Student Research and Scholarship

The Importance of Student Research

Research shows that high-impact experiences like research and professional development experience are more likely to persist to graduation than their counterparts who do not, as they allow students to engage directly with faculty and peers, and provide them with a sense of community and belonging to the institution (Tinto, 2017). In turn, this sense of community and belonging helps to support students’ persistence to graduation in the face of hardships they may experience, e.g., family, work, and financial strains (Booker, 2016; Marerro & Milacci, 2018). Both research experiences and professional development activities help students persist in their degree field because they help students know how to think and work like members of a profession, develop a professional identity, increase their confidence/self-efficacy, clarify/confirm their career paths, and have real world experience and preparation for life after graduation (Hunter, Laursen, & Seymour, 2006).  

Booker, K. (2016). Connection and commitment: How sense of belonging and classroom community influence degree persistence for African American undergraduate women. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 28(2), 218-229. 

Hunter, A. B., Laursen, S. L., & Seymour, E. (2007). Becoming a scientist: The role of undergraduate research in students’ cognitive, personal, and professional development. Science Education, 91(1), 36-74. 

Tinto, V. (2017). Reflections on student persistence. Student Success, 8(2), 1-9. 

Summer 2026

Check out this article on Dr. Jost and Dr. Loughran’s Marine Biology trip!