Student Research

At USI, you get hands-on experience and exposure to real research projects using our modern instrumentation.

USI faculty members in chemistry are teacher-scholars who conduct research in their fields of expertise. Many faculty integrate their research into their classroom teaching. Students learn research skills and techniques through collaboration with faculty. At USI, students majoring in chemistry can participate in undergraduate research as early as the freshman year and completion of 2 hours of research is a required part of the chemistry and biochemistry programs.

Our students have recently attended many regional conferences and national conferences such as the American Chemical Society National Meetings, regional meetings of the American Chemical Society, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and the Indiana Academy of Sciences.

We have also published peer-reviewed publications with undergraduate authors in journals such as Organometallics, Tetrahedron Letters, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, the Journal of Chemical Education, Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research, and Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of the Sciences.

Funding Opportunities for Undergraduate Research

Grants are available to fund student research through multiple sources. The Victor A. and Elizabeth A. Barnett Research Award is awarded annually on a competitive basis to students majoring in Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. Also available is the Endeavor! Award to support creative and research efforts of USI students of any major. Both awards can be used to fund research or travel to scientific meetings.