Student Research & Creativity
Deepen your intellectual journey by applying your passions and creativity to real-world problem solving.
A part of our Signature Work ecosystem, DU’s students have access to hands-on learning experiences, like designing and pursuing projects alongside faculty mentors. By connecting and learning from experts and peers, your ideas and work can serve the public good and build the essential skills and experiences you need for your career and life of purpose.
What is Student Research & Creativity?
A part of DU’s Signature Work, students can receive mentorship, funding and support on self-directed projects, including scholarly and creative work.
While collaborating with faculty experts, students design and pursue projects beyond classroom assignments that are fueled by their own ideas, passions, interests, and desire to build knowledge, express themselves, or connect with others. This hands-on approach to learning is a highly impactful way our holistic approach to learning, the DU 4D Experience, comes to life.
- Apply classroom knowledge, concepts and lessons
- Learn to write grant proposals that explain your passions and ideas
- Receive funding to fuel your ideas
- Build skills applicable to today and your post-graduation career
- Connect one-on-one with faculty experts and peers
- Collaborate with partners in the community making a difference now
- Participate in our annual “Research and Scholarship Showcase”
Find Funding. Make Your Idea a Reality.
Work with your faculty mentor to apply for grant funding to pursue your project. In addition to opportunities within individual schools or programs, DU offers four grants available university-wide, so you can get started right away.
Mentorship & Collaboration
From help identifying a project, navigating the grant application process, understanding research best practices, sharing findings effectively, translating ideas into workshops and connecting with other in the field, DU’s faculty mentors are close collaborators as students undertake signature work projects. Regardless of major or minor, students can co-create and co-author their project, contribute to a faculty member’s project, or work alongside peers with similar interests or goals.
Examples of Past Student Projects
- Ways to better connect resources to underserved schools in Denver
- Which ion channels are permeable to zinc
- How gender informs household power in Guatemala
- Which biomarkers are associated with concussions
- How to encourage sustainability in artisanal fisheries
- And so much more
Are You a DU Faculty Member?
Learn more about all of DU’s Signature Work opportunities, become a mentor, and help connect undergrad and grad students with the funding and resources they need, including helping them navigate the application process.
Multiple Ways DU Students Make an Impact
DISCOVERY
Create something new.
No matter your field, you can expand humanity’s knowledge or contribute your unique creative and artistic viewpoint.
INTEGRATION
Build new connections.
Knowledge doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Your project can show how two seemingly unrelated fields or disciplines can open new ways of seeing or doing in another.
APPLICATION
Make it happen.
Help make research have a real impact. Using what we know now, you can help imagine, design and connect with other at DU or in the community to tackle problems.
