Research & field experiences

SEA-PHAGES and SEA-GENES

Northwestern is 1 of just 3 institutions in Iowa selected for SEA-PHAGES, and 1 of just 28 baccalaureate colleges worldwide. The program involves biology students in a global effort to discover phages (viruses that infect bacteria) and sequence and annotate their DNA. So far, more than 40 NWC undergrads have peer-reviewed publications to tout as a result of their phage research and discoveries. Northwestern also participates in SEA-GENES, next-level research enabling our students to discover and publish previously unknown functions of genes. We're 1 of just 23 colleges and universities worldwide selected for SEA-GENES.

Collaboration with professors

Northwestern biology professors are involved in their own research and often invite students to participate as Junior Scholars or summer research assistants. You’ll earn a stipend working together as peers and possibly be included as a co-author when the professor publishes or presents research findings.

Off campus

Students can be part of a school-year or summer research team with Northwestern professors conducting research off-site. They also can also spend summers doing paid research at universities across the U.S. Your Northwestern professors will help you find and land fellowships in labs conducting research funded by the National Science Foundation and NIH.