At Carleton, our students’ intellectual curiosity drives their engagement in research in a variety of disciplines — and sometimes across them.
The Council of Undergraduate Research defines research as “an inquiry or investigation by undergraduate students that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.” And it can include projects in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
In keeping with Carleton’s commitment to close collaboration between faculty and students, faculty-mentored student research is part of many courses. Part or full-time supervised research is available during both summer and winter breaks. Independent research can be pursued any time of the year, either on or off campus.
Elements of Undergraduate Research
This research comes from Jeffrey M. Osborn and Kerry K. Karukstis in “The Benefits of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity” (Council on Undergraduate Research, 2009).
Mentorship
The experience is a serious, collaborative interaction between the faculty mentor and the student. The student is intellectually engaged in a problem or project.
Originality
The student makes a meaningful and authentic contribution to the problem or project. The work is entirely or partially novel.
Methodology
The student employs techniques that are appropriate and recognized by the discipline(s). The problem or project includes a reflective and synthetic component.
Reporting
The experience includes a final tangible product. Both the process and results are presented and reviewed in a manner consistent with disciplinary standards.
Undergraduate Research and Internship Symposium
Each year Carleton hosts an Undergraduate Research and Internship Symposium, where more than 200 students present posters on the research or internship work they did over the summer. Save the date for the 2026 Symposium: Friday, October 16, 2026!
Research Impact Profiles
Undergraduate research experiences significantly influence Carls’ lives after they graduate, both professionally and personally. Read the stories below to explore how.
Featured Faculty Research Projects
The Wandering House
Summer 2019 Faculty-Directed research with Cinema and Media Studies Instructor Cecilia Cornejo
Neuroscience Lab
2019–2020 Faculty-Directed research lab group with Neuroscience and Psychology Professor Sarah Meerts
Dakota Language Institute
Summer 2019 Faculty-Directed research with Linguistics Professor Mike Flynn at the Lake Traverse Reservation
