Robust research and scholarship are integral to the undergraduate experience at Wilkes.
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 Wilkes, 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.
Wilkes'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.
Wilkes 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!
Cultivating Problem Solvers
Research and other scholarly activities build students’ problem-solving skills and
career perspectives, expanding career opportunities – often beyond initial aspirations.
Graduate-Level Experience
Motivated students can earn a bachelor’s degree with graduate-level research experience,
opening numerous avenues for advanced graduate education or competitive job prospects.
Scholarly Achievements
Scores of Wilkes faculty and student produce books, journal articles, conference presentations,
artistic accomplishments and other achievements in their fields.
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 Wilkes.
Each year, Wilkes celebrates the outstanding faculty research and scholarship taking
place throughout Wilkes University’s spectrum of disciplines during the Research and
Scholarship Symposium and O'Hop Last Word lecture.
$1.26 million
in research funds granted by NSF, NIH and other sources in last five years
$1.875 million
in Wilkes funds supported student and faculty research projects over five years
100
paid summer research positions for students, including housing
Summer Research Opportunities
Wilkes 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.
Each summer I participated in student research projects where I learned molecular
techniques such as Next Generation Sequencing preparation and analysis. These experiences
set me apart during my application and job hunting process.
Emily Kamieniecki ’20 | Medical Laboratory Science Major
The most unique aspect of the chemistry department is the hands-on experience. Wilkes
has numerous instruments that the students have the opportunity to use, such as the
NMR, IR, UV-Vis, UHPLC, GC-MS.
Junior Alvaredo-Rosario ’21 | Biochemistry/Pre-Medicine Major | Medical Student at
Pennsylvania College of Medicine
