Undergraduate Research

• Meet all prerequisites for research courses.
• Learn about the different types and areas of research being done in the department.
• Identify a research area of interest with a particular faculty member. See faculty profiles on the Chemistry Department website.
• Contact one or more faculty member(s) to discuss possibility of joining their research group.
• Faculty are almost always excited to talk about research with interested students.
• After acceptance to a research group, complete the “Research Credit Permission Form” online. This form must be completed each quarter you wish to register for research credit.

Most undergraduates participate in research on some level. The majority of research participants seek credit for the work they perform. 

• No experience, aside from academic courses, is necessary.
• All students are welcome to seek research participation, regardless of declared major.
• Students will join an existing research project. No big idea necessary! 

Expectations for time spent and work done for research credit should be discussed and arranged between the student and faculty supervisor, to determine the number of credits sought. 

Each “credit” of research is a minimum commitment to 3 hours of research work (determined by the faculty supervisor) per week, through the period of the quarter.

Occasionally, research projects will extend beyond the available formal courses that offer research credit. In these instances, students may continue as a lab/research volunteer; or students may seek research credit under an independent study permit. See Program Coordinator for details.

The Chemistry Department at WWU offers a broad spectrum of research opportunities for undergraduates. This allows degree recipients to graduate with hands-on experience in a university level research lab. 

Participants often present research results at local and/or national professional meetings. Many undergraduates appear as co-authors on professional research publications.

Undergraduate research affords students a unique opportunity to develop skills in their desired field; which is highly valued by potential employers, graduate schools, and post professional programs, such as medical and pharmacy schools.

*All courses are S/U grading and are not calculated into your major GPA*