college of science

The power of research and internships shouldn’t be underestimated, which is why you’ll find that most of our departments offer their own unique experiences. While participating in original research and internships will give you an upper hand when you’re competing in the job market, it also gives you invaluable experience and unforgettable memories.

Many graduating students work with faculty on research programs. Encouraging this kind of participation is what allows the department to publish 20 to 25 scholarly journals each year.

Learn more about biological sciences opportunities here.

CHM 49900 Special Assignments provides a mechanism whereby undergraduate chemistry majors may participate in the research of faculty and receive academic credit for that participation. While CHM 49900 is usually taken by students in their senior year, it may be taken by sophomores or juniors if the sponsoring professor feels that the student has had sufficient coursework or previous work experience to be able to handle the specific project in mind.

Students interested in CHM 49900 should begin by reviewing the list of projects. Following this, they should talk to the sponsoring professors about those projects that interest them to obtain further information about the projects and eventually reach a decision.

CHM 49900 has proved to be important in assisting students in obtaining a job or in getting started on research in graduate school. It is highly recommended by the department as an elective.

As a senior, you can complete a semester-long clinical practicum in the on-campus Communication Disorders Clinic. You’ll be mentored by clinical faculty in this hands-on experience of providing treatment to a client with a communication disorder, and gain experience in creating a treatment plan and tracking progress in therapy. Throughout your time as an undergraduate, you will have the opportunity to gain research experience by volunteering in a faculty member’s lab or completing an undergraduate honors project.

One of the most important qualities of the Department of Physics is the dedication to having our students actively involved in our research. Each faculty member maintains their own research program. In future months, we will expand the descriptions of each faculty member’s research program.

Timothy T. Grove, associate professor of physics, specializes in spectrographs and optical physics and 3D printing. He is also investigating methods of improving student learning of physics. Click here to watch his presentation. 

If you’re interested in either of these topics and would like to work with Grove on his research, please contact him at [email protected] or 260-481-6157.

Merrell Johnson, associate professor of physics, specializes in scanning probe microscopy. He has put together a presentation that you can watch here. 

If you’re interested in this topic and would like to work with Johnson on his research, please contact him at [email protected] or 260-481-5477.

David P. Maloney, professor of physics, specializes in physics education. He is currently conducting three investigations. You can watch his presentation here. 

If you’re interested in this topic and would like to work with Maloney on his research, please contact him at [email protected] or 260-481-6292.

Mark F. Masters, chair and professor of physics, specializes in many different areas, including the following:

• Single photon / quantum optics
• Spectroscopy of sodium potassium molecules
• Material science
• Acoustics, laser physics
• Applied physics
• Methods of improving student learning of physics

You can watch his presentation here.

If you’re interested in any of these topics and would like to work with Masters on his research, please contact him at [email protected] or 260-481-6153.

Sally Mikhail, clinical assistant professor, specializes in the study of pattern formation in fluids, including Rayleigh-Be’nard convection and Taylor-Couette flow. 

If you’re interested in this topic and would like to work with Mikhail on her research, please contact her at [email protected] or 260-481-5472.

Jacob Millspaw is investigating CT scan optical X-rays and methods of improving student learning of physics. He has put together a presentation that you can watch here.

If you’re interested in either of these topics and would like to work with Millspaw on his research, please contact him at [email protected] or 260-481-5475.

Gang Wang, associate professor of physics, specializes in optical tweezers and optical trapping of small particles. You can watch his presentation “Optical Manipulation” here. 

If you’re interested in this topic and would like to work with Wang on his research, please contact him at [email protected] or 260-481-6154.

Eugenio Ursino, assistant professor of physics, conducts research in models, predictions, and observations for a not-so-simple problem in astrophysics. You can watch his presentation “The Diffuse X-ray Background” here.

If you’re interested in this topic and would like to work with Ursino on his research, please contact him at [email protected] or 260-481-6150.

Aggression in Interpersonal Relationships Lab
Examine physical, psychological, and sexual aggression, as well as the predictors and outcomes of these various forms of interpersonal violence. For more information, contact Jody Ross, associate professor of psychology, at [email protected] or 260-6396.

Animal Cognition Lab
Investigate the use of behavioral tasks to understand learning and memory and explore the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing brain. For more information, contact Daren Kaiser, associate professor of psychology, at [email protected] or 260-481-6404.

Child Development and Family Studies Lab
Explore mothers’ and fathers’ contributions to children’s early cognitive and social-emotional development, including infant attachment and children’s social understanding. For more information, contact Brenda Lundy, professor of psychology, at [email protected] or 260-481-6342.

Decision-making, Affect, and Applied Cognition Lab
Investigate how emotions affect human cognition and decision-making and how principles of decision science can be applied to real-world problems beyond the lab. For more information, contact Raymond Voss, assistant professor of psychology, at [email protected] or 260-481-6399.

Developmental Alcohol Exposure Lab
Examine firsthand the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the developing brain. Visit the lab website and/or contact Amy Perkins, assistant professor of psychology, at [email protected] or 260-481-6210 if you’re interested in learning more

Intergroup Relations Lab
Investigate the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral tendencies people exhibit toward others as a function of group membership (e.g., us-vs.-them thinking, prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination). Visit the lab website and/or contact Jay Jackson, professor of psychology, at [email protected] or 260-481-6401.

Personality and Intimate Relationships Lab
Look into the link between personality differences among people and the quality of sexual relationships in which they are involved. For more information, contact Craig Hill, professor of psychology, at [email protected] or 260-481-6402.

Science Attitudes Lab
Explore how trust in scientists and their work can be enhanced. For more information, contact Carol Lawton, chair and professor of psychology, at [email protected] or 260-481-5787.

Sexuality and Relationships Lab
Examine adult sexual behavior and interpersonal relationships, with a focus on various types of romantic relationship partners. For more information, contact Michelle Drouin, professor of psychology, at [email protected] or 260-481-6398.

The Career Development Center is a great place to search for open internship opportunities with the university and around the community. Check them out online or set up a meeting with one of their advisors.

Visit the Center

Check out Handshake to find the latest job opportunities on campus and around Fort Wayne. What’s the difference between jobs you find on Handshake and those you may find on other career sites? Well, Handshake posts jobs from employers who are sensitive to the unique circumstances of hiring employees who are in college.

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