Student Research and Creative Work

Whether working in an on-campus lab, engaging in a creative project, or embarking on a full-year honors thesis, Knox students innovate, create, and investigate across all disciplines. Since 1968, the Richter Memorial Fund has generously supported these endeavors, providing more than $3.35 million to support Knox students in the pursuit of projects that foster independence of thought and expression beyond the typical classroom setting. These funds support individual projects (below) as well as collaborative research projects led by Knox faculty members. 

Individual Student Projects

Knox students can apply for a Richter grant to support individual research or creative work during the academic year, winter break, or summer. More information about each type of grant opportunity can be found here. Any student in any discipline is eligible to apply for Richter funds, as long as a faculty mentor is committed to supporting the student and the project.

Applying for and receiving a Richter grant is intended to simulate a professional grant application process. Approval is not guaranteed nor automatic. If your application is approved, awardees must complete weekly progress updates, a survey before and and after the experience, and an end-of-project report.

Read these frequently asked questions for more details:

• What can a Richter grant pay for?

  During the academic year, a Richter grant can pay for items necessary for the project (materials, participant incentives, some (limited) equipment, etc). During the summer and winter break, stipends to support living expenses may be awarded in addition to project expenses. Read the Richter Policies & FAQs.

• How many times can I apply for a Richter grant?

  Read the Richter Policies & FAQs.

• How many weeks or hours should I plan to work on my project in the summer or winter break?

  During the summer, students choose from either a 4 or 6 week track. Each of these tracks have varying hour commitments. During the winter break, students choose from a 3 or 5-week track. For more information, go here.

• What is involved in the application?

  The two primary parts of the application are 1) the proposal, which explains what your project is and why it’s worthy of funding and 2) your proposed budget.

• I need help writing my proposal!

  Before you start writing, review these examples of previous student proposals from across many disciplines, and prepare to spend a good amount of time writing and revising. You’re also encouraged to set up a meeting with a Richter Student Ambassador to help you with your proposal. Schedule a 30-minute appointment with a Richter Ambassador from STEM, Arts/Social Sciences, or Humanities/Music to get some 1:1 help.

• Do I complete this project entirely on my own?

  No. You must have a Knox faculty mentor on board to guide and support your project. Your mentor must approve your project before your application will be considered by the Richter Advisory Board. See below for more details.

• How do I apply?

  Go here to see all the Richter grant applications. Make sure you choose the correct one!

• How will my application be evaluated?

  Your application will be reviewed by the Richter Advisory Board. The board evaluates student applications using this rubric.

• What is required once I’m approved?

  Awardees must complete an award agreement, complete weekly progress updates, a survey before and and after the project, and an end-of-project summary report. Participation in HORIZONS, Knox’s annual research/creative work symposium, is also required for most Richter recipients.

Collaborative Student Research

Information about Collaborative Research Projects, which are multi-week group projects led by a faculty member either during the summer or winter break, can be found here. These projects are in-person experiences and are typically held on-campus at Knox.