A student makes an informal presentation with a detailed poster on an easel.

Center for Engaged Liberal Arts

Undergraduate Research

The Annual Undergraduate Research Poster Session held in Oberlin’s Science Center.

Photo credit: Scott Shaw

Experience the thrill of discovery. Join a close-knit community of researchers.

Research opportunities at Oberlin rival those found in graduate schools, as faculty invite students into their ongoing research and support student-directed research projects. Student researchers work closely with faculty mentors at the forefront of their fields to ask new questions, design innovative studies, and collaborate on groundbreaking projects.

Whether in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, or arts, undergraduate research at Oberlin has long served to amplify student learning, advance faculty scholarship, build strong student-faculty relationships, and contribute to the social good.

Interested in getting involved with research at Oberlin or off campus? Not sure where to start? Meet with a student research ambassador or a member of the Undergraduate Research team to make an appointment and jumpstart your research career at Oberlin. 

Meet with a research ambassador, current advanced resesearch students, to get one-on-one application help, chat about on and off campus opportunities, and more.

Meet with Clea Gunn Thomas, OUR STEM Program Coordinator to discuss STEM research opportunities at Oberlin, Winter Term and Summer research opportunities, as well as our STRONG and BRANCHES STEM communities.

Meet with Emily Spezia-Shwiff, OUR Program Manager to discuiss Humanities and Social Sciences research opportunities, how to get started in research over Winter Term, the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, the Oberlin Summer Research Institute Fellowships, and the Oberlin College Research Symposium.

Meet with Abby Aresty, Interim Director for Inclusive Excellence in STEM Pedagogy and Undergraduate Research to discuss incorporating research into your classroom or curriculum, year-round research opportunities at Oberlin and beyond, the Oberlin Summer Research Institute, as well as our STRONG and BRANCHES STEM communities.

Location

Center for Engaged Liberal Arts, A-Level

Contact

440-775-6999

440-775-6996

Undergraduate.Research@oberlin.edu

Social Media

Roll up your sleeves. Find lifelong mentors.

From your first day on campus through graduation, Oberlin Undergraduate Research program is here to help you explore, experience, and launch a lifelong research journey. Explore through research-intensive courses, community events, and workshops. Experience immersive, hands-on research guided by faculty mentors during Winter Term, in fellowship programs, or through the Summer Research Institute. Whether you’re focused on STEM, social sciences, humanities, or the arts, Oberlin will help you launch your research career with year-round opportunities designed for every stage.

Explore Experience Launch

Oberlin’s Research Culture

From mounting exhibitions in the Allen Memorial Art Museum to studying neurotoxicology and public health, Oberlin’s students and faculty make our campus a hub of innovative and impactful research. During both academic terms as well as Winter Term and summer, students have the opportunity to join a community of practicing artists, scientists, and scholars.

OUR Fellowships and Community

Research at Oberlin is a collaborative journey. Oberlin Undergraduate Research (OUR) supports students across disciplines with programs and community. OUR opportunities include Science and Technology Research Opportunities for a New Generation, Mellon-Mays, and the Oberlin Summer Research Institute Fellowship. Whether you're joining a lab or visiting an archive, we're here to help you find your research community!

OUR fellowship programs give students the opportunity to conduct research in a supportive and nurturing community that facilitates skill-building, networking, and creativity. Several of these programs are also dedicated to expanding access and opportunities for historically underrepresented groups in research fields.

 

From the Classroom to the World

The Engaged Liberal Arts at Oberlin takes what you’re learning in your courses and puts it into practice through internships, research, study away experiences, winter term, career exploration, and beyond.

Career Development Bonner Center Study Away Fellowships & Awards Winter Term
Aerial view of intersecting paths in a campus quad.

Resource Links

OUR Opportunities

On-Campus Research Events

Resources for Students and Faculty

Upcoming Events

View all events

Next Steps

An Oberlin education puts the liberal arts to work in achieving a life of meaning and purpose.

Student hanging up their research symposium poster

The Oberlin College Research Symposium is a one-day conference featuring the scholarly and artistic production of Oberlin's students.

Photo credit: Amanda Phillips