UNDERGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES

Kellogg Developing Researchers Program

Interested in Developing Your Research Skills?

Apply for the Kellogg Developing Researchers Program at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Attend workshops to develop your research skills and become eligible to be a paid research assistant on short term projects for a Kellogg faculty member. Just want to improve your research skills to develop your own research project? This program is right for you.

Eligibility: 2nd Semester First Years, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors

 

 

 

Description

The Kellogg Developing Researchers Program provides undergraduate students the opportunity to develop their research skills and gain real world experience assisting faculty on short term research projects. Selected students will gain research skills by participating in a variety of quantitative and qualitative workshops and trainings. (A minimum of 3 will be required each semester.) Students will also be placed in a research assistant pool available to be matched with Kellogg Faculty Fellows looking for research assistance on short term projects. This program is designed to cultivate student research skills and knowledge with the goal of preparing students to do research on their own and/or with faculty across campus. Students will also be better prepared to write individual research proposals.


KDR students have received fellowships and awards such as the Critical Language Scholarship through the US Department of State and the Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service. See the full list of award recipients.

Application Deadline for fall 2024: TBA

Details

Students will have the following opportunities upon acceptance into the program:

  • Participants will attend a “What is Research” talk led by a Kellogg Faculty Fellow
  • Participants will gain research skills and experience by participating in workshops and trainings across campus (a minimum of 3 will be required)
  • Participants will be placed in a research assistant pool and will be considered for short term research projects of Kellogg faculty as they come in on a rolling basis
  • Participants selected to complete research for faculty will be paid for their research
  • Participants can renew for this program on a semester by semester basis as long as they meet the requirements of the program (as explained in orientation).
  • KDR Leaders are eligible to apply for funding to present at and/or attend a conference. For more details, please click here.

 

Requirements

To apply for the Kellogg Developing Researchers Program, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

  • Be in good academic standing
  • Submit all required application documents by the deadline

Students will be required to attend an orientation as well as a talk on “What is Research?,” in addition to participating in at least three (3) trainings or workshops during the semester. 

 

 

Application

Students who would like to apply for this program should have an interest in developing their research skills. 

To apply for the Kellogg Developing Researchers Program, please go to the online application page.  You can login to the application system using your Notre Dame credentials. Before sending questions to the program administrators, please open the application and review.

When you log in, you will be asked to submit the following documents:

  • A short essay (1 page, double-spaced, 12pt. font) explaining your interest in the Developing Researchers Program and how your involvement will support your academic goals.
  • An e-transcript - Please be sure to include current courses. (Click here for instructions on requesting an e-transcript.)
    **NOTE: First Year students may submit an "unofficial" transcript as we will make decisions before official transcripts are ready.
  • A résumé  - Please attach a current resume or CV
  • A letter of recommendation from a faculty member who can speak to the academic strengths, maturity and drive of the applicant.
     Please request the letter from your faculty recommender several weeks ahead of the deadline, and please inform him/her that the email will come from Submittable.
  • Application Questionnaire 
    • Includes:
      • Self-assessment of skills and research knowledge
      • Relevant courses taken
      • Workshops and/or trainings taken

Deadline for Fall 2024: TBA

Renewal

In order to renew to be in the program, you need to be in "good standing" and met the minimum requirements of the program the last semester you participated in KDR.

Renewal deadline: Friday, May 3, 2024

 

 

Conferences

KDR leaders may apply for funding up to $1500 to present their research at and/or attend domestic conferences or to present at international conferences. (Please refer to the eligibility requirements for more details.) The conference should have a clear relation to the student’s academic program at Notre Dame.

Students must meet with Holly Rivers prior to submitting their proposal, and must submit a proposal at least 5 weeks in advance of the conference. The proposal should be sent by email to Rachel Thiel and include the Conference Funding Requirements listed below.

Students may receive up to two conference grants per academic year.

Conference Funding Requirements:

  • A two-page proposal that includes a brief conference description (one paragraph), a web link for the conference, justification for attendance, and an explanation of how the student will utilize his or her time at the conference (the more specific, the better).
  • A budget
  • A statement of support from a professor from one of your classes, sent directly from the professor to Holly Rivers.

Can be submitted with application or after acceptance:

  • Students who are attending but not presenting at a conference will be required to consult with a graduate student which can be found at the bottom of this page, about how to best utilize their time at a conference and submit a one-page document based on that conversation. The document should include the graduate student's name and department. (Note that you are not limited to this group.) Funding will not be released until this document is submitted.

Students may not miss any classes while using funding from the Kellogg Institute.

Students must accept the award in writing no later than three business days after receipt of the award letter and fulfill several requirements once awarded before the Kellogg Institute can process funding. The Kellogg Institute will initiate a check request once students accept the award and turn in the required paperwork. (Note that all paperwork must be completed one week before the conference for funding to remain available to the student.)

Funded students must submit a follow-up article to be posted on the website, describing what they gained from the experience. The Conference Follow-Up Form should be submitted to Rachel Thiel within two weeks of return.

Campus Conferences

Human Development Conference (Spring): This conference hosted by the Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity brings together students from Notre Dame as well as other universities in the US and abroad to share their research experiences and perspectives on human development. For more information, visit http://kellogg.nd.edu/hdc

Notre Dame Student Peace Conference (Spring): The Student Peace Conference hosted by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies is planned by undergraduate students at Notre Dame. It provides students from across the country with a forum to explore issues of peace and social change and to present their research on these topics.https://sites.nd.edu/peacecon/

Off Campus Conferences

The American Anthropological Association’s Annual Meeting

Global Health and Innovation Conference

Global Development Conference

National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC)

Society for Research in Child Development

United Nations International Conference on Sustainable Development

For Faculty

Faculty Fellows of the Kellogg Institute can request an undergraduate student from this program to serve as a short term paid research assistant. 

If interested, a faculty member should send the following information to Holly Rivers

  • a brief description of their research project 
  • a list of skills the researcher would need to be successful
  • how many estimated hours the student researcher needs to work to complete the project
Meetings - Spring 2024
  • Kellogg Developing Researchers Program Orientation
    Newly accepted students of the program will come together to meet each other and learn about the opportunities available to them.
    Thursday, January 18, 6:30pm 
    Hesburgh Center Room C103

  • Kellogg Developing Researchers Program Meeting
    Wednesday, January 31, 6:30pm
    B101, Jenkins and Nanovic Halls
     
  • Kellogg Developing Researchers Program Meeting
    Students of the program will meet at the library to talk to workshop trainers and learn more about the resources available to them to develop research skills and conduct research on their own projects or those of the faculty they assist. Food will be provided.
    Monday, March 4, 6:30pm
    Carey Auditorium, Hesburgh Library

  • Kellogg Developing Researchers Program Meeting
    Wednesday, April 3, 6:30pm
    B101 Jenkins and Nanovic Halls
    Register here.
     

What is Research? - Kellogg Developing Researchers Program
Orla Stapleton, assistant professor of development studies at the Keough School, will join undergraduate students of the Kellogg Developing Researchers Program to talk about “What is Research?” and answer questions that they may have regarding their research. Students in their first semester of the Kellogg Developing Researchers Program are expected to attend and all students are welcome.
Friday, April 5, 2pm
Location: TBD


 
Trainings/Workshops

Students of this initiative are required to complete at least three trainings/workshops each semester. Information regarding workshops around campus can be found here.

 


Submission of Skills Requirement Form (training and workshop information ) 
Deadline for spring 2024: Friday, May 3
 
  •  To fill out the Skills Requirement Form - Click Here
(You can fill the form out in part and save to submit when all training is completed.)