Internal Research Opportunities (Within JMU)
Apply to faculty-led projects for hands-on research experience across departments. Collaborate with faculty, gain professional skills, and contribute to scholarly work.
Make sure to explore research opportunities beyond your field by browsing postings from all colleges in the section below.
Submit research opportunities
Faculty members, please submit research/creative inquiry projects to be displayed on this virtual bulletin board by clicking the button below.
Find opportunities
Project Title:
Project description:
Research keywords:
Preferred skills:
Project web link:
Expected starting date:
Advisor name:
Home department:
Contact email address:
Contact phone number:
Project Title:
Project description:
Research keywords:
Preferred skills:
Project web link:
Expected starting date:
Advisor name:
Home department:
Contact email address:
Contact phone number:
Project Title:
Project description:
Research keywords:
Preferred skills:
Project web link:
Expected starting date:
Advisor name:
Home department:
Contact email address:
Contact phone number:
Project Title:
Project description:
Research keywords:
Preferred skills:
Project web link:
Expected starting date:
Advisor name:
Home department:
Contact email address:
Contact phone number:
Project Title:
Project description:
Research keywords:
Preferred skills:
Project web link:
Expected starting date:
Advisor name:
Home department:
Contact email address:
Contact phone number:
Project Title: Foam coarsening in curved surfaces
Project description: Aqueous foams, the familiar collection of tightly packed soap bubbles, conceal an intricately rich dynamics that have captivated scientists for a long time. In this project, we aim to observe bubble growth in dry foams confined to curved spaces. In flat surfaces, von Newman’s Law postulates that the growth rate depends exclusively on the number of neighbors of each bubble. Curved surfaces, by contrast, impose different geometrical constraints that lead to more complex growth rates and unexpected stable points. Our goal is to measure the bubble growth rate in curved surfaces of constant and varying curvatures to explore the unique dynamics imposed by the enhanced complex geometry. This experimental study has direct applications to industries where input materials exhibit similar dynamics to aqueous foams, such as the chemical, petroleum, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Research keywords: physics, soft materials, membranes, diffusion, differential geometry
Preferred skills: Basic knowledge of physics, some programming experience (preferably in Python), and a strong enthusiasm for working in a lab setting.
Project web link: Not available
Expected starting date: Fall of 2025
Advisor name: Klebert Feitosa
Home department: Physics and Astronomy
Contact email address: feitoskb@jmu.edu,
Contact phone number: 540-568-8817
Project Title: Wildlife and ecosystem responses to climate change in the tropical high Andes, Peru
Project description: I study nutrient transfer by vicuñas, wild relatives of alpacas, upslope into the rapidly expanding deglaciated zone on high Andean mountains. In these barren, rocky soils, vicuña dung piles may be an important nutrient source and facilitate the colonization of microbial and plant communities. Vicuña latrines may accelerate primary succession in these barren, proglacial landscapes by 150 years or more. Herbivore-facilitated succession likely provides a crucial mechanism by which tropical alpine grassland plants and animals can colonize newly ice-free areas on timescales relevant to climate change.
Research keywords: wildlife, mammals, ecology, climate change, mountains
Preferred skills: No experience necessary. We can train you. Access to a reliable internet connection is needed.
Project web link: https://kelseyreider.weebly.com/
Expected starting date: Summer 2025
Advisor name: Kelsey Reider
Home department: Biology
Contact email address: reiderke@jmu.edu
Contact phone number: Not available
Project Title: Pariahs in Paris: The French Colonial Subject in the Metropole, 1914-1940.
Project description: The student researcher will focus on using keyword searches of digitized periodicals (newspapers, weekly press) published during the 1920s and 1930s and available online via the French National Library’s Gallica webpage. The program expectation is that you spend about five (5) hours per week on the research (including meeting time). The aim is to find primary source articles about the artists and personalities that are the subject of my book Pariahs in Paris. All research will be online; meetings with Dr. Shanahan can be either in person or via zoom.
Research keywords: Habib Benglia; Albert Samama Chikli; Tahar Hanache; and more
Preferred skills: Basic French skills
Project web link: Not available
Expected starting date: Fall 2025
Advisor name: Maureen Shanahan
Home department: School of Art, Design & Art History
Contact email address: shanahmg@jmu.edu
Contact phone number: 540-568-6029
Project Title:
Project description:
Research keywords:
Preferred skills:
Project web link:
Expected starting date:
Advisor name:
Home department:
Contact email address:
Contact phone number:
External Research Opportunities (Outside JMU)
Explore research initiatives, internships, and collaborations beyond the institution to connect with diverse academic and professional networks. Gain real-world experience, broaden perspectives, and build valuable connections to support your academic and career goals.
Find opportunities
Description: NSF-funded summer research programs at universities and labs across the country. Students work on projects in STEM fields, including biology, chemistry, engineering, and computer science.
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates in STEM disciplines.
Website: NSF REU Program
Description: A summer program for students interested in biomedical research. Interns work alongside NIH scientists in Bethesda, MD, or other NIH locations.
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates interested in biomedical or health-related research.
Website: NIH SIP
Description: A summer research program hosted at top universities worldwide, focusing on biotechnology and biomedical research.
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates in science or engineering fields.
Website: Amgen Scholars
Description: NSF-funded summer research programs at universities and labs across the country. Students work on projects in STEM fields, including biology, chemistry, engineering, and computer science.
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates in STEM disciplines.
Website: NSF REU Program
