Performing research as an undergraduate is highly recommended by the department. This hands-on experience will not only increase the student's understanding of their coursework, but will also benefit them when they seek employment or continued education. Research provides them with experience and skills that employers desire. Also, having done research will aid them should they decide to apply to graduate school.

Students may engage in research with a departmental faculty member, a faculty member of another department at OU (such as microbiology), or with an outside organization (such as the OUHSC or Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Students can also take part in one of the many Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) programs offered at schools all around the country. For a listing of summer research programs, visit our SURE listing here: http://cheminfo.chem.ou.edu/undergraduate/advising/sureprograms.html

Students enrolling in CHEM 4913, Senior Thesis, must complete two to three semesters of research (10-25 hours per week) before enrolling in CHEM 4913. Research hours may be completed by enrolling in CHEM 3960 (Honors Reading), 3980 (Honors Research), 3990 (Independent Study, S/U grade) or 4990 (Independent Study, letter grade).

If a student either must perform research for a class or simply wishes to gain research experience, they should first consult the listing of faculty and their research interests on our website (link is shown below). Then, after finding a few faculty whose interests correspond with theirs, the student should contact the faculty directly to discuss the possibility of carrying out the research.

Faculty And Their Research Interests