Student Research and Creative Work
Welcome to Student Research at Valpo!
Valparaiso University provides undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to explore questions that excite them, whether that means delving into the thought of Walt Whitman, observing a star in a distant galaxy, or putting on waders to explore plant life in the streams of the nearby Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
Valpo also provides opportunities for students to share their excitement about their research with others through colloquia, the annual Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE), and travel to student conferences all over the country.
So why should you get involved with research? It will give you the opportunity to:
- Apply your classroom learning to real-life situations.
- Not just study biology, but be a biologist, an astronomer, or a historian.
- Work in your chosen field now to see if that is what you really want to do with your life.
- Contribute new information, propose new questions, or be on the cutting edge of new discoveries in your field.
- Get hands-on experience that will help prepare you for your future.
- Work closely with a faculty mentor who could recommend you to graduate or professional schools.
Faculty-Led Research
Many Valpo faculty members obtain grant funding to support their research. These projects typically include opportunities for students to serve as research assistants, gaining valuable experience to supplement classroom lessons. Students interested in working on a faculty-led project should contact faculty in their department.
Grants for Student Researchers
Valparaiso University offers a few different grants for student researchers. These grants are administered by the Creative Work and Research Committee.
- Guild Undergraduate Creative Work and Research Expense Grants – These grants support research-related expenses such as equipment purchases, supplies, photocopying, or other research needs or travel, meals, or lodging to present their findings at conferences.
- Undergraduate Summer Research Housing Grants – Students engaged in summer research may be eligible to receive free housing in the residence halls.
Research Symposia
Each year, Valparaiso University hosts symposia to showcase student research. Student researchers prepare posters and presentations explaining their work while students with creative projects prepare exhibits or performances. SOURCE is held at the end of the Spring semester. Similar events are held during the Fall semester (FIReS) and the Summer term (SIReS).
CONTACT INFORMATION
Stan Zygmunt
Assistant Director of Student Research
Neils Science Center, Rm 139
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Tel: 219.464.5380
Email: stan.zygmunt@valpo.edu