An inquiry or investigation conducted by an individual that makes an original,

intellectual or creative contribution to your discipline

-Council on Undergraduate Research  

Scientific research usually involves a question, an investigation of that question, and finally, communication of the discovery.  Most often, scientific investigations involve both literature searches, as well as planned experiments.  

In the chemistry department, undergraduate research is defined as self-directed work under the supervision and guidance of a mentor/advisor—usually a graduate student, post-doc, or professor.  Students normally participate in ongoing research projects where they get the chance to investigate phenomena of interest to them and the lab that they are working in.  At UW, we have researchers involved in all the core areas of chemistry; analytical, inorganic, physical, theoretical, chemical education and organic chemistry.  Many of the researchers, however, are interdisciplinary and often cross the boundaries between fields and even disciplines, such as medicine, biology, materials, engineering and physics.  

When doing research, you will get the chance to work with and design instruments that you were only able to talk about in class, get to do intricate syntheses of molecules that have never been developed before, and/or get to discover phenomenon in the environment by using the latest software to take measurements that have never previously been recorded.  Overall, you will learn how to read pertinent literature, will learn new techniques and chemical concepts, and become an expert at a specific type of chemistry within a unique and close-knit lab group. 

Often, these research experiences will culminate into a written or oral presentation as a means of communicating the results with the greater scientific community.  UW-Chemistry Department organizes an undergraduate poster session every spring where students involved in undergraduate research can showcase their results.  Students’ findings can also be presented at regional and scientific meetings, such as the American Chemical Society meetings, or may be incorporated into papers submitted for publication.