Research

At Castleton, students are encouraged to participate in scientific research, travel courses, or any of the many other experiential learning opportunities offered across our academic programs. Participation in science research allows you to explore career paths while developing your technical and professional skills, which will help to kick start your career after graduation or prepare you for graduate school. 

Conducting undergraduate research is a unique opportunity that enhances your degree and makes you more competitive in today’s job market. Research can take many forms, including fieldwork, survey and interviews, data collection, and other important tasks. 

Our science faculty have received more than $1.5 million in grants since 2012 from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Vermont Biomedical Research Network (formerly Vermont Genetics Network), and Vermont EPSCoR. Research at Castleton isn’t limited to the Natural Sciences Department; it’s conducted by our Psychological Science, Archaeology, Wildlife and Forest Conservation, Political Science, and Business Departments, too. Additionally, students in the McNair Scholars Program are required to produce a research project in partnership with a Castleton faculty member. 

Research Highlights

• Learn from expert faculty – including Fulbright Scholars – in state-of-the-art laboratories as a paid research assistant.
• Conduct research beyond Castleton’s borders, including Panama, Iceland, the Lake Champlain Basin, and other places across the country and the world. 
• Faculty mentors and students pursue fundamental and applied research, and participate in a diverse range of research areas.
• Participation in research helps build a robust professional network and invaluable connections in your field. 

Beyond the Classroom

Research allows you to apply your classroom learning to real-life situations. Nearly 80 students have completed undergraduate research at Castleton since 2012, including:

• The study of DNA from the digestive tract of Katydids at a Smithsonian research facility on Barro Colorado Island in Panama.
• Reforestation efforts in a volcanic ash field in partnership with the Icelandic Forest Service.
• Investigating the ways that bacteria sense their environment and change their behavior. 
• Fieldwork and 3D scanning of archaeological artifacts at the Lake Champlain Basin.
• Carbon degradation in various land covers during different hydrological events. 

Labs & Facilities

Castleton’s state-of-the-art labs provide a stimulating environment for students to participate in cutting-edge research. Jeffords Science Center houses teaching laboratory space for lab courses in the Natural Sciences Department as well as dedicated research lab space for conducting student-faculty research.