Opportunities for you
UWSP professors have remarkable opportunities for you that can change your future. Undergraduate research is an activity that goes beyond classwork to show a future potential employer or a grad school mentor that you know how to work hard and apply what you have learned in your classes. Remember, the effort you put forth with a research mentor will be mirrored by the effort the mentor puts into letters of recommendation that help open doors for you. Your classwork is an indication to your professors that you are worthy of their investing time for individual instruction on research projects.

I am continually looking for bright, motivated and especially creative students that have good hands for experimental work. If you are interested in independent research, please email me or set up an appointment. I am also fairly well connected with scientists at Argonne National Laboratory who are continually looking for the best and brightest students as summer interns. Click here to look at the opportunities at Argonne National Laboratory's Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program. Funding and the number of positions available varies year to year. Other of our national laboratories have interships available. Check here for just a few of the opportunities that our national laboratories have to offer you.

Chemistry 199, 299 399 and 499 are independent research that are signed up with individual professors.  The information below comes from the UWSP Chemistry Department Student Handbook.

Chemistry is one of the broadest and most dynamic disciplines in today's world. Our
understandings of the physical world are constantly being challenged by new data and theoretical
perspectives. Moreover, the techniques available to the chemist in his or her investigations are
becoming more sophisticated and precise every day and the application of new methods is
becoming crucial to appreciating "state-of-the-art" chemistry. For these reasons the Department
of Chemistry at UWSP recognizes the importance of involving students in research projects that
go beyond typical classroom and laboratory work. Each student contemplating a career in
chemistry, whether it be in industry, academia, a government laboratory, or elsewhere, is
strongly encouraged to enroll in Chemistry 299, 399, or 499. These courses provide the
framework for choosing a research project of interest to the student and allows him or her to gain
the crucial exposure to research techniques.
Chemistry 299 is designed to give sophomores (and freshmen in some cases) exposure to
research techniques and projects. Chemistry 399 allows more latitude in the project and for this
reason is entitled "Independent Study". Students may opt to do projects of personal interest
under the direction of a faculty member. Chemistry 499 places emphasis on basic chemical
research and requires a somewhat more formal presentation of results in the form of a final
paper. In each case, you design the project in consultation with a faculty member and mutually
agreeable goals are established. Permission to register for these courses is obtained from the
Chair.
The researcher must learn how to approach the problem, to outline a solution and then modify
the program as results are obtained and evaluated. It becomes apparent as the project progresses
that chemistry is a tremendously interdisciplinary science and the student hopefully develops the
skill of integrating his or her knowledge of various other fields in order to solve the puzzle of the
project he or she is engaged in. Clearly, these processes will vary greatly for different students
and projects but each student should finish the project with a sense of accomplishment and a
deeper appreciation of the scientific method.

CHEMISTRY 299 - 1 credit - INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH Chemistry majors and minors
may arrange for independent research with a faculty member. Projects introduce students to
chemical research. May be repeated. Does not count toward any chemistry major or minor.
Prereq: cons chair. (I, II)

CHEMISTRY 399 - 1-3 credits - SPECIAL WORK Chemistry majors and minors may arrange
for independent projects with a faculty member. May be repeated. Does not count toward any
chemistry major or minor. (I,II)

CHEMISTRY 499 - 1-3 credits - INDEPENDENT RESEARCH Chemistry majors may arrange
for independent research with a faculty research adviser. Written report required. Students are
encouraged to repeat this course with their adviser. May apply no more than three credits toward
ACS certified major. Does not count toward L&S chemistry major. Prereq: 248, 326 and
consent of chair. (I, II)

External Research Opportunities