17 Undergraduate Fellows
Summer 2024
10 Faculty Mentors
Summer 2024
7,719 Student Research Hours
Summer 2024
Wheaton College Summer Research Program
About the Summer Research Program
Every year, a cohort of motivated Wheaton students are named Undergraduate Research Fellows and are invited to participate in Wheaton’s Summer Research Program.
The Undergraduate Research Fellows, who receive stipends and no-cost housing, research forty hours per week for ten weeks under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The Wheaton College Summer Research Program is funded with project support from federal research agencies (the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, etc.), the Wheaton College Alumni Association and generous donors.
Comments from former Wheaton College Undergraduate Research Fellows
- “My research and collaboration with faculty was extremely fulfilling, and the research that I conducted has provided an amazing foundation for my future endeavors in graduate school.”
- “This program is a great experience for undergraduates to not only expand on their academic research experiences, but to build professional and personal connections with their advisors and other student researchers across various disciplines. Looking ahead to the future, I feel that this program has better prepared me in my experience, abilities, and expectations to continue to pursue research after college. “
- “Through my experience in summer research, I have been the recipient of excellent mentorship from my professor in both my personal and professional life. I've been challenged this summer to tasks I have never done before and discovered that I may be a researcher at heart. I've more seriously considered a career in the academy as I am learning my strengths and passion.”
Meet the winners of Wheaton College's Summer Research Poster Session
/filters:quality(85)/prod02/channel_1/t4_pending/media/physics/images/Physics-Department.jpg)
Faculty Perspective
Dr. Darren Craig, Physics Department at Wheaton College"Mentoring summer research students is one of the most memorable and satisfying aspects of my job. . . It really is an incredible experience for both faculty and students."
The scientific mentoring we are able to offer at Wheaton compares very favorably to those experiences at R1 schools with strong physics research programs. And then we add on top of this the value of one-on-one whole person mentoring by a Christian faculty member. It is rare for external summer programs to pair undergrads with faculty. More typically a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher would be the day-to-day supervisor even if a faculty member is the official mentor. But at Wheaton our students get to spend 10 weeks working side-by-side with faculty who deeply care about them as whole persons.
STUDENT SAY THANK YOU Summer Research 2024
Casey Gupta
Mentor: Dr. Amy Reynolds
Anthropology, Sociology, & Urban Studies
Objective: To gather information on the rise of evangelical feminism in the 1970s. My research primarily consisted of going through the archives to identify key actors and organizations in this movement.
"Thank you for your investment in us! Having the opportunity to work alongside one of the best sociology professors was an amazing experience. Participating in this research not only equipped me with much-needed experience, but also challenged my faith. I am excited to use the skills I have developed this next year in my senior thesis. Thank you again for this invaluable opportunity, and I think it will open doors after I graduate that I can't even anticipate."
Josie Hewitt
Mentor: Dr. Amy Reynolds
Anthropology, Sociology, & Urban Studies
Objective: To explore evangelical feminist movements during the 1970s using primary sources located in the Special Collections and Archives (Billy Graham Hall).
"Thank you for supporting the Summer Research Program! This opportunity has strengthened my research skills and has led me to consider further education in my field. I have learned more about Wheaton's history and global evangelism. This program has given me time to ponder how I can contribute to my community, such as promoting the Gospel while advocating for women. I feel extremely honored to have worked with an insightful professor and a dedicated colleague on this project. Many thanks to all who have made this possible!"
Mattias Dyrud
Mentor: Dr. Meredith Sommars
Biological & Health Sciences
Objective: The main objective of the research project this summer was to learn how Coconut Oil affects lipid accumulation, cell viability, and gene expression in HepG2 cells. We also had a secondary project that investigated gene expression and liver zonation in mice.
"I am deeply grateful for your generous support of the Summer Research Program. Your support was so important to the program's success, enabling me to be involved in meaningful research and academics. I have learned so much from my team about the research process and am so thankful for this experience!"