PURSUE LAS is a program at the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences with the goal of expanding access to transformative undergraduate research experiences. It supports both established programs and new initiatives that connect students with faculty-led discoveries.
The program helps to meet the growing demand in LAS and sustain high-impact programs which build intellectual curiosity, academic confidence, and a strong foundation for students’ future paths.
Proposals can be submitted by LAS departments, schools, units, faculty, and campus partner units. Collaborative and interdisciplinary proposals are also encouraged. This year, 17 projects received more than $250,000 in total.
Descriptions of the projects from SLCL follow:
French Around the Corner
Submitted by Aurore Mroz (French and Italian), this initiative combines community-engaged research with language learning, allowing students to apply disciplinary knowledge in real-world cultural contexts. Through mentored projects and public-facing work, students develop research, communication, and civic engagement skills.
Linguistics Undergraduate Research Program (pilot)
Jonathan Dunn (linguistics) submitted a new pathway for undergraduates to engage in paid, mentored research beyond traditional coursework. The program emphasizes accessibility, supporting students with little or no prior research experience while developing independent research and analytical skills.
Medieval Studies Research Lab
Carson Koepke (English), Carol Symes (history), Gian Piero Persiani (East Asian languages and cultures), and Walker Horsfall (Germanic languages and literatures), submitted a new interdisciplinary research framework in which undergraduates participate in faculty-led projects spanning digital humanities, archival research, and public-facing scholarship. Students develop core research skills—such as data curation, transcription, and analysis—while contributing to collaborative projects and, in some cases, producing publicly accessible outputs or publications.
Editor's note: This story first appeared on the College of LAS website.