What discoveries will you make?
From year one at DePauw, students are encouraged to partner with faculty and peers to put ideas and theory into practice. While working in a science lab is often the stereotypical example of research, DePauw students also routinely conduct research across the humanities and social sciences. Here, students don't wait behind graduate students or Ph.D. candidates for opportunities.
Faculty Mentorship
Students participating in research are joined by a faculty mentor who leads or guides the exploration. Alternatively, students might contribute to an ongoing student-run project or seek answers of their own through faculty sponsorship. Whether in collaboration with others or pursued independently, research develops in students a better understanding of their interests and the fascinating world they inhabit.
Student-Faculty Research Examples
RESEARCH BENEFITS
- Through research, students are applying the breadth of their knowledge to a topic they find deeply interesting. They learn how to read and understand primary literature and develop critical thinking and analytic skills that benefit professional work after graduation.
- Employers and graduate programs value an applicant’s ability to work independently and as a member of a team. Undergraduate research projects provide an excellent training ground, while at the same time cultivating relationships with faculty mentors who can provide recommendations for opportunities outside DePauw.
- Students grow personally and try out potential interests through the undergraduate research process. Working on a research project often leads to a greater sense of purpose, accomplishment and personal satisfaction for having tackled difficult questions and finished a project.
Diverse opportunities on and off-campus are available throughout the school year and summers. Some students join Honor Scholar and Fellows Programs with built-in research components, but opportunities are available to every student regardless of program affiliation, major or class. Whenever possible, DePauw University seeks to provide either academic credit or monetary compensation to students who work collaboratively with faculty on research, scholarly and creative activities.
Apply your learning to practice.