RESEARCH

Student Research Programs in the Science Department

There are many ways students can engage in research at NCSSM! Through collaboration with faculty mentors, students learn advanced laboratory techniques, design original experiments and utilize computational tools to collect and analyze data. Students also have the unique opportunity to disseminate their findings through written reports and oral presentations. 

At NCSSM, research is more than a laboratory exercise, it is a gateway to advanced scientific inquiry. By fostering an environment where young scholars work alongside expert faculty, we empower our students to contribute meaningful research to the broader scientific community and graduate with a competitive edge that shapes their future academic and professional careers. 

Research Opportunities

• *R* - Courses with the (*R*) designation in the course catalog have a significant group research project embedded in the course. Please refer to the Durham Course Catalog and Morganton Course Catalog for descriptions of these courses. 

• REX - A 4-week J-Term course that counts towards the STEM graduation requirement. Students devote their undivided attention to a research project for the duration of J-Term. Projects may be individual or group - the scope is determined by the faculty mentor. Students present a poster at the conclusion of JTerm at the Science Poster Session and may also register for the Region 3b NC Science and Engineering Fair that is held on-campus in February. 

• RSci - These are double block courses that include 2 weeks of  J-Term in junior year, Spring Semester in junior year, 3 weeks of summer research in SRIP, and Fall Semester in senior year. These projects tend to be individual-based in which students navigate throuugh the entire research process, starting with reading the literature, writing a proposal, and conducting experiments. Students are expected to complete their research project in their senior year to participate in regional and national competitions (NCSAS, NCSEF, ISEF, Regeneron STS). Students must apply to conduct research in an RSci course. 

• SRIP - The Summer Research & Innovation Program (SRIP) offers opportunities in a wide variety of fields that are open to rising seniors in both the residential and online programs. The aim is to empower students to gain valuable experience in research, design and entrepreneurship. Students accepted to an RSci course are automatically enrolled in SRIP.

More information about the various research opportunities at NCSSM can be found at our Research & Innovation site.