Research at Illinois Tech can provide a new way of looking at a subject that fascinates you. Participation in a research project helps many undergraduate students determine whether to pursue an advanced degree or a career in research. For graduate students, research is often the heart of their academic experience and a gateway to a profession in research or academia.
Ongoing research-focused initiatives through Illinois Tech's Elevate program, and the university's colleges and schools, are listed here, in addition to a listing of resources pertaining to external research opportunities.
To explore the current research opportunities or for assistance with a project proposal, contact the appropriate department administering the project, your college or school, your faculty adviser, or a faculty member whose work interests you.
Elevate, Illinois Tech's experiential learning hub, connects students with research projects that take place on and off campus.
The Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering offers one-semester, biomedical science or biomedical engineering research opportunities that support both the student and the faculty member’s laboratory. The program is open to all students. Students who successfully complete the RES-MATCH research program will receive a $500 research award, and the corresponding faculty member will receive $500 for their laboratory.
Armour R&D
Armour College of Engineering incorporates research into its undergraduate curriculum, with programs dedicated to both mentored research and the development of technologies for research.
Spend the summer with a research team working in the hottest topics of applied mathematics and computer science including big data, data analysis and statistics, privacy-securing AI, machine learning in financial markets, and more.
Lewis College of Science and Letters offers undergraduate students a variety of research outlets and hosts an annual research symposium, where students showcase their work.
Lewis College Undergraduate Research Day
Undergraduate research stipends provide funding for select undergraduate students enrolled in biology, chemistry, and physics to conduct research alongside an Illinois Tech faculty mentor during a 10-week summer session.
Student projects are a core component of the Department of Information Technology and Management undergraduate curriculum. Much like a formal research project, these team-based projects allow students to study and develop a viable solution to a technology problem, gaining hands-on experience and work examples for their portfolios.
Though extracurricular endeavors within the College of Architecture may typically be associated with architecture practice more than formal research, the college offers an extensive study-abroad program that includes site research and other similar immersive opportunities.
Dozens of online resources can connect current Illinois Tech students in finding and applying for research opportunities off campus. Contact your college or faculty adviser for additional outlets. Students should work with Illinois Tech‘s Office of Sponsored Research and Programs when applying to research programs. Here are just a few examples of external opportunities:
Fellowships and Scholarships
In additional to federal funding opportunities, non-federal organizations also provide fellowships and scholarships for research, student funding, and professional advancement.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
The National Science Foundation oversees the REU program, which offers stipends supporting student research at universities nationwide, including Illinois Tech.
Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)
The RISE program offers bachelors-level students—from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom—who are studying in science and engineering fields with the opportunity to participate in research in Germany.
Pathways to Science
The Institute for Broadening Participation connects interested undergraduate and graduate students, especially underrepresented minorities, in STEM fields with paid research and internship opportunities through its Pathways to Science program.
NIST SURF Research Program
The National Institute of Standards and Technology oversees the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF). Universities can recommend students studying science, engineering, and mathematics to conduct research as part of this initiative. Learn more about the SURF program locations.
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education connects the most talented and diverse students, recent graduates, faculty and educators to programs closely aligned with the interests of a variety of research facilities, including those managed for the U.S. Department of Energy and more than a dozen other federal agencies.
Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI)
The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship program encourages undergraduate students and recent graduates to pursue STEM careers by providing research experiences at the Department of Energy laboratories.
Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research
This national program awards grants to undergraduate and graduate students to defray certain expenses involved in conducting research in engineering and science.
You can view graduate student research and fellowship opportunities through the university’s Office of Sponsored Research and Programs.
The United States Fulbright Scholar Program offers research, study, and teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students.