Social Sciences/Humanities Summer Research | Department of History of Art

Students are invited to apply to the Social Sciences/Humanities Summer Research Program, designed to expand research opportunities for students in the Social Sciences and Humanities fields for summer 2026. Students can apply to each opportunity by including a resume and cover letter addressed to the faculty member listed in the job description. The application deadline is Sunday, April 12.  

Humanities/Social Sciences Summer Research Program | Department of History of Art

Faculty Member: Professor Jie Shi

Job Description 

This summer research program engages the student in a focused investigation into how ancient Chinese bronze vessels can be identified and analyzed through their visual articulation of tactile experience. Drawing on both American museum collections and published corpora, the student will assist in exploring how such objects may be systematically classified and compared according to shared formal and perceptual characteristics. On a weekly basis, the student will conduct data collection and literature review, contributing to the development of a structured dataset and analytical framework. Through this process, the student will gain hands-on experience in research methods and visual analysis, with particular emphasis on object-based inquiry. The project will culminate in the production of a research report and organized dataset. Throughout the program, the student will work closely with the faculty supervisor through regular meetings and mentorship, while also developing the capacity for independent scholarly work.

Skills or Training 

MS Office Software

Class Year Eligible: Current students in the Classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029.

Majors: History of Art majors or minors are prioritized but not required.

Length: This position is full-time (minimum of 240 hours, over 8 weeks). The estimated start date is June 10, 2026. The estimated end date is August 10, 2026.

Internship Format: Remote

Funding Award: This opportunity includes a funding award of $5,000 (minus 15-20% taxes). 

Questions about this opportunity? Please contact Katie Krimmel at kkrimmel@brynmawr.edu and Professor Jie Shi at jshi1@brynmawr.edu