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Do something new
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Do something new

Undergraduate Research

This type of scholarship is just one of the high-impact practices Capital uses to improve student learning, contribute to the body of knowledge and prepare students for the next step they want to take.

Put Yourself Ahead

Examine the copper toxicity of fish in Ohio lakes and rivers. Travel to the Bahamas to study oceanography. Explore the interaction of music and physics in the natural world.

We know that getting involved in original research as an undergraduate can put you lightyears ahead of the competition when it comes to graduate school. That’s why you’ll find opportunities for undergraduate research projects in just about every field or major we offer.

Do Something New

In high school it often seems you spend all your time learning about what others have done. But at Capital University, we encourage you to conduct new research that adds to the world’s knowledge in valuable ways. We’re talking about work that’s never been done before. Through papers and even presentations at local, regional and national conferences, you’ll share your findings with members of the scientific community and add to the body of work that advances your field into the future.

Present Your Findings

Our students regularly present at regional and national academic meetings, including the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, the American Psychological Society or the Midwest Regional Fish and Wildlife Conference. Capital even presents its own annual Undergraduate Symposium on Scholarship each year to highlight students’ research accomplishments. We highlight literary arts work of our students and others in Capital University’s ReCap magazine.

How Does Capital Do It?

  • One-on-one faculty mentorships – Your faculty mentors will work with you step by step as you define your study, collect the data and summarize your findings and conclusions. See great examples of this undergraduate research by visiting our Summer Scholars program site where students discuss their research projects. 
  • Industry mentorships – Take advantage of Capital’s location in Ohio's capital city of Columbus, home to many industry leaders, and our strong network of research opportunities throughout the community, including the Great Lakes Environmental Center and the Ohio Supercomputer Center. 
  • Field research – Get out there and get involved, studying topics like the effects of coal-burning power plants on trees in Central Ohio or coral reef ecology in Cozumel, Mexico.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I do Undergraduate Research with another student? More than one?

Can I do Undergraduate Research with another student? More than one?

Students may work with other students on scholarship projects. If a student is earning credit for these experiences (e.g., as an Independent Study or Honors Capstone), each student’s contribution must be clearly distinguished and articulate in the scholarship proposal.

Questions? Contact Symposium Planning Committee at symposium@electronic-fittings.com

Is Undergraduate research considered credit-bearing learning at Capital?

There are a variety of ways that students can obtain credit for completing undergraduate scholarship. Scholarship projects may be part of an existing course. Students may enroll in an Independent Study for credit. The number of credits earned depends on the amount of work that a student completes. Enrolling in an Independent Study requires prior approval of a faculty member.

Questions? Contact Symposium Planning Committee at symposium@electronic-fittings.com

How do I go about finding a faculty mentor in my major/department? Are there specific faculty members who provide mentoring?

Students may identify a faculty mentor based on their areas of interest, perhaps sparked by something they learn in a class. Students may talk to their course instructors, their academic advisor or their department chair if they need help identifying a mentor for a project that they might be interested in.

Search our directory by department for faculty at Capital:

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Can any student at Capital participate in Undergraduate Research and the Symposium or is this for honors students only?

Yes! All Capital students are welcomed and encouraged to engage in scholarship and to present their work at the Symposium.

See our Symposium Program for samples of abstracts submitted by students: