Undergrad Research Opportunities

Industry Partners Boost Student Research

Mason Engineering students gain valuable experience at the forefront of research, in part because of our proximity to the Washington-metro area. D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia are home to many IT companies, biomedical research labs, and federal agencies, many with strong ties to Mason.

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education ranks Mason among the highest research institutions in the country. We take that seriously.

The engineering school encourages undergraduate research, a core part of the Mason experience. Our main research areas span department and disciplinary boundaries. We are committed to generating new knowledge, supporting our community, and engaging in research of consequence.

There are tangible benefits. Each year, Mason Engineering students showcase their work before industry professionals, who judge the research, design, and scholarly work produced by individuals or groups. Past ideas have included a search-and-rescue drone, a mini-robot that can fit into confined spaces, and an automatic piano tuner.

Among the opportunities:

• The annual Undergraduate Research Celebration gives students a chance to showcase their research and scholarship for the school and university community. Area industries provide judges; the most outstanding projects get cash prizes.  A "People's Choice Award" voted on by all attendees, also gets a cash prize. Contact Letisha Brooks for more information.

• Mason's Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities, and Research take applications every year for Research and Scholarship Intensive course designations as part of the Students as Scholars initiative. 

• Our students are encouraged to submit to the Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Excellence, which provides an opportunity for them to get a publication credit while at the undergraduate level.

Mason Engineering's Research Partners