2022-23 Fondren Fellowship

Apply to Become a 2022-23 Fondren Fellow

https://library.rice.edu/places/fondren-fellows

https://www.instagram.com/fondrenfellows/

Interested in working on a compelling research or teaching project that will enable you to explore projects such as investigating the role of the President’s White House science advisors during the Cold War, tracing the displacement of marginalized communities caused by early highway construction, expanding access to Houston’s Hip Hop archives by creating engaging social media videos, or how to expand DEI principles in Fondren Library publishing services? If so, then Fondren Library invites interested Rice undergraduate and graduate students to apply to become Fondren Fellows. Fellows will earn $17 per hour (for up to 200 hours of work), enjoy a flexible schedule, and remote work opportunities, hone their skills in research and communication, and be mentored by a Rice faculty member or Fondren staff member. 

You can read more about the projects for the 2022-2023 academic year at the links below:



(Note: some projects are looking for candidates with specific skills like programming or graphic design, so be please sure to read the project description carefully before applying)

1. Topic Database Creation Over the Rice Thresher
2. Design, Development, and Delivery of Python Workshops 
3. Post-Covid Corporate Stakeholder Engagement and Social Advocacy  
4. Fondren Library Data Repository for Data Science Education and Experiential Learning, Phase I 
5. Houston Highways 
6. Visualizing Catastrophe in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Interactive Map of Photography and Natural Disasters
7. Mapping TIMEA
8. The President’s Scientists: Understanding the Evolving Role of White House Science Advisors
9. Mapping Hispanic Early Modern Theater in the US
10. Blood Will Tell?: Genetics and Madness
11. Listening to our users: Centering DEI in Library Publishing Services
12. History of Japanese Farmers in Texas
13. OUT OF THE GUTTER: cataloging a new collection of international comic art at Rice University
14.  Building Capacities for Systematic and Qualitative Analysis in the Social Media Archive
15. Developing Houston Hip Hop Archives

Benefits for Fellows

The Fondren Fellows program offers the following benefits to students:

• Receive a competitive wage. Fellows will receive $17/ hour for up to 200 hours of work.
• Create a meaningful research or teaching project in collaboration with experts.
• Hone research and communication skills.
• Work flexible hours; most positions involve at least some remote work.    

Expectations

Once selected, Fondren Fellows are expected to:

• Submit a research plan
• Participate in regular meetings with their mentor(s) and, as appropriate, with other Fellows   
• Be able to dedicate at least 5-10 hours of work per week to their project
• Provide reports on their progress in meeting the project goals
• Present their project at a public forum, such as the Rice Undergraduate Research Symposium (RURS) or a Fondren Town Hall Meeting
• Acknowledge the Fondren Fellows program in any publications or presentations resulting from the fellowship
• Provide feedback on the Fellows program, including by completing a brief survey at the middle and end of the fellowship

Want to Learn More?

If you're interested in learning more about the program, there will be an info session hosted in the DMC Multipurpose room (located in Fondren Library) on Thursday, Sept. 1 from 5-6 pm. You can register for the info session here. The program will also be represented at the Discover Research Fair to answer any questions in the Grand Hall (located in the Rice Student Center) on Wednesday, August 31 from 4:30 to 5:30.

Applying for a Fellowship

Applicants must be current Rice graduate or undergraduate students in good academic standing at the time of the fellowship. Please read the instructions below very carefully

To apply, please submit the following via Handshake:

a resume or CV that includes your name, email address, telephone number and expected graduation date, and the contact information for two references

a cover letter. The cover letter should specify which project(s) you would like to participate in, why you are interested in those specific project(s) , what qualifications you bring to the project(s), and what you would like to get out of the fellowship. (In cases, where applicants are interested in multiple projects, please provide a list of ranked preferences with your cover letter)

If your application is chosen to move to the next stage, you will be contacted to interview with your prospective mentor and another member of the Fondren Fellows team.

Applications are due by midnight on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

Any questions should be directed to fondrenfellows@rice.edu