Story+ is a 6-week paid summer research experience for Duke students—undergraduates and graduates—interested in exploring interdisciplinary humanities research topics and methodologies. The program combines hands-on research with storytelling to create dynamic outcomes for diverse public audiences. In Story+, students are organized into small project teams and have the opportunity to participate in a flexible mini “curriculum” on research methods and storytelling strategies. Team projects may be led by Duke faculty, Duke librarians, or non-profit organizations, and will be supervised on a day-to-day basis by graduate student mentors.

Remote Program Statement: Knowing that the global pandemic is still presenting both health and travel restrictions, and because we want to ensure that any student can participate no matter their health situation or physical location, Story+ Summer 2021 will again be a remote-only program. We do not want students traveling to Duke in order to participate in any particular projects and we do not want any to feel penalized if they are not local and/or have high-risk precautionary health practices that keep them currently remote. All projects will offer a dynamic, rigorous, and collaborative remote-only experience and all students no matter their location or health situation are invited to apply.

Story+ takes place during Summer Session 1 (May 12 to June 25, 2021) and will this year have a modified schedule. Story+ recognizes the multiple strains brought on us by the pandemic, remote learning, and systemic global uncertainties, and has in response opted this year to move from a full-time program to a modified partially-full program. This will allow us to maintain the rigor and dedication required for hands-on interdisciplinary humanities research while also giving us a necessary flexibility that recognizes the profundity of our present. Story+ learning opportunities and research training will occupy roughly 25-30 hours per week for six-weeks. The undergraduate stipend for participation, which follows the competitive award in previous years, will be $2,000 to reflect this adjustment. Graduate students receive a stipend up to $2,500. All students receive half of their stipend the last week of May and the other half at the end of June. For participating students receiving need-based financial aid, and any one concerned about how your funding will work for this program or other summer opportunities, please contact your financial aid counselor for further information and personalized advice.

Please browse below to explore our 2021 offerings and to learn more about Story+ projects from 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Story+ is funded by Together Duke and administered by the Franklin Humanities Institute in conjunction with Bass Connections, with support from Duke University Libraries.

The Story+ application portal for Story+ Summer 2021 is now closed. We received a record-breaking 155 student applications!

Questions? We like questions! Email us at fhi@duke.edu!