Opportunities

A student and a professor work together in a lab.

Why Do Research?

Question. Create. Connect. These are the three driving forces behind research at Gustavus. Throughout the academic year and summer, Gusties have the chance to collaborate with faculty on research and creative projects. Research and creative inquiry takes place in classrooms, laboratories, studios, theatres, and the community. Gustie researchers carry out field research, such as collecting data on fish populations on the open seas, excavating Roman villas, measuring glacial melt in the Andes, and interviewing local farmers.

First-Year Research Experience (FYRE)

Questions can be directed to the Director of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, Creativity, and Dialogue - Professor of Chemistry, anienow [at] gustavus.edu (Dr. Amanda Nienow).

The First-Year Research Experience (FYRE) Program is dedicated to providing opportunities for students to engage in bona fide research experiences during the summer between their first and second years in college. Students work with a Gustavus faculty mentor in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics to help you gain research skills and to consider possible career paths.

Students are supported with a stipend for the ten-week research experience and on-campus housing. Selection of students to participate in the program is based on academic performance, input provided about applicants by three references, and the potential impact of the FYRE Program experience on the development of the applicant as a scientist, as judged by the FYRE Program faculty.

Second-Year Experience at Research (SEAR)

Questions can be directed to the Director of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, Creativity, and Dialogue - Professor of Chemistry, anienow [at] gustavus.edu (Dr. Amanda Nienow).

The Second-Year Experience at Research (SEAR) Program is dedicated to providing opportunities for students to engage in bona fide research experiences during the summer between their first and second years in college. Students work with a Gustavus faculty mentor in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics to help you gain research skills and to consider possible career paths. Students are supported with a stipend for the ten-week research experience and on-campus housing.

Selection of students to participate in the program is based on academic performance, input provided about applicants by three references, and the potential impact of the FYRE Program experience on the development of the applicant as a scientist, as judged by the FYRE Program faculty.

Swanson-Holcomb Undergraduate Research (SHUR)

Gustavus administers the Holcomb and Swanson funds. These funds enable an undergraduate research grant program. Students submit a brief research proposal, which is reviewed by a faculty panel. Awards will be made three times a year (fall semester, spring semester, and summer). Beginning with the Spring 2026 program, awards may be up to a maximum of $600 for equipment, supplies, or research travel. (Conference travel is excluded). Applications are open on the first day of the semester for the Fall and Spring programs and in March for the summer program, and the application period closes the third Friday after the application opens.

Additional Summer Opportunities

There are many opportunities for students to engage in research, scholarship, creativity, and dialogue opportunities in the summer. Student-faculty collaborations involve in-depth, faculty-sponsored inquiry projects in any discipline. Summer projects may be faculty-driven research projects, independently-conceived student project with a faculty member as a mentor, or equal partnership between a faculty member and a student. See more besides the FYRE and SEAR programs.

Presidential Faculty-Student Collaboration Grants are available annually to support collaborative endeavors involving faculty and students. Collaboration is understood to include in-depth faculty-mentored undergraduate scholarly or creative projects in any discipline. For the purposes of this grant, collaboration means the active involvement of the faculty member in the student's project. This might be a full-fledged faculty-student project partnership, a student project that is closely mentored by the faculty member, or a student's active and meaningful participation in an ongoing faculty research project. Successful proposals will clearly articulate an impact for the student and demonstrate a mentoring relationship between faculty and student that encourages scholarly/creative work in a collaborative manner and environment. Contact the Research Office or your faculty advisory to learn about possible opportunities.

Gustavus faculty occasionally have funding for research that includes student assistants. Talk with your faculty advisor to help you find these opportunities.

Externally funded faculty research projects (e.g. National Science Foundation grant)
Faculty research projects funded by Gustavus endowed funds
Johnson and Peterson Summer Research Fellowships

The Engaged Learning Fund assists students from any major who are in need of funding to complete engaged learning opportunities. Funding can be applied to both academic credit and for non-academic credit opportunities throughout the year. Funding is to help students complete research experiences outside the classroom at Gustavus or away from campus.

National Fellowships

The Fellowships Office helps all Gustavus students and recent alumni find and apply for national fellowships and scholarships. The Fellowships advisor guides you through the rigorous process to apply to one of these these programs. These opportunities empower awardees to:

work or take courses abroad
fund research
attend graduate school
assume a leadership role in public service
study critical languages
secure a tuition scholarship

Learn more about National Fellowship opportunities