David F. Andretta Summer Research Fellowship

About the Fellowship

The 2025 Application closed on November 1, 2024 at 5pm.

Through the David F. Andretta, MD, Explorer Fund, a rising senior is awarded $5,000 to conduct research on a social justice research issue anywhere in the world during the summer. David Andretta (C‘99, GUMC ‘04) was an adventurous soul and a true son of Georgetown. Throughout his 31 years of life, David enthusiastically explored the world. David was a loving son, husband, brother, mentor and friend known for his hard work ethic and zest for life, and his legacy will be embraced and extended by each successive fellowship recipient.

The fellowship is awarded annually to a Georgetown University junior who seeks to spend the summer before senior year exploring an aspect of the world through an academic research project. The applicant must find a faculty sponsor who is willing both to critique and comment on the project prior to the application’s filing and to review and approve the project upon its completion. In addition, the research project must:

have clearly defined goals and objectives;
serve to advance social justice and be conducted in an empathic manner;
engage local cultures and peoples;
incorporate an outdoor activity as part of the journey; and
be conducted with the intention of publication.

The recipient receives $5,000 for travel, lodging, meals or sustenance. The award is given in two allotments: $3,500 at the beginning of the summer and another $1,500 upon the successful completion of the research project. The fellow is encouraged to apply for supplemental funding.

This year’s recipient must:

commit at least eight weeks to research (fieldwork/data collection, analysis, writing) during the summer;
submit a 5-page summary report outlining his/her work and conclusions by September 1, 2025;
present their project to the Georgetown community in a CSJ-sponsored forum during the fall 2025 semester; and
make an effort to pursue peer-reviewed publication of their research in a relevant academic journal or similar.

Read about past Andretta fellows and their research.