Undergraduate Research at Fresno State

The Fresno State Chemistry Department strongly encourages undergraduate research as one of the most rewarding aspects of an undergraduate experience.

Where to Start?

CHEM 190 (Independent Study) is a way for undergraduate students to become involved in research at Fresno State.  It may be taken for 1-3 units for up to 6 units of credit toward graduation in either the B.A. or B.S. curriculum.

Students interested in becoming involved in a research project should:

• Visit faculty to discuss ongoing research opportunities and to secure a position in a research laboratory.
• Obtain a “blue” sheet (outside of the department office - Sci I 380) to receive a permission number to register for CHEM 190.

What are the requirements for completing a CHEM 190?

Some professors ask for a commitment of a minimum number of semesters of research. The time to begin research varies with the student needs and the faculty member’s requirements. The projects described to you by faculty members are part of long-range programs underway in their research groups.

Most of the time devoted to CHEM 190 is spent in the laboratory, or searching for and reading primary peer-reviewed chemical literature.  Research students are typically invited to the weekly meetings of the research group and also have the opportunity to present their research progress.

At the end of your final semester of enrollment in CHEM 190, you must submit a concise, well-written, comprehensive, and well-documented Research Report. This report should include a statement of the basis for the research undertaken, a summary of the results obtained, using text, figures, and tables as appropriate, and a statement of the conclusions reached. The format and style recommended by the American Chemical Society (ACS) is usually followed.