Undergraduate Research
Explore Your Interests. Expand Your Opportunities.
Delve into your academic interests with support from top scholars in your field. At PennWest California, you'll have opportunities to work with expert professors to develop new research, scholarship and creative projects.
- Enhance your knowledge in an academic field.
- Explore fascinating questions.
- Build skills in critical thinking, communication, problem solving, teamwork and time management.
- Refine your academic, career and personal goals.
- Expand your resume.
- Present at conferences, publish scholarly work and collaborate with a research team.
- Network with scholars across the country.
Work with Top Professors
University Funding and Support
PennWest California's Center for Undergraduate Research facilitates faculty-led research experiences for students in all majors, providing financial support for student proposals and a Student Travel Fund to support presentations at local, regional and national events.
Strike a Spark Conference
Your work is in the spotlight at PennWest California. Each year, the University brings together students from all disciplines for a conference that showcases research, scholarship, creative activity and application. Students and professors display creative works, give talks, present posters, and deliver performances that highlight the exceptional work of PennWest California's academic community.
Local and National Events
Travel to conferences and exhibitions to present your University-supported work and engage with key scholars in your field. PennWest California's Center for Undergraduate Research helps fund trips to conferences across the nation, such as:
- International Atlantic Economics Conference, Boston, Mass.
- National Association of School Psychologists, San Antonio, Texas.
- National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Memphis, Tenn.
- North American Society for the Sociology of Sport, Santa Fe, N.M.
- American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, Calif.
- National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing, Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Southeastern Theatre Conference, Lexington, Ky.
- Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, Ill.
- Mathematics Association of America, Mathfest, Washington, D.C.
Resources Near and Far
Explore the archives and databses at PennWest California's Manderino Library. Dive into research in our science laboratories. Hone your data-collection skills on our SAI Farm. At PennWest California, top research facilities are at your fingertips.
Or take your interests farther afield. With off-campus sites across western Pennsylvania and numerous study abroad opportunities such as our Madagascar Field School program, there's no limit to how far your research can take you.