Montana State University hosted its third annual Undergraduate Research Fair on Aug. 26, offering students the chance to explore a range of research opportunities early in the fall semester. The event, held in the Strand Union Building ballrooms, featured MSU faculty and students presenting ongoing projects to encourage participation from new undergraduates.
“The fair is strategically timed to be early in the semester so that students can look for semester or yearlong jobs, internships and work-study opportunities,” said Director of Undergraduate Research Anna Tuttle. “It also occurs before the submission deadline for students who might look for funding from the Undergraduate Scholars Program. We hope to inspire students by showing them all the exciting research happening on campus.”
Tuttle noted that more than 1,200 undergraduate students at MSU take part in paid research roles each year. These experiences help students develop their career plans, gain skills relevant for graduate school, and complement their academic studies.
The event included about 22 different research opportunities across various disciplines. According to Alyssa Harmel, a senior environmental science major and Undergraduate Research Council Ambassador, research options are available beyond traditional sciences. Entities such as Renne Library and Museum of the Rockies were also present at the fair. Harmel estimated that around 300 students attended.
Current student researchers shared how their involvement has shaped their academic paths. Junior Jake Shelly described his work with associate professor David McWethy analyzing lake sediments in Yellowstone National Park and researching permafrost thaw impacts in Alaska. Shelly explained that working with McWethy changed his focus from paleontology to paleoecology.
Senior geology major Liam Grant discussed his use of remote sensing and drone technology under associate professor Madison Myers’ guidance to identify rock components for mining applications in Nevada. Grant hopes these experiences will support his pursuit of a master’s degree in planetary geology.
Opportunities were also available for arts-focused students. Assistant professor Ben Fuhrman showcased music technology research within the School of Music. Students Lars Knudson and Jake Cherry highlighted how their projects introduced them to music recording technologies and sound design.
Knudson, studying both music technology and computer science, said engaging in research allowed him access to advanced synthesizers and provided industry experience through roles like stagehand at Music in the Mountains performances and audio production work on Montana PBS’s “11th and Grant.”
Some projects have direct community impact as well. Engineering associate professor Bernadette McCrory runs a summer internship where students collaborate with rural hospitals across Montana to improve processes such as electronic forms or supply chain management.
Programs supporting undergraduate researchers were also featured at the fair. The McNair Scholars Program offers paid summer research positions with housing stipends for underrepresented students aiming for graduate school, supporting 25 scholars annually since its inception 17 years ago; recruitment begins each October.
McNair Scholars Program Director Josh Meyer said undergraduate researchers contribute vitality, curiosity, and fresh perspectives compared to graduate students because they are less specialized—a quality some faculty seek out when developing future graduate pipelines.
Faculty praised student engagement at this year’s event.
“The undergraduate research fair was a great experience for us this year,” said Coltran Hophan-Nichols, director of Systems and Research Computing at MSU. “We saw stronger interest and more good questions from students than ever before and were impressed by how engaged they were.”
Jason Clark, who leads Research Optimization, Analytics and Data Services at Renne Library added: “I talked with students and peers from multiple disciplines. It was a great opportunity to connect and share interdisciplinary jobs and ideas. We need more events like this to keep our communities connected.”
Further details about undergraduate research resources can be found on MSU’s website at https://www.montana.edu/undergraduateresearch/index.html.
