Research Grants
A Dean Rusk Research Grant is defined as a systematic inquiry that is designed to discover and interpret new information.
Applying for the Grant
For this grant, each student is required to complete the following steps:
- Consult with the Dean Rusk office to discuss your project proposal.
- Obtain a faculty recommender.
- If applicable, obtain a language proficiency recommender (required where English is not the predominant language in the country for your proposed project).
- Submit your IRB application one calendar week before the Dean Rusk application deadline.
- Write a proposal.
- Complete travel grant budget report.
Writing Your Proposal
A strong proposal includes:
- What is the topic you want to study?
- Where will you travel to conduct your research?
- What do you hope to get from the project, and why is the project important to you?
- How does your work build upon—and possibly improve—existing research already done about the topic?
- How is it important within the subject areas covered in your Davidson courses (a capstone project, thesis, or future research project)?
- What are the specific procedures you plan to do to accomplish your research?
- Confirm your research proposal has been submitted for IRB review at least one week before the Dean Rusk application deadline.
- What kinds of resources, documentation, or permissions do you plan on needing, and how will you obtain them?
- What are your language skills for the proposed countries you plan to travel to?
- Can you get those tasks done with the requested resources (i.e. budget) and the proposed time frame?
- How will you make your project accessible to all audiences?
Deadline
2024 Research Grants will be available when the fall grant cycle opens at the close of the spring grant cycle, with an application deadline of October 1, 2024.
To start your application, use Submittable.
Recently Funded Research Grants
Empowerment through Community: Maya Women's Participation in Evangelical Religion in Guatemala
by Maggie Kinton ‘24
Maggie conducted fieldwork in the Guatemalan Western Highlands to explore the economic and religious experiences of Maya Mam women, one of the largest Indigenous Maya groups. Her senior honors thesis in anthropology, titled "Todas Estamos Siguiendo Adelante: How Mam Maya Women Generate Movement Towards a Good Life Through Textile Work and Religious Participation," aimed to examine how their participation in textile cooperatives and evangelical religion influences their identity and empowerment.
Anstey Inorganic Chemistry Research
by Matthew Weber ‘25
Matthew Weber joined Prof. Mitch Anstey's research team to explore battery chemistry for large-scale energy grids. In collaboration with the University of Kent, they focused on designing inorganic molecules to enhance battery efficiency and durability. Their goal is to address the inefficient utilization of renewable energy by developing batteries capable of storing it effectively.
Government Policies and Effects on Gold Mining Communities in Kakamega, Kenya
by Scout Yokley ‘24
Scout Yokley traveled to Kakamega, Kenya, to investigate the impacts of government policies on gold mining communities. Her research involved conducting interviews within these communities and developing an economic model that integrates environmental considerations. The goal of her research project was to assess how government policies affect the socio-economic dynamics of these communities reliant on gold mining.
