Interested in undergraduate research? Curiosity is the starting point at Notre Dame! Students from across disciplines are encouraged to ask big questions and given the resources to pursue the answers through hands-on research experiences that span campus research facilities, communities, and even continents.
With support from faculty, campus centers and institutes, and the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement, students benefit from mentorship, personalized advising, and funding that makes exploring big ideas possible.
Some students conduct research close to campus, either on campus or in the local South Bend community, while others travel across the country or abroad to pursue research that matters to them. Whichever path they choose, ND students follow curiosity toward discoveries that make an impact.
Kelly Antosiewicz '27
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Engineering Corporate Practice
Hometown: Grosse Ile, MI
What I do:
I am an undergraduate research assistant in the Sakaue Laboratory within the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. Under the guidance of aerospace graduate student Nicholas Slusher, I analyze image-based data using pressure- and temperature-sensitive paints to identify areas of interest on test materials.
My current focus is on assessing simulations and evaluating image-to-noise ratios to distinguish between signal-enhancing and signal-degrading interference. This work supports the development of more accurate techniques for indirect identification of pressure-sensitive regions in aerodynamic testing environments.
How I got started:
The College of Engineering has an interface where you are able to apply for research positions in a similar way to a job searching website. This is helpful because it allows engineers to view all open positions within the college, and students are not limited by their major in applying.
What I’ve learned so far:
I’ve been genuinely excited by this research project because it’s allowed me to apply concepts from every stage of my academic journey at Notre Dame. I’ve had the opportunity to deepen my coding skills and fully explore the capabilities of MATLAB and its imaging tools—software I was first introduced to during my freshman year.
Additionally, I’ve drawn heavily on techniques from my linear algebra coursework to manipulate image data, since, at their core, images are essentially large matrices filled with information. It's been rewarding to see how my coursework can be applied to the real world and relate to my major.
What I love about doing research at Notre Dame:
One of the most exciting parts of doing research at Notre Dame is being surrounded by peers who are also deeply involved in discovery across all colleges. I love being able to talk to my roommates and friends about the work I’m doing and hear about their research in return—it’s energizing to be at the center of such a vibrant community.
In addition, I had the opportunity to intern as a tech development analyst at the IDEA Center, Notre Dame’s technology transfer office, which is also a part of ND Research. This experience has been especially rewarding as it’s allowed me to see both sides of the innovation process—from conducting research in the lab to helping assess and commercialize discoveries for real-world impact.
Advice for students interested in doing research at Notre Dame:
Just try it! Professors and graduate students are genuinely excited to get to know you, and there’s always meaningful work to be done. Joining a research project doesn’t mean you’re locked in forever—it’s about exploring your interests and discerning what’s right for your future career. You’ll never know what you might enjoy (or not enjoy) until you give it a shot. All experience is good experience.
Cian Bagenstose '26
Major: Statistics
Minor: Actuarial Sciences
Hometown: New Albany, OH
What I do:
Alongside Dr. Alan Huebner of the Notre Dame Department of Applied Computational Mathematics and Statistics (ACMS), I [spent] the summer constructing a model that best depicts the growth of sports teams’ athletic performance statistics over the course of a season. I have also spent the summer placing athletes into “archetypes” based on metrics from five distinct athletic tests.
How I got started:
In the spring semester, I received an email from the ACMS department discussing the opportunity to perform Sports Performance Data Science Research. Due to my profound interest in sports and due to my sister playing Division I Lacrosse at the University of Louisville, I immediately applied for the position.
What I’ve learned so far:
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Data Manipulation, Cleaning, and Visualization in R
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Latent Growth and Variable Modeling (critical for seeing the underlying takeaways of datasets)
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K-Means Clustering (organizes the data into distinct clusters)
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K-Nearest Neighbors Clustering (creates an algorithm for classifying unlabeled data)
How my research funding works:
This summer, I received $5400 total for my work at a rate of $15/hour.
