COPPINGER FUND GRANTS

For student or student-faculty research projects in the cognitive or biological sciences

DEADLINES are in APRIL and SEPTEMBER each year. Ray Coppinger, a founding member of the faculty, was a leader in establishing Hampshire's emphasis on student inquiry and research. The Ray and Lorna Coppinger Endowment was established in 2006 to support student and student-faculty collaborative research in the cognitive and biological sciences. Income from the endowment is awarded competitively in response to proposals from students or faculty. Proposals that concern animal behavior, comparative cognition, evolution, ecology, or environmental science are given priority, but the program is not restricted to these areas.

Proposals from students must have the support of a faculty supervisor or mentor. Proposals from faculty members must demonstrate substantial existing or planned collaboration with students in the conduct of original research. Typical recent awards have been in the $250-$1,500 range. Funds can be used for equipment, travel to field sites, supplies, or other direct research expenses. The endowment does not support faculty salary or conference travel, although in some cases student travel to professional conferences can be supported.

Currently, proposals are judged by the deans of cognitive science and natural science, who consult other faculty members in CS and NS as necessary. Applications should be filed in April for consideration prior to the end of the current academic year. Applications may also be filed in September. Contact the CS office to get exact filing date deadlines. Faculty members interested in Coppinger funding should speak with the dean of cognitive science befor applying. Proposals and final reports are submitted to the administrative assistant of the School of Cognitive Science. Application guidelines for students are below.
 
APPLICATION GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS

Components of Application
1. Cover Page. (See below.)
2. A research proposal (Single-spaced, 12-pt. Type, 3-page maximum) that addresses the following: (a) the area of research and its grounding in the research literature; (b) the specific hypothesis or question to be investigated; (c) the research design and methods; and (d) the anticipated outcomes of the research and its implications.
3. List of references cited in the proposal (1 page maximum).
4. Brief statement of your background and qualifications for completing the project (1 page maximum).
5. Budget listing each item, its cost, and its justification, with a total. The budget must be signed by the faculty member supervising the project. The budget must state all sources of funding you have received or are applying for to support your research.
6. Copy of your application to any relevant research oversight committee:
    • For research involving animals, the relevant Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
    • For research involving human participants, the relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB).
    • Your faculty supervisor should have information about the above committees and regulations, as well as about other possibly applicable regulations and committees (e.g. lab use and safety approval, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), etc.).
7. Letter of support from your faculty supervisor. If the research is to be conducted at an off-campus lab or field site, it is also important to have a letter of support from the supervisor at the site.
8. For Division III students, a copy of your Division II evaluation. For Division II students, a copy of your Division I portfolio evaluation, your Division II contract, and your Division II course evaluations to date. (These documents can be printed from the Hub.)

Cover Page for Application
The cover page for your application must contain the following:
    • Name
    • Box number, or other mailing address
    • Email address
    • Project title
    • Division II or III
    • Name of faculty member supervising the project
    • Proposed dates of project
    • Location of project
    • Status of IACUC, IRB, or other regulatory certification, if needed
 
Reporting Requirements
Recipients of Coppinger grants are required to write a final report covering the conduct and results of the project and its personal significance for the student. Papers, published abstracts, conference posters, or notices of the work should be attached to the report. Students will also occasionally be asked to give presentations of their work and to provide descriptions and photo documentation for the Coppinger Fund website and newsletters.

Post-Grant Agreements and Procedures
1. All equipment and remaining supplies become the property of Hampshire College.
2. For projects requiring IACUC, IRB, or other certifications, funds will not be released prior to approval.
3. All expenditures require prior authorization by the Cognitive Science administrative assistant.
4. Any variation from the original budget during the course of the project requires submission of a revised budget before the expenses will be authorized.
5. Unused funds revert to the Coppinger Fund at the end of the final term of the proposed project.

Evaluation Criteria for Proposals
1. Intellectual merit of the proposed work.
2. Quality of the student's previous work and preparation for the proposed project.
3. Necessity of the budget items, as justified in the proposal.
4. Proposals that concern animal behavior, comparative cognition, evolution, ecology, or environmental science are given priority, but the program is not restricted to these areas of the cognitive and biological sciences.