer projects, including any supplemental materials (completed faculty advisor and recommendation forms) must be received on or before Friday, February 1st, 2012.
Application Procedure
A complete application packet includes the online application form, online recommendation form from a faculty member and/or your chosen faculty research advisor/sponsor, and the online verification from your research advisor/sponsor that they agree to supervise your work for the coming year.
* Have your faculty recommender complete the online Faculty Recommendation Form.
* Have the faculty member who you have identified as your research advisor fill out the online Faculty Advisor Form (in most cases recommender and research advisor will be the same person). On this form your faculty research advisor will verify your current GPA and the grades for the classes you reported on your electronic application.
* Ask your potential research advisor/sponsor to verify their agreement to act in this capacity during the coming year and to supervise your independent study or senior thesis based on your Keck Geology Consortium project research. Research Advisor information is available here.
Application Process
Step 1. After reading the project descriptions, consult your recommending faculty member and your potential research advisor/sponsor and decide which projects most closely match your interests and qualifications. Please be sure that your faculty advisor/sponsor is familiar with the responsibilities of research advisors.
Step 2. Complete the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM. Part of this electronic application includes listing science or related courses you have taken, and the grades received, as well as listing those currently in progress. PROVIDE YOUR ON-CAMPUS RESEARCH ADVISOR WITH THE GRADE LIST YOU ARE SUBMITTING ON THE APPLICATION FORM. THEY WILL NEED TO CERTIFY THAT THE GRADES ARE CORRECT. In addition, there are three (3) supplemental questions concerning future plans and how you expect to benefit from your research experience. Responses to these questions typically run to at least a half-page each (you can paste text into the response boxes from word processing programs).
1) How will participating in your first choice project contribute to your academic, professional and personal objectives? Give specific examples.
2) What strengths (academic and non-academic) do you bring to this project that will contribute to its success? Describe past experiences that highlight strengths not apparent from your transcript.
3) Would you be an enthusiastic participant in your second choice project?