Fondren Fellows

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About the program

The Fondren Fellows program funds Rice undergraduate or graduate students to conduct research or teaching projects sponsored by Fondren Library that involve skills, collections, spaces, or services related to libraries and archives. Projects are proposed by Rice faculty members or Fondren staff who serve as mentors, helping Fellows to establish a work plan, develop the project, and acquire needed skills. These projects cover a wide range of topics, such as describing archival collections, developing digital scholarship projects, or creating educational resources.

 

Summer Program now open!

 

Apply now on 12twenty

For the first time, we'll hold a Summer Program of the Fondren Fellows, beginning in late May 2024 and running until around August. 

This will be a separate program with projects crafted explicitly for students to work in person on the Rice campus during the Summer Session.

Applications will only be accepted via 12twenty

 

Fall 2024-25

The next application period for the 2024-25 year will open in fall of next year. Fill out this form to be added to the mailing list and we'll contact you when you can come back and apply to be a Fondren Fellow!

 

Summer 2024 Projects open to applications:

 

- Milestones in Science: 50 years of Natural Sciences at Rice

Investigating the Historical Black Community of Snipe, TX through Archival Research

Understanding data practices in the Soil Sciences in relation to emerging federal Public Access requirements

 

Program expectations

Once selected, Fondren Fellows must:

  • 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

Benefits

The Fondren Fellows program offers the following benefits to students:

  • Receive a competitive wage. Fellows will receive $18/ 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.    

Please direct any questions to fondrenfellows@rice.edu

 

Outcomes and Highlights

Explore the outcomes of recent Fondren Fellows projects.

More about the Fondren Fellows Program

Fondren Library gratefully acknowledges the John “Terry” Maltsberger III estate for creating an endowment to support expanding the Fondren Fellows program - "Surprise for Fondren Library: $2 million endowment to fund experiential research," Rice News (November 5, 2018).

Between 2016 and 2019, the Fondren Fellows program was funded through the generous support of Trish Brice. The program's inception originally drew inspiration from a similar program at Vanderbilt, as well as by student research programs at Rice’s Center for Civic Leadership and Rice’s Humanities Research Center.

For more information, see Jeff Falk's article: "Fondren Fellows Program showcases students’ research prowess," Rice News (April 17, 2017).

Fellows are encouraged to upload completed project materials and presentations to the Rice Digital Scholarship Archive (RDSA). This has resulted in the FF section of the RDSA, which is available here

Contact Information

Email: fondrenfellows@rice.edu

 Instagram: 

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

Mailing Address:

Fondren Library MS-44
Rice University
PO Box 1892
Houston, TX 77251-1892