Deadline: SHARP Proposals

Date: 

Saturday, January 15, 2022 (All day)

Faculty deadline to submit a proposal for the Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program.

 

The Summer Humanities and Arts Research Program (SHARP) is a ten-week summer residential program for up to 16 Harvard undergraduates participating in arts and humanities research projects directed by Harvard faculty or in partnership with leaders at our libraries and museums. The program seeks to create a diverse community of student fellows who are inspired by, and committed to, research in the humanities. Students are provided with a stipend, as well as on-campus housing and a partial meal plan for the duration of the program.

To this end, we solicit proposals for projects that will provide a formative research experience for undergraduates from faculty and senior library and museum administrators who are willing to commit to substantive mentorship throughout the summer. In return, we hope the students’ engagement will enhance the faculty members’ research capacity and the missions of our libraries and museums.

For summer 2022, SHARP will tentatively run from Monday, June 6 through Thursday, August 11.

Applicants may apply individually or in teams, provided the proposed project(s) will engage students full-time in humanities research, broadly defined. Interdisciplinary projects are welcome. Purely clerical or administrative work is not appropriate.

In general, successful projects have included the following components:

  • Engaging research that allows for creative, substantive contributions from students;
  • Thoughtful plans for developing and utilizing students’ skills throughout the program;
  • Hands-on mentorship by sponsoring faculty members or library/museum staff; and
  • Regular interaction between students and project members.

In short, students should feel part of a team and have an opportunity to make real contributions.

Project mentors are asked to attend the student presentations, usually scheduled during the last week of the program (August 8 through August 11). Please note that mentors need attend only their own students’ presentation. Mentors are also welcome to participate in SHARP distinguished speaker events and other activities throughout the summer.

 

Proposals should be submitted to arts-hum@fas.harvard.edu no later than Saturday, January 15.

In your proposal, be sure to:

  • Describe the research/project with an undergraduate audience in mind. What are your goals for the summer, and what types of tasks would be involved? How might an undergraduate make a creative contribution to the endeavor? What does “a day in the life” look like?
  • Briefly describe your mentoring plan: How will you personally be involved with the undergraduate fellow(s) in training or project oversight? What skills will the student acquire, and how might this inform their academic trajectory and/or professional development? Regular and frequent interaction between mentors and students leads to a better outcome for everyone—if you need to be away for any part of the summer, how will you continue the mentoring relationship?
  • Prerequisites? What academic background and skills/knowledge, if any, should a student have to be an effective contributor to your project? Please note that many of the applicants are in their first and second years and may not have had the opportunity to develop advanced research skills.

Project descriptions will be posted on the SHARP website for applicants, who can indicate up to three project preferences when they submit their applications to the Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF). Student applications are due on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 12:00 noon via CARAT.

A committee will review the student applications and suggest possible student-project pairings. Faculty mentors/project leaders will then have a chance to interview (and decline, if necessary) students identified as possible matches. We regret that we cannot guarantee a student placement with every project.

Questions: We are happy to help you frame your project! Questions about the proposal process or project descriptions should be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at undergradresearch@fas.harvard.edu or (617) 495-8434. Examples of past projects, key dates from past summers, and details about programs can be found on the URAF website.