A Commitment to Research
Robust research and scholarship are integral to the undergraduate experience at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAPK.
Why is research and scholarship important at a predominantly undergraduate institution? They inform teaching.
Faculty research makes for more dynamic teachers who better understand the link between scholarly work and the basic principles of any discipline. At Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAPK, faculty are evaluated based on the quality of their teaching as well as their research accomplishments. And faculty research often involves undergraduates at many levels.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAPK's emphasis on a dynamic research environment is evident in:
- The diversity of faculty research programs.
- External funding secured by faculty.
- On-campus research institutes and collaboration groups that attract national and international competitive funds for faculty-student research.
- Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAPK competitive grants that support faculty-student research, summer research programs for undergraduates and free summer housing for undergraduate researchers—yes, that’s a summer stipend and free housing!
Research Stories & Successes

Discover Research at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAPK
Discover NEPA sat down with some of our research professors, including Michael Steele, professor and H. Fenner Endowed Chair of Biology Research, to learn more about our top-notch opportunities for undergraduate students.

Emily Russavage ’20 earned a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for early-career scientists based on her work at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAPK.

Scholarship Symposium
Each year, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAPK celebrates the outstanding faculty research and scholarship taking place throughout Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAPK University’s spectrum of disciplines during the Research and Scholarship Symposium and O'Hop Last Word lecture.
Summer Research Opportunities
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAPK University provides a dynamic summer research program for undergraduates. This program offers a full research salary and free housing on campus, as well as opportunities to:
- Conduct research at off-campus sites such as Costa Rica, Purdue University and Yale University for collaborative research.
- Accompany faculty to scientific conferences and present their research findings in locations inside and outside the United States, including Hawaii, Mexico and China.
- Co-author scientific publications with faculty.
