Research
Arts and Sciences faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students are actively engaged in interdisciplinary research efforts in the School and across the University of Pittsburgh. These partnerships—including ongoing collaborations with the University’s School of Medicine, the School of Engineering, and the University Center for International Studies—have led to significant developments in nanoscience, neuroscience, and global studies.
Faculty Research
Arts and Sciences faculty members secure significant external funding support for their research, technology, and programmatic initiatives. In the past five years, efforts of our faculty have resulted in a 12.6 percent increase in externally sponsored research support. External research sponsorship in fiscal year 2008 contributed $45.9 million (direct costs, fringe benefits, and indirect costs) to the Arts and Sciences budget. Read about recent faculty funding awards.
Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate research in the School of Arts and Sciences is facilitated both at the departmental level and through the Office of Experiential Learning (OEL). The OEL program has grown more than 100 percent in terms of student participation and in the breadth of opportunities across the University (including the School of Medicine) since it was first launched three years ago. In the past year alone, more than 400 undergraduates have sought research placements through OEL. The program continues a rich tradition in the school—to date, all 20 of the students honored as Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Fellows have been from Arts and Sciences—and provides our students with the opportunity to add value to their education by gaining hands-on research experience working side-by-side with some of our most talented professors. Learn more about research opportunities for undergraduates.
Graduate Research
The Grad Expo is an all-day event where Arts and Sciences students from a variety of disciplines present papers and posters to their fellow students, faculty, and other members of the Pitt community. The event provides the opportunity for graduate students to gain experience in presenting their research as well as fostering interdisciplinary communication among the departments and programs in the School of Arts and Sciences. For more information, visit the Grad Expo Web site.