Natural and Applied Sciences Summer Research Fund

“Being part of a summer research team is helping me learn to code in Python and learn about plasma physics concepts. It is also helping me increase my knowledge and understanding of physics, ultimately helping me get into a graduate school program to advance my education.” –Current Student

Hope College is a leader among liberal arts colleges in faculty-student scientific research. These partnerships are among the most transformative experiences in a student’s academic career. Students benefit from valuable hands-on experiences plus the guidance and expertise of a faculty mentor. The faculty benefits from vital student involvement.

Every year more students apply for summer research positions than we can offer because of funding constraints.

Today, your gift will close this gap and support undergraduate research in the Natural and Applied Sciences Division (NASD) across all disciplines.

Some of the most recent science activities in the NASD include:

• Mechanisms of Natural Carbon Sequestration in Peat Bogs – Geology and Environmental Science
• Implementation Fidelity of Activities Related to New Michigan Science Standards at Fennville Elementary – Biology
• Keeping Neurons Healthy: Understanding the Regulation of a Membrane Transport Protein in the Brain – Chemistry
• Cortical Responses to Physical and Electrically Evoked Somatosensation – Engineering
• Changes in the human milk microbiome over time – Mathematics
• The Mother’s Milk for Michigan Infants research team working to improve lactation outcomes in minority low-income populations – Nursing
• Interdisciplinary studies with the Hope particle accelerator - Physics

On Day of Giving, thanks to the generosity of Wendell Wierenga '70, all gifts to the NASD Summer Research Fund will be matched (up to $2,500)!