Chemistry undergraduate capstone research

An impactful faculty-mentored research experience for every student

The importance of undergraduate research to student learning and long-term success cannot be overstated, particularly in highly technical disciplines like chemistry and biochemistry. Employers and graduate schools place a high value on students who have done independent research due to the acquisition of hands-on experience and intellectual independence, as well as knowledge and skills relating to critical thinking, problem solving, data collection and analysis, written and oral communication, information literacy, teamwork, ethics, and safety.

CMU is the only public university in Michigan to have compulsory capstone research experiences for both chemistry and biochemistry majors. Our capstone research program has been the cornerstone of our undergraduate programs for over 50 years, since CMU's Department of Chemistry was founded in 1964. In that time span, hundreds students in have completed research projects and undergraduate theses. Many of these projects culminated in peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national scientific meetings, and many more propelled students into jobs and graduate schools while building a foundation for life-long success.

For more general information about undergraduate chemistry research, see the American Chemical Society's Guide to Undergraduate Research.