Why do Undergraduate Research?

Undergraduate research can be a transformative experience, count towards your major requirements, and give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs or graduate school. To make the most out of your research experience, review our advice below: 

 I: BEGIN EARLY

Research laboratories are very different than what you experience in the classroom. If you want to publish your research or present at Scholarship Sewanee, you may need several semesters to gain the scientific background and technical experience to achieve your goals. 

II: COMMIT 

Research requires commitment, drive, and resilience. Your experience as an undergraduate researcher can provide graduate or professional school search committees and prospective employers direct evidence of your capacity to commit to and complete a long-term goal. 

III: PRIORITIZE 

Is completing a research project, presenting your data, or co-authoring a paper one of your main goals? If so, you'll need to demonstrate this by how you schedule your time. A minimum of 4-6 hours per week is typically necessary for high-quality and productive research experiences.

IV: OWN IT 

As the researcher, you have the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the success of your project. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to demonstrate your independence! To be successful, you'll need to keep up with the literature related to your project, plan your week/semester efficiently, and collect data carefully and accurately.

 WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

Check out the wide range of ongoing research in the department below. Then reach out to professors you may want to work with, making sure in your email you include a few sentences telling the professor  and what most interests you about their research and how you want to be involved. 

Current Department Research

Interview farmers & survey birds on farms
Dr. Keri Watson

Students in my lab explore the importance of farmlands in the South Cumberland region, both for people and for other species. Through interviews with farmers, we examine how their values are reflected in on-farm practices, the cultural significance they attach to the land, and what they hope for their land in the future. Bird surveys allow us to assess the biodiversity supported by farmland, the ways farming practices shape these bird communities, and the potential consequences of farmland loss to housing development. In addition, my research includes measuring landscape change using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and monitoring streamflow at the Split Creek Observatory.

Assess drivers of forest productivity
Dr. Scott Torreano

My work focuses on assessing forest productivity and sustainability. I study everything from the tree tops to the roots and soil, examining how multi-factor disturbance influences forest structure and ecology above- and below-ground. Much of my research involves studying soils and their interactions with forests. The results of this research can be used to improve management decisions for restoring and enhancing the resilience and provisioning of ecosystem goods and services. This ecosystem approach requires the participation of colleagues and students from various disciplines, and there are ample opportunities for students to engage in research on the Domain and beyond. Learn more here. 

Probe minerals at extreme pressures
Dr. Lily Thompson

The Sewanee Under Pressure (SUP) group researches the properties of geological materials at elevated pressures and temperatures to better understand how these materials change at the extreme conditions deep inside planets, planetary bodies, and even large moons. In our research we use techniques shared with chemistry, physics, and materials science to address mineralogical and petrological problems. This research provides constraints that enable the interpretation of geophysical observations (e.g., seismic velocities) and informs our understanding of the composition, properties, and processes of the deep Earth and other terrestrial bodies. Read more here.

Investigate water quality & contamination
Dr. Martin Knoll

My research focuses on investigating water quality of streams, lakes, stormwater and groundwater on the Cumberland Plateau and the watersheds of the Tennessee, Cumberland and Danube (German) Rivers. Diverse sampling techniques are used to detect levels of metals, dissolved oxygen and emerging contaminants including PFOS compounds and microplastics. My most recent research project has involved students in an effort to determine the extent of contamination of a local watershed by microplastic particles from a turf athletic field. Involvement in this type of research prepares students for both graduate school and the work world of environmental consulting/engineering.

Measure & manage sustainable forests
Prof. Thomas Harris

My goal is to advance sustainable forestry through innovative silviculture and forest biometrics. My research integrates forest management across planted and naturally regenerated forest systems, developing growth models and examining managed forest mosaics in the eastern US and Atlantic Forest in Brazil. I combine traditional forest measurements with remote sensing and emerging technology to optimize timber production while enhancing ecosystem services. Recent work includes individual tree modeling and innovative wood product applications. By bridging forest ecology with practical management applications, I aim to create forestry practices that balance economic viability with environmental stewardship. 

Track whales & seabirds in shipping lanes
Dr. Eric Ezell

I study the ecology and conservation of whales and seabirds in an effort to understand how coastal shipping lanes are impacting their lives. Most of my research is focused upon monitoring populations of threatened species in the traditional waters of First Nations where coastal industries are growing. In my lab, students work to maintain photo-identification catalogs of humpback whales and fin whales, track whale movements around vessels in shipping lanes, and monitor populations of seabirds. My lab is focused on both research and environmental education, offering lessons about the ocean in partnership with local children's centers and forest schools. See more at the Sewanee Ocean Lab website.

Watch rocks & landscapes fall apart
Dr. Max Dahlquist

I study weathering and erosion at all scales, from fractures slowly growing to split rocks apart to megafloods carving through mountains using field observation, remote sensing, and geophysical methods. Feedbacks between climate, lithology, tectonics, and living things determine which mechanisms drive weathering and how fast these processes operate. The breakdown of material has implications for soil and sediment production, geochemical cycles, landscape evolution, and geohazards that endanger millions. My recent projects include studying rates of mechanical weathering in rocks from Antarctica, the implications of glacial lake outburst floods for the evolution of the Himalayas, and landslide hazard assessment on slopes near Sewanee.