What I love about doing research at Notre Dame:
Research at Notre Dame provided me with an opportunity to begin to apply the data analysis and statistical modeling skills that I learned during my undergraduate coursework to real-world scenarios. Expertise in real-world applications will better prepare me to make meaningful contributions once I graduate college and enter the workforce.
Advice for students interested in doing research at Notre Dame:
Research, due to its emphasis on real-world immersion, can be quite complicated and lengthy. At times, it will seem like you are not making progress or will not be able to meet deadlines. However, if you continue to take it day by day, you will get past these impasses, your productivity will “snowball” as you learn the fundamental skills, and your hard work will turn into visual results.
Anna Saadeh '28
Major(s): Strategic Management and Arabic
Minor: Civil and Human Rights
Hometown: Naples, FL
What I do:
Through Student Policy Network, I conducted research on Indiana’s environmental policy and how to address plastic pollution in the Great Lakes. I worked with a team of researchers sharing strategies to reduce plastic waste and boost community engagement around protecting the Indiana Dunes.
We researched the impacts and history of plastic pollution as well as ways to combat it for a safer and healthier environment. Our project concluded with a large white paper with all our research and ideas. It supported environmental advocacy and real policy impact. We were also able to present it to Save the Dunes (an organization that we partnered with) and Indiana State Representative Patricia Boy.
Another research project I am working on is through the Institute for Social Concerns through their NDBridge program. I lived in Meru, Kenya for eight weeks researching the impact of culture and sisterhood on women in vulnerable communities in rural Kenya. My research covered empowerment, education, obstacles in these women’s lives and how the community was changing for women to have more opportunities. I focused on the history of women’s rights and how the new generation of women are helping make the future more equitable and fair.
How I got started:
I joined Student Policy Network spring of my freshman year. As a pre-law student, I was interested in policy and real-life impact. This was a great opportunity to refine my research skills and present to people to find real solutions for modern issues. I applied for this research project specifically because of my interest in the intersection of environmental policy and real life impact.
For NDBridge, I heard from several others who shared their experiences with the program. I applied and was able to go to Kenya for this amazing immersive experience. I have always been passionate about women’s rights and finding ways to empower girls from a young age. Through NDBridge you are able to choose what you research, allowing for freedom and flexibility so you can research what you love.
What I’ve learned:
I have learned more about environmental advocacy and policy impact. I learned so much about science and law and policy and how I can make a difference. I learned more about analyzing environmental legislation and how the community can help preserve our valuable environment and ecosystems.
Through my research in Kenya, I learned more about using education programs to empower women. I learned more about the systematic barriers that women face, including education, violence, and legal protection. I studied how culture can hinder progress for women’s opportunities and leadership roles. This experience taught me how to listen and understand the local voices and how to help restore autonomy.
How my research funding works:
For Student Policy Network, we pay a club due and that covers our transportation for the research presentations and helps keep the club running.
NDBridge is fully funded including transportation, housing, food, etc. A stipend is also given.
What I love about doing research at Notre Dame:
I love how there’s opportunities to research anything you’re interested in. Whether you’re interested in law and policy, women’s rights, the environment, or anything in between, there’s a way to get involved. There are so many resources!
Advice for students interested in doing research at Notre Dame:
Go to information sessions, reach out to your professors, and ask any students who have done the research you’re interested in. Anyone would love to help you!
Tami Alli '27
Major: Neuroscience and Behavior (College of Science)
Minor: Compassionate Care in Medicine
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
What I do:
I am an undergraduate research assistant in The BRAVE (Building Resilience After Violence Exposure) Lab, directed by Professor Laura Miller-Graff. The lab is affiliated with both the Department of Psychology and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, and it focuses on research that promotes healthy development in children and families who have experienced violence.
My work in the lab centers around the Pregnant Mom’s Empowerment Program (PMEP), a trauma-informed group intervention designed for women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy. IPV is especially harmful during this time as it affects not only maternal mental health but also infant development, birth outcomes, and early attachment. The PMEP aims to reduce symptoms of both PTSD and depression while supporting healthy early parenting and improving outcomes for both mothers and children.
