Research

Connecting faculty mentors and student researchers

Research at Immaculata University begins with curiosity, takes shape through vision and grows through exploration leading to discovery. At the core of research are the inquisitive and innovative faculty of Immaculata University. Collaboration across interdisciplinary domains allows our faculty to connect singular ideas and develop multi-dimensional solutions to the scientific and social problems facing humanity.

Faculty Research and Mentoring

Our faculty serve as both scholars and practitioners in their fields who have made significant contributions to academia, to the student population and to the world. Faculty research thrives on national, regional and university levels as demonstrated through publications, conference presentations and university symposiums.

In support of their individual research interests, Immaculata faculty also strive to engage undergraduate and graduate students as active contributors to research projects. Under the direction of a faculty mentor, students have an opportunity to enhance independent thinking and gain hands-on research experience.

Research Mini-Grants

Immaculata’s mini-grant program is one way we support faculty-student mentorship. Faculty apply for up to $1,000 in university funding to support projects in which they guide students in the research process. The mini-grant program typically supports approximately five projects per year, making it a key pathway for faculty-student interaction and allowing our undergraduates to make scholarly contributions.

Student Research Poster Presentations

Posters Under the Dome is an annual research symposium at Immaculata that showcases undergraduate student research. This symposium features the research work of dozens of undergraduates, about 70 to 90 in recent years. Research in the Round is Immaculata’s annual symposium for graduate student research.

During these events, students present posters that summarize their projects, which may include their initial hypotheses, relevant literature they reviewed, experiments they conducted, data they gathered and analyzed, conclusions they made and insights they discovered. The IU community is invited to walk among the displays and view students’ posters, and students are available to discuss their work with visitors and answer questions.

2024-2025 Mini-Grant Recipients

• Dr. Kelly Stalker and Dr. Christine Naegle
  "Nutrition Education for Athletes (NEFA)"
  Student involvement from Reese Mullins
• Dr. Dawn Kriebel
  "Screen time use among young children"
  Student involvement from Coryn Turner
• Dr. Nicholas Racich
  "The Impact of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation on Blood Lactate Clearance in Male Collegiate Soccer Players"
  Student involvement from Dylan Walter
• Dr. Stephen Mason
  "Supervision of Scientific Student Research Presentations at Two Local Conferences"
  Student involvement from Aidan Doyle, Liam Semmler, Tien Tran, Mercedes, Grace Wright, Jessica Wolfgang, Francesca Giardini, Brianna Hong, Diana Geditz, Gabe Bocaj, Jessica Kiederling, Angele Oye-Mba, Maddie Hansel, Maddy Trainor, Jahky Saintillien
• Dr. Erin Kirschmann
  "Developmental Profiles of locomotor response to novelty and microbiome composition in male and female mice"
  Student involvement from Athena Kritikson and Matthew Gribbin