Research

Honors student Abbie Poindexter standing in front of nursing simulation room

Because Honors College students are actively engaged in academic research, they have the following advantages:

  • More competitive graduate school applications
  • Deeper understanding of chosen academic fields
  • Gain confidence and experience in research, writing and presentation skills
  • Receive Honors academic credit for your research and Honors thesis
  • Develop meaningful relationships with faculty

Many Towson University faculty members are leading researchers and scholars in their fields of study; therefore, there are many opportunities for undergraduate research.

 

How Do I Get Involved in Research?

Research courses eligible for Experiential and Advanced Learning credit include Independent Study (1-3 credits), Directed Readings, and Honors Thesis opportunities. You may take these courses under a department code (e.g. BIOL 499; POSC 499) or under the HONR code. In either case you must get approval from the Honors Faculty Director and then submit a completed, signed syllabus and ten-item annotated bibliography to the Faculty Director by the end of the Change of Schedule period for the term of enrollment. Syllabi templates for each course are updated each year and are available at the Forms, Syllabi & Online Resources page. These templates must be used, even if you are registering under a department code.

David Hislop
About Our Honors Students
Research by David Hislop '22 could have effects on how we study the surface of Mars More Information

University-Level Research Funding

The Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry supports undergraduate research and creative activities under the mentorship of TU faculty members. All original scholarly and creative activity appropriate to any discipline at our university is eligible for competitive funding. This includes, for example, research in natural and social sciences, artistic performances, and works of art.

Towson University Research Award Winners

The Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry (URCI) Committee awards university-level Research Impact Awards for exceptional student research, and each college at TU, including the Honors College, awards additional Undergraduate Research awards at the college level. The below-listed recipients are Honors students who were recognized by the URCI or their degree-granting college.

 

2021–22 Research Impact Award Recipients

Student Project College Adviser
Kristen Gittings The Effect of Personal Perceptions of Safety and Threat-Based Stereotyping on Legal Judgments
 College of Liberal Arts Prof. Jarrod Bock (Psychology)
Samantha Greenbaum Termite social defenses against pathogens
 Fisher College of Science and Mathematics
 Prof. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)
Moyna Holz Looking at Charting the LifeCourse, through a Qualitative Exploration of Uses and Effectiveness
 College of Education Prof. Greg Knollman (Special Education)
Grace Larocque The Impact of Taliban Rule on Afghan Women's Autonomy in the Household College of Busines and Economics Prof. Seth Gitter (Economics)
Taryn Painter An Exploration of Statelessness in the Former USSR and the United States College of Liberal Arts Prof. Benjamin Zajicek (History)
Samantha Topka Synthesis of Mixed Bi-Icosahedron Nanoclusters with Increased Fluorescence Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
Garrett Zahner Democratic Dilemma: The Royal Prerogative in the United Kingdom College of Liberal Arts Prof. Michael Korzi (Political Science)

2022 Summer Research Grant Recipients

Student project college adviser
Zara Freeland Synthesis and characterization of water soluble gold nanoclusters for biological applications Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
Alana Germroth Identifying DNA binding site of gp94 in Mycobacteriophage Alexphander for infection of Mycolicibacterium smegmatis Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)
Moyna Holz Looking at Charting the Lifecourse, a person-centered approach to educational planning, through a mixed-methods exploration of uses and effectiveness College of Education Prof. Greg Knollman (Special Education)
Daryna Soloviova Unconventional electromagnetic surface waves at the interface of two materials Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Samantha Topka Optical and electrochemical properties of quantum sized gold nanoclusters Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)

 

