Launched in 1997, the mission of the Investigative Studies Program is to:
- Provide students with an opportunity to pursue their research and creative interests in a manner not found in a typical class setting
- Promote intellectual curiosity and stimulate creativity in students in an academic discipline or between disciplines
- Foster a sense of learning, sharing, and commitment with a community of scholars.
Aimed at the College’s most academically gifted and highly motivated students, the Investigative Studies Program at Marietta provides Summer Fellowships for undergraduates interested in pursuing unique research and creative projects, as well as Travel Fellowships for the presentation of findings at regional and national conferences.
The Supplies Grants program provides student researchers with a small fund from which they can purchase consumable materials or supplies for a current research or creative project. The annual Investigative Studies Symposium provides a showcase for the Summer Fellowship recipients to share the results of their projects with the Marietta College community.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Suzanne Parsons
McCoy Professor of Biochemistry
Gilde-Grose Distinguished Professor in the Sciences
Director of Investigative Studies Program
Investigative Studies Announcements
Key Dates for Fall 2025
TRAVEL and SUPPLY GRANTS
- FALL TRAVEL AND SUPPLY GRANTS - ROUND 1 due Friday, October 3, by midnight
- FALL TRAVEL AND SUPPLY GRANTS - ROUND 2 due Friday, November 14, by midnight
- Two more rounds of Travel and Supply Grants Coming in Spring 2026 - Watch for dates!
Travel Grant Awards (up to $500) enable students to present their research or perform in the fine arts at a regional or national academic conference. Supply Grant Awards (up to $250) help students purchase supplies for research or creative projects.
RESEARCH GRANTS
- SPRING 2026 Research Grants -- Due Friday, November 14, by midnight
- FALL 2026 Research Grants Coming in Spring 2026 - Watch for dates!
Students can get paid or receive credit for working with a faculty member performing research or a creative project during Spring semester 2026.
SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS 2026
Due Friday, March 27, 2026 by midnight
ALL SCHOLARS DAY 2026
- Thursday, April 23 (Classes cancelled except labs and classes that meet once a week)
- Abstracts due by Friday, March 20 at midnight -- SUBMIT ONLINE, details will be released in January 2026
Submit all grants and fellowship applications via email to Dr. Parsons: ksg001@marietta.edu.
- All Scholars Day
All Scholars Day is a campus-wide celebration of scholarship at Marietta College. All students, faculty, and staff are expected to participate in ASD — it is such an important day that no class meetings are held on ASD! ASD allows students to share their research, creative projects, and senior capstone projects with the Marietta College Community. Students give talks, poster presentations, demonstrations, and performances for audiences across disciplines, demonstrating the importance of the liberal arts at Marietta College.
- Investigative Studies Summer Fellowships
The goal of the Student Summer Fellowship Program is to encourage undergraduate student-faculty collaboration in investigative studies. Summer Fellowships are designed to support students for a six-week period so that students may work with a faculty member on a project of mutual interest.
- Investigative Studies Travel and Supply Grants
Travel and Supply grants are available to help students both with the cost of traveling to present their work or learn at academic conferences and virtual events and of consumable goods for their research projects.
- Investigative Studies Research Fellowships
The goal of the Student Research Fellowship Program is to encourage undergraduate student-faculty collaboration in investigative studies. Research Fellowships are designed to support students during the academic year so that they may work with a faculty member on a project of mutual interest.
Major: Actuarial Science
Minor: Theatre
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michelle Jeitler, Mathematics
Current Research Project: A Statistical Analysis of Mental Training in Backyard Ultra Marathons
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Suzanne Parsons, Biochemistry
Current Research Project: Activation of PARP-1 in apoptosis induced by different parabens in human melanoma cells