Application due: Friday, April 4, 2008, 4:00 PM
The Mission
Each year, the Nathan and Violet David Scholars Program gives talented and service-minded students the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research in the sciences. It is the mission of this program to facilitate positive social change by enabling students with promising talent, but financial need to participate in undergraduate research, gain admission to a competitive graduate programs, and thus have the choice to pursue scientific careers at the highest level.The David Scholars Program now includes a public service component. Through a scientific community outreach program that includes volunteer teaching and mentoring in public schools located in low-income areas, undergraduate David Scholars will create scientific enthusiasm in children from low-income backgrounds who would otherwise not be directly exposed to scientific research. Such "scientific evangelism" may increase the number of future scientists from diverse economic backgrounds.
The Nathan and Violet David Scholars Program enables talented undergraduates who demonstrate capability and zeal for science to engage in unpaid laboratory research during the term and over the summer by providing financial assistance so that students do not have to work. Beginning in Spring 2002, three students will be chosen as new David Scholars each year. In addition, scholars receiving the award as juniors will be eligible to apply for the continued support of the NVDF in their senior year.Program benefits include:
• $6,500 as a summer scholarship to pursue an independent research project in a campus lab. This money will cover the students' summer living costs and pay for expenses associated with application to graduate school.• $6,000 for the academic year to eliminate or reduce the student's need to work or go more deeply into debt.
• Up to $4,000 will be available for each new scholarship recipient to purchase research supplies, to pay for conference fees, and to travel to and from conferences. Of this money, $2,000 will be allocated for a one-time purchase of a personal computer.
• Up to $2,000 will be available for supplies and expenses for scholars renewing for a second year
• An opportunity to inspire future scientists via teaching and mentoring in local public schools.
• Two events during the year to create community and discuss research.
