Freedman Prize for Student-Faculty Research
The Freedman Prize, established by Allen and Judy Freedman in 2002, recognizes superior student-faculty collaborative work.
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This competition is open to Hartwick students of any major (including science majors). Applicants have to be full-time students in good academic standing without holds on their student accounts. The proposed work has to involve an original academic endeavor (project or research) completed in collaboration with a faculty mentor.
Because this work can begin as early as the student’s first year on campus, the competition is open to students in all four classes.
Proposals will be evaluated by a committee composed of three faculty members on merit value, content, and feasibility, and then ranked. The strongest proposals will be called for verbal interviews with the committee members. The finalists will be determined by the Freedman Program Coordinator based on the evaluation provided by the committee.
2026-2027 Freedman Prize Recipients
Millicent Caldon ’28, Dahlia Landry ’27, and Lucille Walker ’28: Life in the Deep Biosphere: A Study of Subsurface Microorganisms from the Cornell University Borehole Observatory; Advisor – Dr. Stephanie Carr (Biology)
Johanna Lynip ’27: Paleoenvironmental Indicators in Fossil Reefs of the Pleistocene Owl’s Hole Formation; Advisor – Dr. David Griffing (Geological & Environmental Sciences)
Bryce Rogers ’27: Water Budget of Pine Lake: Ground and Surface Interactions; Advisor – Dr. Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad (Geological & Environmental Sciences)
Evan Ranc ’27: Assessing the Effect of Pesticide Treatment on Soil Nitrogen and Microbial Community in Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) Infested Forests; Advisor – Dr. Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad (Geological & Environmental Sciences)
Cooper Cohen ’28: A Mattel-made Widow Maker: An Examination of the History of the M16 Rifle and the Controversies Surrounding it; Advisor – Dr. Melanie Sheehan (History and Religious Studies)
Stories of Student-Faculty Collaboration
Hartwick College Students Explore Sustainable Clay Through Freedman Research
Freedman Research Focuses on Future Music Educators
Freedman Prize Research Digs Into Soil Science and Student Discovery
Freedman Prize Supports Science Education Research
Freedman Prize Research Examines Student-Athlete Mental Health
Biology Student Explores Spider Behavior Through Freedman Prize Research
Freedman Prize Award for All Majors
2026-2027 PROPOSAL DEADLINE: March 27, 2026
Apply by completing the the Google From link below. Upload your budget as a separate document. Read the Required Contents of the Proposal Instructions to be sure you provide all necessary information when completing the online proposal form.
DESCRIPTION AND ELIGIBILITY: Open to All Majors
All Students (any majors) at Hartwick College are eligible to apply for the Open Freedman Prize who are in good academic standing without holds on their student accounts. However, the proposed project has to involve original research, and the applicant has to have a faculty collaborator/mentor (supported by a submitted commitment letter).
The award consists of a research grant of up to $4000 in support of the project. The Freedman Committee encourages proposals with smaller budgets as well. The final number of awardees will be determined based on the requested and available dollar amounts.
The proposal will be evaluated by a committee on merit value, content, and feasibility, then ranked. The strongest proposals will be called for verbal interviews early April. The finalists will be notified by the end of April, and are expected to present the research findings at the Annual Student Showcase of Hartwick College.
The proposal should follow the provided guidelines in the instructions as closely as possible and submit all required components for full consideration.
“I believe that early hands-on research training helps students prepare for graduate school research and field/laboratory work in environmental sciences and geology. These research projects tackle real and complex questions that we are trying to answer using field, laboratory, and modeling methods many times in collaboration with other university researchers.”
Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad
Professor of Geology and Environmental Sciences, Department Chair & Coordinator of the Environment, Sustainability, and Society Major
“The Freedman Prize presents a unique opportunity to work with a student and understand the totality of a research project. Not just how to conceptualize a project to answer a question and how to complete that research, but also how to get it funded. This is a great way to teach students about how the grants process works.”
William Kowalczyk
Associate Professor of Psychology & Department Chair