Harvey Mudd College, a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s prestigious Award for the Integration of Research and Education, has long recognized the importance of collaborative student-faculty research.

Since research began on campus in the Department of Chemistry in 1958, the college has offered its undergraduates the unique hands-on laboratory and field experience usually reserved for graduate students elsewhere. The quality and productivity of research here is also unparalleled at most undergraduate institutions.

Anchored by a research-supportive curriculum, students are prepared to undertake research during their entire time at HMC. They may collaborate with faculty during the academic year, as well as during the summer through the HMC Summer Research Program. Several academic majors require senior research as well.

With approximately $2 million in annual external funding set aside for research, HMC has made the discovery of new knowledge one of its top priorities. And, while student participants may change annually, the faculty’s vested interest in research projects provides continuity throughout the year.

For HMC professors, research is an extremely powerful teaching tool that leads to students’ disciplinary learning and professional and personal growth well beyond traditional classroom settings. Students and faculty collaborate on many projects that are presented jointly at professional scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed journals, and both have been honored with distinguished national awards.