Student Research

Undergraduate Research Conference

Each April, student research projects are presented to the public at the Drake University Conference on Undergraduate Research in the Sciences (DUCURS). Students and faculty researchers present their results in oral and poster presentation sessions and Drake faculty assess the research and select the best for review by an independent panel of judges. Awards are given to the best undergraduate presentations. Regional collaborators in industry, Iowa government, and business play a large role during the conference and students benefit from discussing their research with experts in their chosen field.

DUSCI Summer Research Program

The DUSCI Summer Research Program has been modeled by following the programmatic structure used in REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) sites funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Typically, this model entails engaging undergraduates in full-time research for 8-10 weeks and providing professional development opportunities. Each summer, the Program supports six to ten fellowships for undergraduates that engage in eight weeks of full-time research in June and July. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis and provide students with a summer stipend. Activities supported and organized by DUSCI during the summer include field trips, professional development opportunities, weekly research meetings, and a final research presentation by participants.