Wachenheim Science Center lit up at night

Academics

Summer Programs

Summer Science Research Program

Summer research begins in mid-June at Williams. On average, 180 current students spend about 10 weeks working on campus with faculty as fully funded research fellows, while 20 pre-frosh students are immersing themselves in science at Williams and 30 fifth and sixth graders are experimenting in Science Lab at Williams. Summer is the perfect time for conducting in-depth research.

A large group of students having a discussion in a packed classroom

Research Funding Sources

The science center oversees a summer research program involving nearly 200 students, who live on campus and work intensively on research projects under the direction of Williams faculty members. This program is made possible by substantial support of the institution, by external grants, and by a wide array of endowed funds.

Current institutional grants:

Allison Davis Research Fellowships (formerly Williams College Undergraduate Research Fellowships)
Fairchild Foundation Summer Scientific Research
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowships

Current faculty research grants supported by these private organizations and government agencies:

American Chemical Society – Petroleum Research Fund
American Physiological Society
Keck Geology Consortium
Keck Northeast Astronomy Consortium
NASA
National Science Foundation
National Institutes of Health

Endowed College Funds which provide ongoing support:

Arnold Bernhard Foundation Endowed Summer Fellows Program
Bronfman Science Center Fund
Class of 1951 Summer Research Fellowship Fund
John & Louise Finnerty Class of 1971 Fund for Applied Mathematical Research
Herbert J. Louis 1950 Summer Science Research Fellowship
The John A. Lowe III 1973 Fund
J. Hodge Markgraf 1952 Summer Research Fellowship in Chemistry
Betty & Lewis Somers 1948 Student Summer Internship in Physics
Sperry Family Geosciences Fund
Thomas W. Synnott III 1958 Fund for Physics
Wege-Markgraf Fund in Chemistry
Williams Bicentennial Psychology Scholarship
Whitehead Scholars Program

Poster Session

At the end of the summer, students (or teams) who were engaged in Summer Science Research can choose to present a poster highlighting the research they had been working on. This showcase of their collective work, engages students beyond the laboratory and field; formal preparation of datum, oral and visual presentation skills; and the ability to communicate with the general public and scientific community are necessary.

Science Center

31 Morley Drive
Williamstown, MA 01267

Phone: 413-597-2167