Undergraduate Students

Begin as early as your freshman year

Drexel biology majors engaged in the SEA-PHAGES project display their examination of genome annotation and bioinformatic analyses.

Through participation in the national SEA-PHAGES initiative, first-year biology majors explore genome annotation and bioinformatic analyses.

What is research?

It isn’t just for natural science students who want to experiment in a lab or do field work — it’s for anyone who wants to investigate a topic or academic discipline on a deeper level under the mentorship of a faculty expert. Undergraduate research and creative experiences are available for Drexel’s College of Arts and Sciences students across all majors and most minors in the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences beginning as early as your first year.

Questions? We are eager to hear from you!

Gain Experience Find a Mentor Get Funding Meet Our STAR Scholars

Quicklinks

Drexel Undergraduate Research & Enrichment (UREP)

Undergraduate Research – Drexel

Research – College of Arts and Sciences

Psychology major Diego Aragon-Guevara explores neuropsychology and developmental disorders, like Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Gain experience

Opportunities abound for College of Arts and Sciences students to pursue hands-on experience in research, entrepreneurial pursuits and creative work. Many of our students receive research awards for their work and are published in academic journals — some even in their freshman year. Apply for a research fellowship or scholarship, conduct an independent study on a topic of your choice, join a faculty or group project, apply for a research co-op, take a research-based course elective, or conduct lab work. The possibilities are limitless!

Psychology major Diego Aragon-Guevara recently co-authored an article, "The Reach and Accuracy of Information on Autism on Tik Tok," published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Drexel University's College of Arts and Sciences offers unlimited possibilities for undergraduate research starting as early as your freshman year.

Find a mentor

One of the most important steps in a student’s career as an undergraduate researcher is finding a faculty mentor. Faculty mentors are a source of support and guidance, both in the research setting and in guiding future endeavors by providing advice on graduate school or potential career paths.

Undergraduate research, creative and entrepreneurial experiences enable students to gain skills in problem solving, communication and teamwork while helping to clarify their academic and professional goals. Participating in research also gives students the chance to work one-on-one with faculty, allowing them to build lasting relationships with world-renowned experts.

Chemistry major and 2023 Truman Scholar Sky Harper credits his family and faculty mentors with supporting his goal to advance Native American healthcare.

Get Funding

Pennoni Honors College Mini Grants and Travel Grants

More than a third of Drexel University’s Undergraduate Research Mini Grants were awarded to students with majors in the College of Arts and Sciences during the Winter 2024 term. Mini grants allow undergraduate students and faculty to collaborate on research projects, scholarly efforts and creative work that encourage students to build vital skills. Drexel also supports students who have been accepted to present their work at local, national, and international conferences with Travel Grants.

LEARN MORE

Recent alum Paige DeAngelo, communication, entrepreneurship and innovation ’23, launched Aer Cosmetics, a green ‘causemetics’ brand she developed from the ground up. Paige won funding from the Drexel Startup Fest hosted by the Close School of Entrepreneurship.

College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Support (ASURS) Fund

The College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Support (ASURS) Fund promotes hands-on involvement in research and scholarly activities for undergraduates enrolled in a College of Arts and Sciences major or minor. Successful applicants receive $1,500 in funding over six months for three to five weekly work hours. They are matched with a faculty mentor or PhD candidate in the College. Students in good academic standing who do not receive course credit for other research endeavors are strongly encouraged to apply for funding. Students can expect to gain vital skills through field experiences, laboratory settings and special workshops on using qualitative data, statistical analysis, preparing a case study, conducting community outreach projects – and so much more.

Spring 2024 Cohort – Applications open on Monday, March 11 and are due by Friday, April 5.
Questions? Please email Ashley Dickinson, PhD, at ald393@drexel.edu.

For students: If you have a desired mentor in mind, please liase with them directly as both applications are required for a match. Feel free to list your desired faculty mentor. We will do our best to accommodate all requests, but matches are not guaranteed.

STUDENTS APPLY BY APRIL 5, 2024 DETAILS – PDF FAQs – PDF

For mentors: If you have a desired mentee in mind, please liase with them directly as both applications are required for a match.

FACULTY MENTORS APPLY BY APRIL 5, 2024

College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Experience Fund

In addition, the College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Experience Fund helps students access rewarding extracurricular activities without being deterred by the cost. Financial assistance of up to $1,000 is available to qualified students with majors in the College of Arts and Sciences who wish to pursue an academic or civic opportunity outside of the classroom including, but not limited to:

Presentations at academic conferences.
Chances for study abroad.
Conducting research outside of Drexel.
Civic engagement aligned with their major.

APPLY NOW

Biological sciences major Tasneem Siddique became the inaugural winner of the Drexel Quick Pitch Competition in 2023 for her Alzheimer's disease-related research.

Meet Our STAR Scholars

Drexel University’s STAR —Students Tackling Advanced Research— Scholars Program is an opportunity for highly motivated first-year students to engage in an early faculty-mentored undergraduate research, scholarship, or creative experience during the summer after their freshman year. This competitive program encourages students to take a hands-on approach to their education.

Students who participate in the STAR Scholars program earn a stipend and live in free on-campus housing for the summer term while completing 350 hours of faculty-mentored activity. Their summer experience culminates with a poster presentation at the annual STAR Scholars Showcase.

Learn more

Biological sciences major Tasneem Siddique became the inaugural winner of the Drexel ‘Quick Pitch Competition’ in 2023 for her Alzheimer's disease-related research project “The Effect of Synthetic Aβ on Ciliary Membrane and Axonemal Proteins.”