Duke University Global Education Office for Undergraduates

Summer Research Fellowships

To highlight and strengthen opportunities for Trinity College of Arts and Sciences undergraduates to engage in research projects abroad, the Global Education Office for Undergraduates will support up to ten annual Study Abroad Research Fellowships awards through the Trinity College Deans' Summer Research Fellowship competition. 

The Global Education Office makes these fellowships available to highlight and strengthen opportunities for Trinity undergraduates to engage in research projects abroad, specifically, to plan and conduct summer projects inspired by and based on academic study abroad experiences. Priority will be given to students whose projects will serve as a foundation for a senior distinction project in their majors.
 
The intention of providing support through Study Abroad Research Fellowships is to increase the numbers of humanities and social science students who pursue senior distinction projects with an international component in a country other than the U.S. Thus, students will be eligible to apply for these fellowships if they (1) have studied abroad in the fall or spring semester, (2) will be returning to Duke for the subsequent academic year and (3) have planned a summer research project in the same country as their study abroad program or a project related to the international theme/s and courses of their academic program abroad in a different country. Priority for funding will be students whose summer projects have a high probability of being continued as senior distinction projects in their majors.
 
Interested students should apply for a Deans' Summer Research Fellowship and indicate their eligibility for Study Abroad funding on the application. All applicants will be considered for funding through the Deans' Summer Research Fellowship program.
 
Information and applications for the Deans' Summer Research Fellowship

 


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Postcard From Abroad

Dear Global Education Office:

I always knew that I would study abroad, but it was ultimately a difficult route to pursue since the majority of my friends decided to remain at Duke for junior year. In the summer of 2008 I participated in the Duke Study in China Program, and in the fall of 2008 I participated in the Duke in Florence Program. I am a double major in International Comparative Studies and Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and I love cross-cultural interdisciplinary analysis.

Prior to study abroad, the seed for my senior thesis research on Chinese migration to Italy had been planted in an Italian class when we discussed the new waves of immigrants to Italy. Who knew that there were immigrants in Italy?! During my travels in Europe, I noticed a sizeable Chinese presence, and I wondered why such a wide spectrum of people had decided to migrate there instead of the US. After all, is the US not the land of immigration? I was also very nostalgic for my friends and teachers from the China program, with whom I had formed deep and lasting connections.

My extended experience as a "foreigner" allowed me insight into some of the cultural challenges that immigrants face. My happiness at seeing a "familiar" face and conversing in a "familiar" Chinese language reinforced what I had often heard before: regardless of where you are and where you are from, there is an innate bond formed between Chinese, even those that you have never met before. Interestingly, the European citizens and the Chinese residents alike that I interacted with considered me first and foremost as Chinese, not American, leading me to question the basis of Sino-European interactions.

Post-study abroad, I sought ways to incorporate my experiences and goals into a cohesive purpose that would extend beyond the formal classroom setting. My senior thesis analyzes how Chinese and Italian historical migration experiences influence the creation and perception of contemporary EU migration policy and identity formation. I used the city of Prato as my case study. As you can see in the picture above, there is such a large population of Chinese in Prato (one of the largest in Europe) that many signs are written in both Italian and Chinese.

I spent four weeks in and around Prato in the summer of 2009 conducting interviews with the Italians and Chinese residing in the city. While it was definitely some of the most challenging work I've done thus far, I would not trade this experience for anything. This was truly when I fell in love with Italy and its people, and despite the complexities of my topic, I am glad that I can use my skills to give these people a voice so that their stories may be heard.

- Angela Chang

 

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