Eligibility
To be eligible to apply to the Nathan and Violet David Scholars Program you must be:
• planning to pursue a Ph.D. program in a science discipline after graduation from Berkeley;
• a permanent resident of the United States (or otherwise eligible for federal financial aid);
• a second semester sophomore (incoming junior) or second semester junior (incoming senior) standing;
• declared (or very soon to declare) in a science major at Berkeley
• eligible for need-based financial aid (via the Federal Student Aid process)
There is not a minimum GPA requirement for this program. You must, however, be in good standing and eligible to continue in your college and qualify for financial aid. Instead of looking at your overall GPA, the review committee will carefully consider the merit of your statement and proposal, as well as your recommendations. You must have strong grades in courses relevant to your success in completing the proposed project.
Responsibilities of David Scholars
David Scholars will be obligated to devote their energies to full-time research for ten weeks during the summer and for fifteen hours per week during the academic year. Scholars will be expected to work on a paper for publication and/or deliver a presentation at a scientific meeting. David Scholars will also present their work at a seminar at Berkeley, which will be open to representatives of the NVDF.Beginning in Fall 2004 David Scholars will be required to fulfill their service obligation by acting as teachers and mentors to low income and minority students at Willard Middle School in Berkeley. Students will be required to spend fifteen hours per semester in the school conducting what might be described as "scientific evangelism" - that is, doing fun experiements, teaching, or otherwise communicating what being a scientist is about.