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Harry Jol and female student taking ground radar reading by the ocean

Research

Do what feels impossible. Conduct experiments, make discoveries, and find solutions that make a difference.

Blugolds can take part in the kinds of research opportunities often reserved for graduate students at most universities. Our faculty work alongside teams of students, guiding and mentoring in relationships that come to resemble those of true colleagues. It's pretty magical stuff.

With groundbreaking research projects possible in every major, what you discover is up to you!

Intro

Do what feels impossible. Conduct experiments, make discoveries, and find solutions that make a difference.

Blugolds can take part in the kinds of research opportunities often reserved for graduate students at most universities. Our faculty work alongside teams of students, guiding and mentoring in relationships that come to resemble those of true colleagues. It's pretty magical stuff.

With groundbreaking research projects possible in every major, what you discover is up to you!

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National Undergraduate Research Leaders

Research is on another level here, where UWEC consistently ranks as a top comprehensive university in the country for undergraduate research.

Research is everywhere! Students across nearly all majors have explored topics like:

observing animal behavior.
figuring out how plants forecast climate change.
determining financial impact of Super Bowl ads.
studying compassion fatigue among caregivers.

As early as your first semester if you are interested, you can reach out to a faculty member about a topic you want to dive into. Lead discovery, change the world, and prepare yourself for a career or graduate studies.

A student and a professor pose and smile in front of a PowerPoint screen while presenting their research on well-being.

Research and Policy

The research you do as a Blugold can expand beyond UWEC and make real change in the world. Economics professor Dr. Yan Li and student Brett Neumann recently studied the impact of unemployment on individual well-being in three countries. From their findings, they're offering policy recommendations to address a declining labor force and enhance well-being.

Learn more about research at UWEC

Students wearing "Midwest Artist Academy" shirts smile as they walk across a bridge

Research in the Arts

At UWEC, research expands far beyond STEM programs. The Midwest Artist Academy (MAA) is hosted on campus each year for young artists interested in dance, theater, music, art, or writing. Over the past few years, Blugold student researchers have studied ways to refine MAA into an even more inclusive, collaborative experience.

Learn more about research at UWEC

Materials science student working in a lab

3D Printing in Healthcare

A course in biomedical 3D printing paired Blugolds with Radiology physicians at Mayo Clinic Health System to study medical imaging technologies and their use in generating 3D printed models. These models can be used by surgeons to plan procedures. At UWEC, you could be doing this type of research in your first year as an undergraduate.

Learn More About Our Partnership With Mayo Clinic Health System

Do More with a Supercomputer

Join collaborative research projects that find new connections between chemical, physical, and mathematical systems. Grow professionally and academically through UW-Eau Claire's partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

Learn more about the Blugold Center for High Performance Computing

Collaborate with Mayo Clinic Health System

Our collaboration with Mayo Clinic Health System is a unique opportunity to research alongside some of the more brilliant doctors in the country. Share innovative ideas and develop solutions for real-world problems.

Learn About Our Mayo Collaboration

Research Collaboration and Support

Research here is fueled by innovation and collaboration. Faculty make it happen with their expertise and extensive network of partners. They care to see you succeed and earn experience that will jumpstart your career.

Some research projects even help pay for your education! Blugold Commitment funding ensures all UW-Eau Claire undergraduate students can participate in high-impact practices, such as collaborative research. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) also provides student funding opportunities through grants and scholarships.

A man in a laboratory uses a pipette to transfer a sample

Biomedical Innovator Program

Research on day one with Mayo Clinic Health System professionals. Life-changing experiences from this partnership help you advance your career in the health care or biomedical field.

Learn About Biomedical Innovators

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Investing in the Health Sciences

UWEC was awarded $340.3 million to build a state-of-the-art Science and Health Sciences Building for students pursuing STEM careers.

Next Generation of Medical Pioneers

Each year, 10 students are selected for the Blugold Biomedical Innovator program, directly connecting them to research with Mayo Clinic Health System professionals.

Endless Research Opportunities

Nearly half of all Blugolds participate in a research experience before graduation.

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

The ORSP supports research, scholarship, and creative activity. Find more information about the research support they provide like funding opportunities.

About the ORSP

Through undergraduate research, my goal is to better understand the intricacies of territorial disputes, particularly in eastern Asia, and look into how these conflicts are represented in the media. I hope to learn more about global issues and the impact of media portrayal.

Learning in Action