Hopkins has always been known as a prestigious university, producing polished empirical papers that are respected by fellow scientists and abundant research opportunities for its students. Walking onto campus for the first time, the idea of conducting research may be unthinkable. Who would consider the research of an inexperienced freshman?
Senior Amy Conwell wondered this during her freshman year. Then, upon her arrival at Homewood, she learned more about the Woodrow Wilson Research Fellowship, which connects freshmen to their own independent research by awarding selected students $10,000 to pursue projects of their choice.
Conwell heard about the grant after her acceptance into Hopkins, but thought research, especially with so much flexibility was only for upperclassmen. Many of her friends expressed interest in applying or already had been accepted. Conwell's curiosity piqued, especially after hearing the mentoring and support offered by the grant. Nevertheless, she was still uncertain about applying to the program. In the spring, nearly fifty freshman students apply, but only five are successfully accepted.
As Conwell took more classes, she realized she could pursue her own interests via the fellowship. The King Arthur legend, one of Conwell's long time favorites, called out to her. Her poetry class with Professor Andrew Daniels allowed her to begin her search about the legend. Outside of the classroom, Daniels referred her to another professor: the renowned historian Gabby Seegal. Seegal helped Conwell formulate a research proposal and soon became Conwell's first mentor. Conwell began her experience as a grant recipient by aiming to research the English people and ethnogenesis reflected in the King Arthur legend.
"I realized the grant was just a fun way to study what I wanted," Conwell, who is majoring in Classics and Writing Seminars, said. "I'd always loved the King Arthur story, but I'd never thought it could be serious or even academic."
Conwell planned to study early texts and see how or why the King Arthur tale was used for political ends. As her research progressed, Conwell quickly realized this topic was expansive enough for even PhD work. She tailored her sphere and began to consider writing a screenplay on the historical truth of the King Arthur legend, a remedy to the numerous inaccurate movies based on the tale.
Conwell then used her Woodrow Wilson Grant to fund an education abroad, travelling to Prague, to explore screenwriting, and the United Kingdom, to experience the Festival of Babylon in Glastonbury and investigate the archaeological sites of King Arthur in England.
The Woodrow Wilson Fellowship is flexible and resilient to students' needs. When it is fully utilized, fellows change their minds, switch ideas and restructure their projects. As Conwell took a screenplay class in Prague, she jumped out of her comfort zone and realized that writing screenplays was not her calling. The Woodrow Wilson Fellowship does not discourage this and is ready to help students take the next step.
"It's very flexible — it gives you room to change your mind and narrow your focus. Not that I won't write a screenplay someday. I will — but just not for March," Conwell said.
Instead, she decided to publish a historical article on her findings.
But Conwell found her true jewel much closer to home. While perusing the Freel Library of Philadelphia during a visit home, Conwell discovered the manuscript upon which her research is centered — Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historica Regum Britanniae (the History of the Kings of Britain), the first popularized history and earliest narrative of King Arthur.
Based on this development in her research, Conwell began taking courses structured around her fellowship. In the fall, she took Occidental Civilization, Medieval World, Pirates and Parchment and a 14th century poetry class — all of which concentrate on the time period or topic of Conwell's research.
The representative image of research usually involves white lab coats, an assortment of beakers and test tubes and maybe a few mice for testing. The Woodrow Wilson Fellowship counters this picture with a vibrant collage by digging into a variety of interests, from natural sciences to the humanities, in a creative and encouraging manner.
"It gave me a really great opportunity to pursue my passion. I would never have imagined that I could make King Arthur my life, but now I might end up as a professor researching what I enjoy," Conwell said.
Fellows are required to produce a presentation and a ten page paper in the spring of their senior year, though many go above and beyond.
While not all of the research ends up in the final presentation, it all yields some understanding. Conwell did extensive research and reading the summer after her sophomore year, the majority of which she did not incorporate into her article, but all of which directed her more towards her concluding piece.
Conwell sees a strong future for her research. Not only could she pursue a graduate program researching a similar topic, but she also sees it turning into a novel.
"I might end up staying at Hopkins for another year. This March I can showcase an article and hopefully get it published, but once you start reading, you realize how much there is. I'm thinking about writing a novel but that definitely won't be done by then," Conwell said.
The Woodrow Wilson Grant allows students to explore interests and passions with guidance and mentoring, leading them to unexpected places. Conwell never imagined to be studying a 12th century manuscript, but her focus narrowed through the course of the program. With the help of qualified mentors and professors, Conwell was able to travel, study, read and establish great connections. The community aspect of the program was of paramount importance to Conwell. She found the people that her mentors and professors introduced her to engaging and stimulating.
"The program is great," Conwell said. "It's made me realize that I really can do anything I want to do. Everyone is just so supportive and flexible. I can do anything."
