Sign up for your Research Learning Experience!

Interested in participating in real life, professor-guided research at no cost to you and you earn one credit? Connect with your Academic Advisor to sign up for a Fall RLE. 

  • Develop research questions
  • Collect data
  • Report your conclusions
  • No textbooks required
  • Free tuition for the first 50 students that register
  • Meet new friends and peer mentors

Connect with your Academic Advisor today!  Fill out the form to let them know you are interested and they will reach out to you.

RLE / Research Learning Experience Form
My RLE preference is
Fall 2024

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Learn more about our RLE offerings!

Fridays 1:00-2:00 Dr. Judith Roe

Feeling stressed? Maybe you need a prescription for Nature (Nature Rx). Green space and exposure to nature can reportedly have beneficial effects on mental health and can improve cognitive ability and attention (good for exams!). We will research the evidence, map the natural areas on campus, and plan our own activities to improve our state of mind. We will assess if the approach is working and, if so, promote it to our fellow students.

Fridays 1:00-2:00 Dr. Mark Royer

Students will work through technical programming problems that arise when working with real-world scientific data. To start, students will consult biologists or environmental scientists to determine a domain-specific data set to investigate for the semester. By the semester’s conclusion, students will have gained experience with programming techniques for data analysis and data visualization.

Wednesdays 12:30-1:30 Dr. Jason Johnston

There are lots of ways to detect wildlife. One emerging tool – environmental DNA (eDNA) can detect wildlife in habitats based on their DNA. Students will learn about using this technique and each student will collect and analyze a sample from their chosen habitat – a stream, woods, field or other location. You could find fish, mammals, birds, insects, and more. No prior experience necessary.

Fridays 1:00-2:00 Dr. Larry Feinstein

Microbial resistance to antibiotics is a critical concern in health care. Researchers use genomics to understand how resistance is acquired and how to minimize it. Students taking this course will analyze genomic data generated during an NIH-funded project, quantify and categorize resistance capabilities, and discover potential molecular targets for new antibiotics. The course provides training in public health, data analysis, and computer bioinformatics. No prior experience is necessary.

Wednesdays 2:00-3:00 Dr. Matt Wallhead

Conduct agricultural experiments following the scientific method in our state-of-the-art Zillman Family Greenhouse. Grow plants, make discoveries to advance sustainable farming, and ignite your research passion from day one. This immersive RLE builds valuable skills as you explore your curiosity. Learn by doing and uncover findings that could impact the future of agriculture.

Top Ranked

UMPI is ranked nationally by U.S. News and World Report as a Most Innovative School. One of just 21 regional colleges across the country to appear on the list, we’ve done a lot of work to make your college experience exceptional.

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