Expanding Access to Transformational Undergraduate Research

Every contribution helps McDaniel students gain real-world experience through hands-on research guided by exceptional faculty mentors. Your support fuels the projects that spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence — empowering students to turn their ideas into impact. Together, we can ensure that every aspiring scholar has the opportunity to explore, discover, and thrive.

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Supporting Faculty-Student Research

Home / Creating Spaces for Academic Excellence / Supporting Student-Faculty Research

Research contributes directly to the body of scientific knowledge and to the academic reputation and prestige of McDaniel College. Often, faculty and students work collaboratively to explore specific topics of interest to both faculty and students.

Through mentoring, oversight, and assistance in disseminating results at conferences and in publications, faculty introduce students to the academic profession, define and demonstrate expectations, and teach the values of participating in a scholarly community.

Support opportunities are many and varied, spanning all disciplines on the Hill.

Ways to Give

Student-faculty research funds offer donors the chance to directly support hands-on learning and mentorship opportunities that define the McDaniel experience.

Named Research Funds Begin At: $25,000
Annual Commitment Option: $5,000 annually for five years
Fund Types: Endowed | Current-Use | Hybrid

Named funds may be established in honor or memory of a beloved family member, faculty member, classmate, or yourself — making it possible for every donor to leave a lasting legacy of learning.

Establish a Research Fund

Make Your Mark Through
Student-Faculty Research

Named research funds aren’t just for major donors — they’re an attainable way for alumni at any stage to invest in McDaniel’s academic future.

With options starting at $5,000 annually, your gift can create a lasting impact by supporting hands-on research and mentorship that define the McDaniel experience.

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SPOTLIGHT

Student-Faculty Collaborative Summer Research Program

A culminating experience for many students is the Student-Faculty Collaborative Summer Research Program.

Participation in this program is career-changing for many students, allowing them to compete for jobs at top employers and earn admission to graduate schools such as Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland.

Students receive a stipend to immerse themselves in externally funded research projects.

During the summer, they work side-by-side with faculty, graduate students, and peers in labs, seminars, and workshops.

Participants present their work at a closing symposium, often going on to publish papers or present at national conferences.

Travel funding for these experiences is often supported by departmental funds and generous donor contributions.

Having an opportunity to dive into research experiences has been incredible — whether through literature review papers or performing hands-on research, I’ve learned that there is so much potential in research. Questions spur others and it was really cool to learn about diverse topics such as the effect of telomerase on mice physiology and neurology, and the filtration capabilities of marine sponges! ”

Mackenzie McCarter ’25