Being part of this research has deepend my interest in women’s health, particularly how structural violence and trauma shape the lives of mothers and their children. It is incredibly meaningful to contribute to a project that not only advances our scientific understanding of resilience but also actively develops real world interventions to support high risk, underserved populations around the world.
How I got started:
My freshman year I took Dr. Miller-Graff’s course titled No Peace w/out Peace of Mind: Global Practice and Policy in Mental Health and Peacebuilding as my University Seminar (USEM). This class gave me a great introduction to the intersection of mental health and peacebuilding, and it exposed me to the real-world implications of trauma-informed care in both domestic and international contexts. I was especially drawn to the focus on women and children, and how research can directly inform policy and community interventions.
My sophomore year I reached back out to Dr. Miller-Graff to see if she was taking on new undergraduates and eventually got started in the lab!
What I’ve learned so far:
Working in The BRAVE Lab has taught me that research is as much about the people as it is about the data. As a Neuroscience and Behavior major, I’ve deepened my passion for science and evidence based thinking. However, engaging in psychology research has taught me to see the importance of approaching all research with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and understanding of the systems that shape people’s lives.
How my research funding works:
I am currently working in the lab for class credit, but Notre Dame Research offers many opportunities for students to get funding for independent projects, domestically and internationally. Most research funding requires a topic/proposal and a professor who is willing to guide and sponsor your research.
What I love about doing research at Notre Dame:
I love doing research at Notre Dame because it allows me the chance to think critically and analytically about issues I am passionate about beyond the classroom. I am able to apply my current skillset and knowledge to solving real-world problems while also building new ones.
Advice for students interested in doing research at Notre Dame:
Find what you are passionate about, and reach out to professors who are also passionate about those things. The great thing about Notre Dame is that professors across all disciplines are doing cool and cutting-edge work. All research doesn’t look the same, so don’t limit yourself to a specific type of research. Everyone wants to connect you with their projects and help you gain experience, so don’t be afraid to ask!
Anything else you’d like to add:
I think, now more than ever, research is essential, not just to advance knowledge, but to drive meaningful change. What I appreciate most about working in The BRAVE Lab is that research does not just stay in an academic setting. It's designed to inform real interventions that help real people.
Being part of this work has taught me the importance of combining science with empathy, and it’s shown me how research can be a tool for advocacy. I’m excited to carry that perspective with me as I continue my research career at Notre Dame.
Joseph Truluck '26
Major: Theology, Pre-Health
Minor: Liturgical Music Ministry
Hometown: Myrtle Beach, SC
What I do:
I do research with Dr. Clairmont and Prof. Foucault-Camm on the ethics of space travel, commerce, and colonization.
How I got started:
I reached out to Dr. Clairmont to join in his research, since he primarily works with moral theology. Once I heard about the Space Ethics project, I jumped at the opportunity due to my dual love of science fiction and medical ethics.
What I’ve learned so far:
I have learned a lot about health issues that people face when prolonged to the radiation and gravity of space, including challenges to reproductive and organ health. I have also learned the joy of doing arts and letters research, quite different from a biology or chemistry lab. Reading books, summarizing content, and including it in my own writing has been a particularly unique experience, one which requires a different framework than one for a science lab.
How my research funding works:
I get credit for the research I participate in, so I do not get paid. Also, I have access to all the books I need through Hesburgh Library and online.
What I love about doing research at Notre Dame:
I love the ability to work as a team with my professors, and bond over our interesting findings and progress. It is a blessing to pursue my interests in theology and space that are not necessarily aligned with my career pursuits.
Advice for students interested in doing research at Notre Dame:
Just reach out to professors! When given the opportunity to do something that sounds fun, try it out. You might not get the chance outside of collegiate life.
Read more about Joseph's research here.
Want More Undergraduate Research?
Visit the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Research to see how ND students are encouraged and supported in their research pursuits.