Academics
Scientific Research Matters
MVNU's Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) exists to allow MVNU students the opportunity to conduct faculty-mentored scientific research. This is important because undergraduate research is a high-impact practice that not only contributes to learning but also student retention, graduation rates, and acceptance into graduate and professional programs.
2022 -- First Summer of Research
In its inaugural year, six faculty members in biology, chemistry, computer science, physics and engineering conducted research with 12 students.
Projects included investigations of:
- A design of a sensor for assessing human brain motion during concussive events
- Freshwater aquatic insects
- Factors affecting membrane permeability
- Degradation and corrosion processes of zirconia
- Automatic generation of reaction networks on metal nanoparticles
- Improvements in computer-based identification of obstructed images
2023 -- Demand for Research Doubles
Our students were excited to participate in SPUR. In fact, this year we had over twice as many applications as 2022!
SPUR has prepared me the most for what I believe grad school will ask of me: Independent work, self-motivation, communication, patience, and higher conceptual thinking.
2022 student researcher