Previous Research Award Winners

Student Project College Adviser
Raissa Abassi The Impacts of Terrorism on Child Health in Afghanistan College of Business and Economics Prof. Seth Gitter (Economics)
Anna Carlisle Impacts to Dance Majors from Online Instruction During COVID-19 Pandemic College of Fine Arts and Communication Prof. Susan Mann (Dance)
Olivia Driessen Bromination of Halosalicylates: Kinetics and Product Characterization Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. John Sivey (Chemistry)
Tonge Enoh Future Health Professionals’ Opinions/Attitudes and Educational Needs toward Whole Genome Sequencing  College of Health Professions Prof. Ming Li (Health Sciences)
Lewis Laury, Jr. The Rise of Illicit Drugs in Baltimore College of Liberal Arts Prof. Alison McCartney (Political Science)
Olivia Longo Investigating family members' experiences following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) College of Health Professions Prof. Christina Yeager Pelatti (Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology)
Madeleine Meyer Hunger as a Weapon of War: The Relief Efforts of the World Food Programme College of Liberal Arts Prof. Alison McCartney (Political Science)
Haja Sannoh The Impact of School Integration on Mortality Rates College of Business and Economics Prof. Seth Gitter (Economics)
Student project college adviser
Onyedikachukwu Onyemeziem '23 The Effects of Maternal Education on Childhood Stunting in Ghana College of Business and Economics Prof. Seth Gitter (Economics)
Madeleine Meyer '22 Converting Civic Engagement to the Online World: An Undergraduate Role in Promoting Global Learning and Youth Civic Engagement in Baltimore County College of Liberal Arts Prof. Alison McCartney (Political Science)
David Hislop '22 Exploring Basaltic Sand Dunes in Hawaii as an Analogue for Sand Dunes on Mars Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Taryn Painter '23 Portrayals and Prevalence of Statelessness in U.S. Media: News Reports on Statelessness and Its Impacts on Public Opinion College of Liberal Arts Prof. Alison McCartney (Political Science)
Seeda Henderson Williams '22 Utilizing Trauma-informed Pedagogy for Writing Assessment Writing Center Mairin Barney (Writing Center)
Student Project College Adviser
Claire Hageman '20 An Examination of the WHO’s Limitations and Tactics Regarding the Rohingya Crisis College of Liberal Arts Prof. Alison McCartney (Political Science)
Zachary Runge '19 Diffusion of LGBTQ+ Rights in Latin America College of Liberal Arts Prof. Gorana Draguljic (Political Science)
Nicholas Ruszala '21 Super Atom Clusters of Au: Synthesis and Optical Characterization Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
Marella Schammel '20 Formation of Trihalomethanes via Halogenation of Natural Organic Matter Precursors Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. John Sivey (Chemistry)
Katrina Schmidt '20 YfaT Characterization in Escherichia coli Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
Student Project College Adviser
Raisa Abbasi '21 Household wealth and fever prevalence in Afganistan College of Business and Economics Prof. Seth Gitter (Economics)
Jacqueline Andrews '20 Exploring Science Fiction & American Domesticity through Culinary Art History College of Fine Arts and Communication Prof. Nancy Siegel (Art + Design, Art History, Art Education)
Haja Sannoh '22 The Effects of Physiician Assisted Suicide Laws on Death Rates by Race College of Business and Economics Prof. Seth Gitter (Economics)
Samantha Sobel '23 Ferries for the Future of Maryland College of Liberal Arts Prof. Alison McCartney (Political Science)
Student Project College Adviser
Marisa Bennett '19 Impacts of Sleep Duration and Fatigue on Substantial Postpartum Weight Retention College of Health Professions Prof. Adriane Burgess (Nursing)
Kierstin Ekstrom '20 Conflict Migration and Shocks Decrease Government Trust in the DRC College of Business and Economics Prof. Seth Gitter (Economics)
Madeline Gorman '19 ADDICT: Dance of Addiction College of Fine Arts and Communication Prof. Hyang-Sook Kim (Mass Communication)
Kai Johnson '19 Determinants of College Student Consumption College of Business and Economics Prof. Melissa Groves (Economics)
Derek Margulies '20 Sports Analytics for Towson University Men’s Basketball Team Fisher College of Science & Mathematics Prof. Alexei Kolesnikov (Mathematics)
Abigail Poindexter '19 Lactation and Metabolism in Postpartum Women College of Health Professions Prof. Adriane Burgess (Nursing)
Alexandra Rakus '19 Free NARCAN in Schools: Saving Students College of Business and Economics Prof. Seth Gitter (Economics)
Danielle Reifer '19 Investigating the Relationship between Furin Cleavage and Cytotoxicity in a RecombinantImmunotoxin Based on Pseudomonas Exotoxin A Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
Sarah Rowan '19 Analyzing Collaborative, Culturally Inclusive Reproductive Healthcare & Education in Guatemala College of Liberal Arts Prof. Alison McCartney (Political Science)
Julia Tenbus '19 Using Video Modeling to Enhance Social Communication Skills in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder College of Health Professions Prof. Kaitlyn Wilson (Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology)
Student Project College Adviser
Connor McNairn '19 Measuring Civic Engagement in Public Education College of Liberal Arts Prof. Alison McCartney (Political Science)
Student Project College Adviser
Mary Beth Eisinger '19 The Reappearance of the Dorsal Fin in the Black Ghost Knifefish Apteronotus albifrons and Effects on Swimming Kinematics Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)
Student Project College Adviser
Soumia Bekka '19 Three-Dimensional Analysis of Combination Drug Therapy for Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
Timothy Bynion' 18 The Afghanistan War and America's National Identity College of Liberal Arts Prof. Paul McCartney (Political Science)
Lauren Cahalan '18 Violence and Women's Empowerment in Afghanistan College of Business and Economics Prof. Seth Gitter (Economics)
Rachel Lent '18 Investigating PcpA as a choline binding protein on Streptococcus pneumoniae that may be degraded by neutrophil serine proteases Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)
Chloe Lissauer '19 Developing Long-Acting Implants for Breast Cancer Prevention Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Prof. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)

 

Student Project College Adviser
Lauren DiFatta '18 Sexual Assault Against Women on College Campuses Honors College Prof. Marion Hughes (Sociology, Anthopology & Criminal Justice)
Nicolas Philip '18 Minimization of Pseudomonas Exotoxin A Domain III via N-terminal Substitutions" Honors College Prof. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
Cassidy Miller '18 Understanding Corporate Funding for Dance Honors College Prof. Susan Mann (Dance)

Presenting and Publishing Your Research

  • Celebration of Scholarship and Learning: Each term the Honors College hosts the Celebration of Scholarship and Learning where all students who have completed a research project, internship, service-learning project, or who studied abroad in a prior term present their experience.
  • Research & Creative Inquiry Forum: Each spring, the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry sponsors the annual Research & Creative Inquiry Forum. Students from all disciplines are asked to share their work with the TU community.
  • National Conference on Undergraduate Research: A national organization that provides opportunities for students with research projects to present their projects at national gatherings.
  • The Colonial Academic Alliance sponsors an annual research conference. Workshops are also offered.
  • National Collegiate Honors Council: Annual conference usually held in early November, with applications due in early spring. Contact the Honors Faculty Director for more information.
  • Northeast Regional Honors Council: Annual conference usually held in early April, with applications due in December. Contact the Honors Faculty Director for more information.
  • Maryland Collegiate Honors Council: Annual conference usually held in late February, with applications due in December. Contact the Honors Faculty Director for more information.
  • Undergraduate Research Journal Listing: The Council on Undergraduate Research identifies a list of journals, both electronic and paper, that will consider undergraduate student essays, research papers, poetry, short fiction, photography, cartoons, art, etc., for publication.