Student Research Opportunities
One of the best ways to learn chemistry and biochemistry is to immerse yourself in the actual scientific process. Studies have shown research opportunities as an undergraduate are high impact learning experiences. The critical thinking, organizational, and communication skills you will develop doing research will benefit you no matter the career you pursue after graduating Skidmore. Research can be here at Skidmore with a faculty member. It can also be off-campus through an REU experience or an internship.
Research Opportunities at Skidmore
You can learn more about each Chemistry research group by reading the webpages and introduction videos linked below.
| K. Aurelia Ball | Computational Biophysics | webpage |
| Kimberley Frederick | Analytical | webpage |
| Steven Frey | Inorganic | webpage |
| William Kennerly | Computational Quantum | webpage |
| Juan Navea | Physical and Atmospheric | webpage |
| Madushi Raththagala | Biochemistry | webpage |
| Maryuri Roca | Nanochemistry | webpage |
| Kelly Sheppard | Biochemistry | webpage |
Most students who major in chemistry or chemistry with a biochemistry concentration conduct at least one semester of capstone research in close collaboration with a member of the chemistry faculty. Research activities in the department are supported by both internal and external grants, and lead to publications in peer-reviewed science journals and presentations at local and national meetings. While conducting their research, students have direct access to all of the state-of-the-art equipment in the department.
Each Fall, the Department hosts a seminar and laboratory open house so you can learn more about the research opportunities available. We also highly encourage you to meet with individual faculty to discuss their research. To apply for research please fill out the form and turn it into the Chemistry Office in Dana 222.
During the academic year, you can conduct research for 1 credit (CH 171), 2 credits (CH 271), 3 credits (CH 371), or 4 credits (CH 385). For Honors, a student must complete at least two semesters of 300-level research or equivalent, submit an honors thesis on the work, present it to the Department, as well as meet the GPA requirements.
During the summer, you can do collaborative research with faculty (10 weeks, typically starting the end of May through the start of August). For summer research, start talking with faculty members in November the year prior in order to have time to apply for funding. There are competitive internal grants, the Faculty Student Summer Research Program and the Schupf Program, that can cover your room & board along with providing a stipend. Individual faculty may have external grants that provide additional opportunities for summer research.
Research Opportunities at Other Institutions
Summer Research Opportunities (REU = "Research Experience for Undergraduates")
- Writing a Personal Statement for an REU
- National Science Foundation REU Chemistry Search
- National Science Foundation REU General Search
- ASBMB Summer Research Programs
- Amgen Scholars Program
- Sloan Kettering Summer Research Program
- HHMI Janelia Undergraduate Scholars Program
- Pathways to Science Summer Research Opportunities
- ORISE Undergraduate Research Opportunities
- ACS Internal Research Experience for Undergraduates (IREU)
Typically funding comes from the external institution. However the Summer Educational Experiences – Beyond the Campus (SEE-Beyond) is a competitive Skidmore program to fund an external experience.
Internships
During the academic year, you can do an internship for credit at either the 200-level (CH 299, 3 credits) or at the 300-level (CH 399, 3 or 6 credits). Summer internships can be funded through the company or external institution or Skidmore resources, or can be taken for credit. For funding please see the Skidmore Summer Funded Internship Awards Program. In addition, the Summer Educational Experiences – Beyond the Campus (SEE-Beyond) is a competitive Skidmore program to fund an external experience.