BLOOMINGTON – Indiana University undergraduate students are engaged in compelling research that provides unique opportunities to apply their specialized skills and talents. Working alongside their faculty mentors, IU undergraduate students are actively preparing for career success while supporting vital research that advances the lives of those in our state and beyond.
IU joins other universities across the nation in engaging students in research early in their academic careers. Participating in research as an undergraduate has a broad array of benefits for students, including higher student retention, increased likelihood of attending graduate school, and enhanced skill development in areas that support career success such as critical thinking, public speaking, and data analysis.
“I am grateful for the dedicated investment in student research through initiatives like the Research Scholars Cohort, Advanced Summer Research Scholarships, and Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program, which fund students’ engagement in scholarship and creative projects,” wrote Indiana Unversity President Pamela Whitten. “Initiatives like these provide valuable hands-on research experience and networking opportunities and allow our students to work alongside our incredible IU faculty.
Numerous departments and schools at IU have placed an emphasis on engaging students in research, including the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, where students seek solutions to real-world challenges related to homelessness and dyslexia. The Institute for Communication Research at The Media School also encourages students to test and investigate hypotheses, creating opportunities for them to explore social science research while pursuing their individual passions.
The IU community annually celebrates the tremendous work of undergraduate researchers at the IU Undergraduate Research Conference, with this year’s event set for Friday, December 9, 2022, at IUPUI’s Hine Hall. Now in its 28th year, the conference offers students an opportunity to present their research, practice their presentation skills, and connect with faculty.
They are students like IU Kokomo’s Kate Grace Leonhard, who is working to understand how antibiotic-resistant bacteria grow in stressful situations — information that can ultimately be used to combat antibiotic resistance; Jadon Mehringer from IUPUI, who is developing research-based content for the public, explaining how to adapt fitness for people with functional disabilities; IU Southeast’s Christopher Ballew, who is exploring new ways to efficiently make compounds of greater medicinal value; and IU Bloomington’s Madelyn Mustaine, who is assessing the effect of expanded access among individuals receiving mental health treatment at facilities accepting Medicaid.
“Uniting our extraordinary research capabilities with our emphasis on engaging undergraduates is truly enhancing the student experience at IU,” Whitten added.
