Undergraduate Research

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) defines undergraduate research as “a mentored investigation or creative activity conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge.” Undergraduate research and creative activities at Mercer provide students with hands-on experience that complements the breadth of their education.

At Mercer, students are given the opportunity to take the lead in top-level research endeavors, which transforms them into scholars who answer tough and relevant questions. Our students work closely with faculty members in state-of-the-art facilities to complete projects that contribute new knowledge to their fields of study.

Undergraduate research includes scholarly, creative, and artistic activities that

• lead to new knowledge,
• improve problem solving capabilities,
• offer original or historical theory and interpretation, or
• produce art or creative performances.

As undergraduates, students do this work under the direction of a faculty mentor. At Mercer, URCA tends to fall into three categories:

• Course-based: Students conduct research and/or creative activities as part of a course.
• Faculty-led: Student serve as an assistant on a professor’s project and is supervised by the faculty member.
• Student-led: Students work on a project of personal interest under the direction and mentorship of a professor.