Undergraduate Research

Depending on the field, research may take place in a lab, in a studio, in an archive or out in the field. It may lead to a publication, a film, a performance, an innovative technique, or a new understanding.

Middlebury students collaborate on research with peers and faculty, both at Middlebury and other universities or research institutions. They also have the opportunity to pursue independent projects with a faculty advisor. Researchers share their work at the Spring Student Symposium, professional conferences, and as co-authored, published findings in undergraduate research and professional journals.

Undergraduate Research in the CTLR support includes advising, research resources, information about opportunities, and funding for senior work, academic conference participation, and summer research with Middlebury faculty.

What Middlebury Students Have to Say

“During my time doing field research, I gained invaluable experience in both academic research and archival research methods. In addition to gaining these skills, I also discovered a love of medieval studies and manuscript studies, which I am seriously considering pursuing in some form as post-graduate plans. In terms of my academic experience at Middlebury, being afforded this opportunity has allowed me to delve into nuanced and complex academic topics that I would never have been able to experience without doing this field research.” —Jess Garner ‘19.5

“My research was an excellent capstone to my academic experience at Middlebury, and it also inspired me to pursue art history in a professional context. This experience also opened my eyes to the importance of architecture in the way in which it both shapes and is shaped by a city’s culture, and now this is something I am considering pursuing in graduate school.” —Elaine Velie ‘20

“From start to finish, the research I have conducted on Bi Gan has truly felt like the culmination of all my film studies courses. Every class and every single paper I have written in the film department, particularly those in Professor Keathley and Professor Grindon’s courses, have all built upon one another and given me the critical skills I’ve needed to carry out such thorough and in-depth research.” —Shams Mohajerani ’20

Faculty Resources

Research Information for faculty, including how to hire research assistants during the academic year and summer, can be found in the CTLR’s faculty resources.