J E F F E R S O N S C H O L A R S F O U N D A T I O N

jefferson fellows programs
Fellow/Scholar Research Projects
An idea hatched by former Jefferson Fellow, Emily Charnock, and Professor
Brian Balogh looked to create a Jefferson Fellows online research project
open house where undergraduates would look to identify current Jefferson
Fellows who might be pursuing research projects of interest. The interested
undergraduate Scholar would be matched with the appropriate Jefferson Fellow,
and they would work together to foster a worthwhile academic relationship.
By creating a pairing program, matching undergraduate scholars with
particular fellows in whose work they are interested, the Fellow would
develop a research project for them. The aim would be to combine aspects
of a research assistantship and a mentoring program.
The goal: to build links between the Fellowship and Scholarship
programs, and generate collaboration between the two sets of students. The
undergraduate Jefferson Scholars get the chance to contribute to a substantial
research project and gain a better understanding of what research is all about,
and to receive an insider view of graduate school – something they may
be considering. They also gain a sounding board for their own academic
projects, as we envisage the Fellows providing advice on the undergraduate’s
scholarly activities - honors theses, for example. Fellows get assistance with
research - but, moreover, as a graduate student aiming to gain an academic
position, participation in this program shows that you can develop one-onone
mentoring relationships and serve essentially as an adviser, much as they
will be expected to do with our own graduate students in the future.
Jefferson Talks
Similar to the “Ted Talks” principle, Fellows held a discussion
on a particular topic that was not overly or heavily academic but rather
more practical and germane to a wider audience. Fellows and Scholars
were invited and asked to participate fully. Rachel Beaton, Bill Dirienzo,
and Chris Irwin started this series with their fascinating demonstration of
space and the skies with, “Death from the Skies: Unsolved Mysteries in the
Universe.” The presentation included the use of their mobile planetarium.
The audience of mostly current Jefferson Fellows enjoyed an evening “staring
up at the planets” from various locations around the world. Launched as a
pilot program in 2011-2012, the Fellows will look to expand to monthly
discussions beginning in 2012-2013.
2011-2012 Projects
Project Title | Picturing
Fellow | Jill Baskin
Scholars | Kelsie Petrie and
Jenni Jung
Department | Art History
Freedom’s Shores | The Visual
Culture of African Americans in
Liberia, 1821-1865
Project Title | Untangling the
X-Ray emission from Young
Stellar Objects (YSOs)
Fellows | Rachael Beaton and
Bill Dirienzo
Scholars | Paul Michel
Department | Astronomy
Project Title | Astrophysics/
Supernovae
Fellow | Chris Irwin
Department | Astronomy
Project Title | (1) Beyond the
Beltway: Presidential Travel and
the Permanent Campaign, or
(2) From Ghosts to Shadows: The
National Party Organizations and
Interest Groups
Fellow | Emily Charnock
Scholar | Alexandra Lichtenstein
Department | Politics
the 2012 annual report
87