Mines research: A signature part of the student experience

Mines invests in undergraduate research to develop distinctive, competitive graduates.

A common thread runs through the Mines undergraduate student body—they are a group of individuals who all want to make an impact with their work and change the world for the better. One of the ways in which Mines is dedicated to helping them achieve that goal is by providing opportunities to engage in real-world, hands-on research that addresses global challenges.

Working side-by-side with faculty mentors, Mines undergraduates are encouraged to pursue research experiences that align with their career aspirations, supported by collaborations with industry and national lab partners. Students can engage in use-inspired research projects, ensuring their work has tangible, impactful outcomes, while supplementing their knowledge and skills learned in the classroom.

“Participating in authentic research experiences as an undergraduate powerfully contextualizes classroom learning with real-world application,” said Lakshmi Krishna, director of undergraduate research scholars atMines. “Through faculty-mentored research, students deepen their understanding of their discipline and cultivate a passion for inquiry and discovery. These opportunities bridge curricular knowledge with professional development, equipping students with the skills and confidence needed to excel in their chosen field of study. As a cornerstone of experiential learning, undergraduate research enriches the educational journey and prepares students to become future leaders and innovators in academia and beyond.”

Mines’ growing emphasis on undergraduate research focuses on three main areas:

• Funding for undergraduate researchers: Key programs provide stipends for undergraduate students, such as the Mines Undergraduate Research Fellowship (MURF),Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)and the First-year Research Innovation Scholar Training(FIRST) program. The FIRST program uniquely offers students the opportunity to conduct research with a faculty mentor from their first semester on campus.
• Showcasing research: Students disseminate their research through events such as the annualUndergraduate Research Symposium, publications in the Mines undergraduate research journal Reuleaux and presenting at scientific conferences.
• Supporting professional development: Undergraduates participate in professional development workshops to help them navigate the research landscape.

Through comprehensive research experiences, Mines undergraduates help drive forward technological advancements and societal progress but also learn the complexities of addressing real-world challenges.“Students in the classroom are often trained to solve problems with well-defined solutions. However, as they progress in their education, they must develop the skills to navigate complexity and tackle problems without predefined solutions,” Krishna said. “Engaging in authentic research experiences empowers students to approach problem-solving with creativity and independence.”

Mines’ industry connections allow students to work on real-world issues with leading partners. 

When pursuing a STEM degree, gaining technical knowledge and skill is paramount, but for many Mines students, being able to connect and work with companies, national labs and other industry partners on real-world projects is a game changer. 

For Lexye Wood, Mines’ close collaborations with industry opened up a lot of doors for her and her future career. As an undergraduate studying mechanical engineering, Wood was able to intern with Volvo Trucks, working on product validation for the company’s semi truck line. Though while she found this work interesting, she knew the work she ultimately wanted to be doing involved technology beyond Earth’s stratosphere. 

Luckily, through Mines’ partnerships with Lockheed Martin, Wood was able to get a summer internship with the company in between completing her undergraduate degree and starting her mechanical engineering master’s degree with a thermal fluids and energy systems focus at Mines. As an intern, she worked on projects related to vibration and thermal testing for flight hardware to determine durability and reliability before the materials are launched into space. Being involved in real-world projects not only helped enhance Woods’ technical skill but also allowed her to see what it would actually be like to work in the aerospace industry.

“My manager did a really great job of showing me what I would actually be doing in my job if I were to work for them,” Wood said.

By the end of that summer, Lockheed Martin offered her a full-time position, which she accepted—all before she even began her master’s degree.

“I think the connections Mines has makes you achieve things at a higher level,” Wood said. “Working in industry and getting to participate in industry research—or even research at Mines—gives you hands-on experience of what it’s going to be like in the workplace. One of the most valuable things Mines does for us is it sets us up to be in industry and gives us opportunities to work with Lockheed Martin or Sierra Space or other really great companies. And that’s ultimately the end goal, right?”

Student perspectives

“As an undergraduate student at Mines in the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering program, I had the opportunity to participate in research asa member of the Transdisciplinary Nanostructured Materials Research Team led by Dr. Terry Lowe. I researched creating antimicrobial surfaces on copper through nano-scale surface feature changes, developed a novel detection method for martensite in stainless steels, helped to improve stainless steel cannula, and supported the development of sustainable magnets free of rare-earth metals. Through my work in the lab, I developed many hands-on skills that have prepared me for a future career in materials science and engineering and allowed me to make meaningful technical contributions.” -- Emmelia Ashton

“Through programs such as FIRST, MURF and SURF, I have been able to seize opportunities in research that have helped me in so many ways, including being a co-author on several scientific publications. I’ve been able to find my passion, gain valuable experience in my chosen field and meet so many wonderful people. I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for research here at Mines.” -- Marco Salgado