We believe that research and independent study are a major component of your education at Saint Vincent College, and that they are one of the best methods of preparing you for graduate school, industry, and health professions. Research projects allow you to work closely with an individual faculty members, and give you more in-depth experience operating the instrumentation at the college.

    SENIOR RESEARCH is the capstone experience for our department and is required for all majors. Research is a process that takes three semesters to complete. Your research experience starts in the spring of your junior year where you will choose a research topic and will be guided through the process of writing a research proposal. You will have a weekly seminar where you will get a chance to listen and meet people from various graduate schools and industry to help you shape your career goals. In the Fall of your senior year you will carry out your laboratory research project, collect data and perform experiments in consultation with a research advisor. In the spring of your senior year you will be guided through the process of writing a Senior Thesis. All majors have the option of going to a American Chemical Society National Meeting and presenting their research in a undergraduate poster session.

    Most of the faculty members have on going SUMMER RESEARCH projects that allow you to gain additional research experience in area such as analytical, biochemistry, environmental, organic, physical, and polymers. Summer research students are employed by the department for eight to ten weeks.

    Some students opt for summer employment in one of the area's chemical industries through the college internship program. Recently, our students have been placed in internships at Westinghouse, PPG, Bayer, and The Carnegie Science Center.