Undergraduate Research
At Loyola, there are opportunities for students in many academic disciplines to get involved in research conducted by faculty. By participating in research projects, students are able to experience first-hand the principles and techniques taught in the classroom.
Students are also able to conduct their own research with faculty supervision and present their findings at national conferences. Student researchers in the sciences and social sciences have earned Claire Booth Luce Scholars grants, National Science Foundation undergraduate research grants, and corporate grants. Often the students are able to continue their research as they progress to graduate school.
Here are a just a few of the many ongoing faculty and student research projects:
Biology
Professor Maureen Shuh and her students are actively involved in using molecular genetic methods to study viruses as a model system for understanding how leukemic cancers become established. This approach uses biotechnology to understand the basic science that underlies cancer.
Chemistry
Professor Lynn Vogel Koplitz and her students are working on determining contaminants in bayou sediments by x-ray fluorescence and developing an indicator which reacts with monochloramine in treated waters to produce a fluorescent product.
Physics
Professor Martin McHugh is part of
a large international collaboration working on
a project known as LIGO (Laser
Interferometer
Gravitational wave Observatory) to detect gravitational
radiation. Loyola students are helping in analyzing their
findings and
data.
Professor Armin Kargol and his students conduct research in his Biophysics Lab focusing on transport processes in biological cells, in particular on ion channels.
Psychology
Each year, psychology students are able to conduct independent research studies and present their findings to the Loyola community. Subject matter can range from gender studies to social and physiological psychology. Recent topics have included stereotypes in the attitudes and perceptions about sorority women and the relationship between well-being and community involvement.
