At Luther, we challenge you to grow in how you confront the world, including the world of ideas. In order to help deepen your learning experience, we provide many opportunities for close study of a subject through undergraduate research.
Luther students often collaborate with faculty on research projects, addressing challenging questions that can’t be confined to semester-long courses. Recent student-faculty collaborations include scoring a film, creating a language tutorial, analyzing the effect of stride length on running economy, and studying corn-based plastics and gene expression. These projects often result in papers that students and faculty jointly publish or present at conferences.
Summer student/faculty collaborative research grants and work-study positions are two Luther programs that make student-faculty collaborations possible. You can also undertake independent research or creative projects through student research grants.
Recent grants from outside sources include:
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) programs are part of a $1.6 million grant to promote science through research, workshops, and teaching. With a focus on elementary and secondary education teachers both in the field and at the undergraduate level, HHMI seeks to foster curiosity, strengthen leadership, and guide participants toward a deeper understanding of science.
Seminars such as the Summer Science Workshops bring Luther STEM faculty and local teachers together to perform laboratory work, discuss science, and create future lesson plans. Other programs such as the College Science Enrichment Program focus directly on undergraduate students, in this case immersing select first-year students in STEM skills needed for the college level. Luther College has a variety of HHMI programs, each uniquely providing science and education training to students and teachers alike.
View a sampling of faculty/student research: