School of Science Undergraduate Research

One of the great strengths of an undergraduate degree at MSUM in the School of Science is the opportunity to conduct faculty-mentored research. Many faculty maintain active research that involve undergraduate collaborators. With faculty permission, you can get involved in research as early as your freshman year.

Why get involved in research?

  • Transition from learning about science to learning about being a scientist
  • Formulate questions, collect and analzye data, and draw conclusions
  • Present the results of your research to other scientists
  • Strengthen your critical thinking and time-management skills
  • Gain experience working as a member of a group
  • Learn a variety of laboratory skills
  • Learn how to teach others what you've learned
  • Gain confidence in your academic and career goals
  • Get to know your professors (and they will get to know you!)

What areas of research are available at MSUM?

  • Aquaponics, plant cell wall.
  • Astrophysics, in addition to observing the night sky at the MSUM Paul P. Feder observatory, you may use astronomical data from the national observatories located throughout the world to investigate galaxies, galaxy formation and galaxy evolution. You may also learn how to develop a computer model for the universe or galaxy formation.
  • Behavioral ecology of fish and other aquatic organisms. Contact Brian Wisenden.
  • Biological effects of estrogenic compounds in the Red River. Contact Ellen Brisch.
  • Ceramics analysis.
  • Chemistry and biochemistry research you’ll use research-grade equipment to learn from and work alongside faculty mentors. Many students conduct research for multiple semesters and with multiple professors.
  • Developmental neurobiology using genetically engineered mice. Contact Adam Stocker.
  • Embryonic development of mammalian brains using the mouse model.
  • Emotional impact of cadaver dissection, endocrine disruptors.
  • Ethnomusicology.
  • Genes responsible for photosynthesis in corn.
  • Geographic information systems.
  • Geospatial ecology, avian ecology, epidemiology of zoonotic diseases. Contact Chris Merkord.
  • Human environment interactions.
  • Immunobiology, cell culture and fungal pathogens of mammal lungs using the mouse model.
  • Medical anthropology.
  • Microbial interactions with humans, animals and plants; immune response to environmental toxins, epigenetics. Contact Sumali Pandey.
  • Molecular physiology of photosynthesis in corn. Contact Chris Chastain.
  • Physics faculty and students conducts ongoing research projects in microscopy, medical imaging, robotics, nuclear magnetic resonance and studies of the Earth’s ionosphere/magnetosphere.
  • Physics education students with a special interest in teaching may learn how to evaluate teaching materials, such as lesson plans and simulations. You may also participate in outreach projects, develop planetarium shows and create outreach equipment kits needed by local schools.
  • Physiological traits of plants grown in aquaponic systems. Contact "Mazz" Marry.
  • Population ecology of small mammals, turtles, Canada geese; game camera studies. Contact Donna Bruns Stockrahm.
  • Prairie Nations Research Group (PNRG) is a faculty-led year-round opportunity for undergraduates to undertake individual and group directed and independent study research. Research focuses on cultural and linguistic projects relating to the indigenous peoples of the Western Great Lakes and Prairie regions of the Upper Midwest. Student research and student-faculty collaborations have been presented at MSUM’s Student Academic Conference, the Plains Anthropological Society Conference, the Algonquian Conference, and the Central States Anthropological Conference among others.
  • Prairie Restoration Project gives you the opportunity to engage in faculty-mentored research with MSUM faculty as well as research professors from other institutions. Current research projects include diversity of microbial community, effect of habitat restorations to native flora, diversity of small mammals, seed viability and the role of soil nutrients in prairie restoration, large birds of prey use of the region, archeological study of post-glacial use of the site by humans, and more.
  • Science education.
  • Science of pedagogy, prairie nutrient network ecology.
  • Science teaching methods, plant ecology, sustainability. Contact Alison Wallace.
  • Soil microbiome and landscape genetics.
  • Teaching methods in human anatomy, biological effects of estrogenic compounds in the Red River. Contact “Bee” Wisenden.
  • Vertebrate, bacterial and viral diversity in the environment; genomics and bioinformatics. Contact Sara Anderson.
  • Yeast fermentation, endocrine disruptors.

How do you get involved?

Set up an appointment to talk with a faculty member about their research. There is no requirement that you have previous research experience to become involved. It is also not required that you have specific plans such as graduate school or medical school, etc. Some questions you might want to ask a potential faculty research mentor:

  • What projects are available in their lab for you to join?
  • What is the time commitment required?
  • Will you be working with other students and if so, how many?
  • What lab techniques/skills will you be learning?
  • Are the available projects long term (i.e. more than one semester) or short term?
  • What other expectations do they have? If you decide to get involved in a research project, then your faculty mentor will tell you about other details such as registration and meeting times.

School of Science Undergraduate Research Labs

Lab Location Description
Oceanarium LH 005 The Oceanarium is a center for discovering marine biology for research, teaching and outreach. It houses stingrays, a tide pool, reef tank, and soon, jellyfish, seahorses and an eel display.
Fish Research LH 007 The Fish Research Lab studies the behavioral ecology of antipredator competence. More than 60 undergraduates are co-authors on peer-reviewed publications from data collected in LH 007.
Chastain Lab LH 208 The Chastain Lab has two ongoing research projects related to interest in C4 photosynthesis. One of the projects is concerned with understanding the molecular and biochemical regulation of the C4 photosynthetic pathway enzyme pyruvate phosphate dikinase, or PPDK for short. This project is funded by a $149,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A second project is part of a large prairie restoration project MSUM has underway at the MSUM Science Center. The project is investigating how grasses that use C4 photosynthesis may more effectively re-colonize the landscape compared to grass species that lack C4 photosynthesis.
Neurobiology Lab LH 222 The Neurobiology Lab studies genes that underlie the development of functional areas in the mammalian brain.
Solid State NMR lab HA 109 The Solid State NMR Lab studies the motion of atoms in new materials and determines useful characteristics of these materials.
Fish Biopotential Lab HA 310 The Fish Biopotential Lab is developing methods for studying fish behavior using voltages created from the muscular contractions of muscles. In particular, we are focusing on obtaining electrocardiograms of freely-swimming zebrafish.
Prairie Ecology Research HA 402 Most of the Prairie Ecology Research work is field-based in the summer. We are involved in an international plant ecology research effort organized by the University of Minnesota called the Nutrient Network. We have two "NutNet" sites at the Regional Science Center, and will operate them for a minimum of 10 years. We use the lab for processing plant biomass samples, and weighing fertilizer.
Microbial Pathogenesis HA 408 In our lifetime, our lungs get exposed to myriad of inhaled substances. However, the effects of repeated inhalation of these substances remain largely unknown. The Microbial Pathogenesis Lab utilizes mice and cell culture models to study histopathological, immunological, and epigenetic and gene expression changes to environmental inhalational exposures. The environmental exposures of particular interest include fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus), fungal toxins and immunomodulatory drugs.
Planetarium BR 167 The sky is the limit in the Planetarium! Potential research areas include science education, visual and multimedia arts, electronics, astrophysics, GIS, literary arts, sound design, etc.
Experimental Petrology KH 116B-C The Experimental Petrology Lab studies how the composition of silicate melt influences the chemical behavior of Nickel, Cobalt and other elements in the melt. Our results are important in understanding natural processes on the Earth and Moon and are important contributions to glass and ceramic industries.
GIS lab KH 103 The Center for Geospatial Studies seeks to advance the Red River Valley and the lives of its citizens by educating people to think spatially, training them to perform technically using geospatial technologies, and customizing and serving data and conducting spatial analyses to inform regional decision-making.
Regional Science Center Off campus The Regional Science Center's 400 acre prairie/woodland landscape provides research opportunities in: PK-12 science education, PK-12 teacher education, astronomy, biology, anthropology, geology, GIS and natural history.
Anthropology and Earth Science Library KH 223  
Multimedia Ethnography Lab KH 102 The Ethnography Lab is the home to the Prairie Nations Research Group. The Lab has numerous resources for a variety of research projects types, such as ethnohistorical research, geospatial ethnography, kinship studies, and Siouan, Algonquian, and Caddoan language studies. Directed by Dr. Erik Gooding
Archaeology Lab KH 115A MSUM’s Archaeology Lab has been involved in cultural resource management projects (such as surveys and excavations) since the 1970s and provides opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience assisting with building a cultural sequence for the region. The Lab has been involved in small- and large-scale projects in North Dakota and Minnesota involving federal agencies, such as the Corps of Engineers; state agencies, such as the Minnesota Department of Transportation; and municipal levels, such as the city of Moorhead.
Electron Microprobe Lab KH 115B Directed by Dr. Russ Colson
Environmental Magnetism and Geophysics Lab KH 116 The Environmental Magnetism and Geophysics Laboratory located in King Hall 116 houses soil sampling and geophysical remote sensing equipment for field studies as well as laboratory equipment for investigating the magnetic behavior of materials. The environmental magnetic laboratory is the first of its kind in this country dedicated to archaeological application.
Stratigraphy Lab KH 116C Directed by Dr. Karl Leonard
Advanced Geology Lab KH 118A Directed by Dr. Karl Leonard
Experimental Petrology Lab KH 118B-C Directed by Dr. Russ Colson
Intro Geology Lab KH 218 Directed by Drs. Russ Colson and Karl Leonard
Ceramics Lab KH 231 Directed by Dr. George Holley
Human Anatomy LH The Cadaver Theatre is a transformative experience in which anatomy students learn from their first patient about the human body. Each cadaver tells its own story about living life in health and illness. These cadavers are the true teachers of future healers.
Center for Geospatial Studies KH 103 The Center for Geospatial Studies is committed to showcasing GIS in inspiring events, engaging learners, helping others use and build GIS infrastructure and establishing dynamic collaborations. It seeks to educate people to think spatially; train them to perform technically using geospatial technologies; and customize and serve data and conduct spatial analyses to inform regional decision-making.
Prairie Nations Research Group (PNRG)   The Prairie Nations Research Group (PNRG) is a faculty-led year-round opportunity for undergraduates to undertake individual and group directed and independent study research. Research focuses on cultural and linguistic projects relating to the indigenous peoples of the Western Great Lakes and Prairie regions of the Upper Midwest. Student research and student-faculty collaborations have been presented at MSUM’s Student Academic Conference, the Plains Anthropological Society Conference, the Algonquian Conference, and the Central States Anthropological Conference among others.
Prairie Restoration Project   The Prairie Restoration Project gives you the opportunity to engage in faculty-mentored research with MSUM faculty as well as research professors from other institutions. Current research projects include diversity of microbial community, effect of habitat restorations to native flora, diversity of small mammals, seed viability and the role of soil nutrients in prairie restoration, large birds of prey use of the region, archeological study of post-glacial use of the site by humans, and more.