Undergraduate Research — Discover Life’s Secrets and Solve our World's most Pressing Problems

Instructor and student working in a chemistry lab.
Cube-Focus Icon
Chemistry
Brandis, Cole-Dai, Islam, Logue, Willand-Charnley, Zhang

Use chemistry to protect clean water, reveal the story of ancient climates and unlock early cancer detection.

Investigate the molecular world to solve environmental challenges, trace Earth's past and develop life-saving diagnostic tools.

Find out more on Chemistry Research
Dr. Hoppe with a student
Multi-point Graph Icon
Biochemistry
Chakravarty, Fink, Hoppe, Islam, Willand-Charnley

Decode cancer, design therapies and discover how the body fights disease.

Explore the frontiers of biochemistry and molecular biology to understand disease mechanisms and create transformative treatments.

Find out more on Biochemistry Research
Zachary Lehmann making half-metallic alloy
Planet Icon
Physics
Huh, Kharel, McTaggart, Vondruska

Build materials for quantum computing and solar energy. Simulate nuclear reactions and explore the universe.

Push the limits of physics through cutting-edge research in energy, matter, and the cosmos—on scales from atomic to astronomical.

Find out more on Physics Research
Professor and a student doing a chemistry experiment
currency circle dollar icon
Prestigious. Paid. Career-Defining.
Launch Your Research Career with a Paid Summer Fellowship.

Earn a competitive stipend through our Undergraduate Research Fellowships—a chance to dive into real science, boost your resume, and work one-on-one with a professor on a project you care about.

  • Choose from 5 different departmental fellowships, made possible by the East, Morse, Okken/Guss, Tanaka and Gales families.
  • Open to chemistry and biochemistry majors.
  • Work full-time on your project over the summer.
  • Applications due mid-spring—start exploring faculty research now!
  • Contact the department for more information. Call 605-688-5151.
Research in the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics fueled my passion for neurochemistry and allowed me to develop skills that I will directly apply in my future career.
Ava Bekkerus , Double Major - ACS Chemistry and Biochemistry
Exploring cancer through the lens of metabolomics has shown me how powerful chemistry can be in understanding human health. My experience in the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics has provided me with all the tools needed to make a difference.
Jackson Hegg , Chemistry and Biochemistry Major, Undergraduate Researcher
From my very first semester, I wasn’t just washing glassware; I was designing and executing full protocols in cancer biology alongside graduate students and professors. Rather than following a script, I was trusted to think critically, troubleshoot and make meaningful contributions. That early responsibility sparked a level of collaboration and growth I never expected as a freshman, and it continues to shape how I approach medical science and teamwork today.
Matthew Schell , Biochemistry - Cancer and Medicinal Biochemistry
student
Contact Us
Photo of Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics
Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics
Physical Address
1066 Campanile Ave.
Brookings, SD 57007
Mailing Address
SAV 247, Box 2202
Brookings, SD 57007
Hours
Mon - Fri: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Follow Us