BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University encourages undergraduate research, which gives students the opportunity to work side by side with their professors on meaningful research or creative endeavors and then present their findings at regional, national and international conferences.

Students have said the experience raises their skills in critical thinking, writing and collecting and analyzing data — while also boosting their confidence and improving their time management and work accountability.

All this can give a leg up in applying to graduate school or seeking employment, according to university officials.

“Student-faculty engagement in research, scholarship and creative expression is a hallmark of the Appalachian undergraduate student experience,” said Provost Darrell Kruger. “These high-impact academic experiences are truly transformational. They prepare our graduates to enter the workforce or graduate school equipped to improve the world.”

Working directly with a faculty mentor “prepares them to hit the ground running in a graduate program, or as a new hire,” said Dr. Susan McCracken, director of career development and economic engagement.

Alumnus Chris Eubanks ’13, who is working on his Ph.D. in chemistry at Duke University, said “having three years of research before coming into a graduate program was very helpful.” The opportunity to apply for grants through Appalachian’s Office of Student Research also helped him develop his scientific writing, he said.

Eubanks and his mentor, Dr. Michael Hambourger in the Department of Chemistry, explored new ways to produce hydrogen for fuel cells.

Related links

• Office of Student Research
• Research news from Appalachian

About student research at Appalachian

Appalachian State University encourages faculty-mentored student research, which provides students with the opportunity to work side by side with faculty on meaningful research or creative endeavors. These projects often result in presentations, performances or exhibitions at regional, national and international conferences and events. Students who engage in research are able to apply knowledge from the classroom into real-world experiences and learn how to problem-solve, effectively communicate and analyze complex issues. Appalachian’s Office of Student Research (OSR) was established in 2005 to expand the opportunities necessary for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in research and creative activities at Appalachian. Learn more at https://osr.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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