At Calvin, we explore things—all things. We don’t mind getting our hands dirty as we use every tool God has given us to study, serve, and sustain God's creation.
Consider your choices:
- Biology
- Chemistry & Biochemistry
Chemical reactions make it possible for the world to buzz with life and humans to tailor the very molecules around them. If you peer through the lens of chemistry and biochemistry, the details and possibilities of God’s creation will take your breath away.
Why chemistry and biochemistry at Calvin?
- Computer Science
Calvin’s ABET-accredited Bachelor of Computer Science degree and related degrees in data science, information systems, and digital media are taught from a Christian perspective and give you the opportunity to be creative, to make a difference, and to pursue a great career.
Why computer science at Calvin?
- Data Science
Combine strengths in computer science, mathematics, and statistics to work with large and complex data sets.
Why data science at Calvin?
- Geology, Geography & Environmental Studies
Explore the richness of Earth and its peoples in a Christian learning community.
Why geology, geography, and environmental studies at Calvin?
- Engineering
Calvin’s engineering program will prepare you for your career with outstanding teaching from seasoned professionals. You will learn how to solve complex problems and create brilliant designs, and how to bring glory to God in the process.
Why engineering at Calvin?
- Mathematics
Tailor your program to focus on applied mathematics, pure mathematics, mathematics eduation, statistics, data science, or actuarial science.
Why mathematics and statistics at Calvin?
- Nursing
In Calvin’s nursing program, you’ll embrace a holistic approach to wellness that includes a focus on health promotion and protection. You’ll be equipped to act as an agent of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual renewal across a wide range of nursing careers.
Why nursing at Calvin?
- Physics & Astronomy
In the physics and astronomy department, we are constantly amazed by the wonders of creation. We love to share our fascination with others, and we want to be wise stewards of science and technology. Join us in exploring the “world of things,” which includes the weird interactions of quantum particles, the biophysics of cells, astronomical processes involving stars and galaxies, and industrial applications of lasers, plasmas, and special electronic materials.
Why physics and astronomy at Calvin?
- Psychology
Psychology at Calvin lets you integrate a deeply Christian worldview with research-based academic exploration.
Why psychology at Calvin?
- Science Education
An integrated science certification allows teachers to teach all the major science disciplines at the intended grade level.
Why science education at Calvin?
- Statistics
Learn how to gain information from data and communicate data stories to others.
Why mathematics and statistics at Calvin?
Summer science research at Calvin
Research opportunities
At Calvin, science comes alive as students partner with faculty to conduct research in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology/geography/environmental studies, mathematics/statistics, nursing, physics/astronomy and psychology.
Paid research fellowships are available each summer. In 2018:
- 93 students worked with 48 Calvin professors from eight departments.
- 57 research projects explored a wide variety of projects. Some examples: studying which mechanisms contribute to some autoimmune diseases, testing techniques to locate songbird nests,determining the effect certain proteins have on cellular activity, studying the malignant transformation of kidney tubule cells, monitoring social media using machine learning, evaluating a drinking water treatment method for Ethiopia, mapping and data analysis on the cleanup of contaminated sites across Michigan, evaluating activities designed to improve reproductive health management. See a complete list of the 2018 summer research projects.
- Students received a $4100 stipend for 10 weeks of research.
- 44% of the projects were externally funded by grants from outside Calvin College
- 37% more were funded by private donors
Poster Fair
As a summer science research fellow at Calvin, you are required to participate in a special research exposition in the fall after your fellowship is completed. For the research poster fair, held in October, you should create a poster that illustrates your research work and be present at the poster fair to explain your research findings to passersby and guests.
View the Poster Fair websiteEligibility
Awards will be made to qualified students who will have completed their first, second or third year of undergraduate study and who are considering a career in the sciences or mathematics.
Preference will be given to those considering a career in research or teaching in those areas and to students who will be enrolled at Calvin in the fall semester.
Award details
Students will receive $4,100 based on up to 400 non-overtime hours (approximately 10 weeks) of research during the summer months, ending by September 3, 2019.
Requirements
Students must complete certain requirements common to all projects as part of a science summer fellowship. By accepting the research position, students agree to their completion.
2018 Funding for research fellowships
Inquiry-based learning reaches its pinnacle in scientific research. For this reason, Calvin College for many years has encouraged and arranged research opportunities for its students. One of these occurs during the summer when students work with faculty and receive salary support in the form of summer research fellowships. Fellowship funds come from a variety of sources. Some come from generous private donors who know or have experienced the importance of undergraduate research. Other projects are supported by various grants that faculty have obtained. These include grants from National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Still more funds are provided by Calvin College and by the Alumni Fund. All of these funding sources have the same goal: to enhance and expand inquiry-based learning opportunities for undergraduate students in the sciences.
2017 summer science research projects
During the summer of 2017, 95 students worked on 64 different research projects across the science division.
Students were involved in a wide variety of research projects both on and off campus. Projects ranged from creating 3-D models of fossils to studying invasive plant species to researching how to combat antibiotic resistance. One researcher studied the structure of lipids and another studied fossil wood specimens in Idaho. Research took place in campus labs and outdoors. Some students traveled to other states and countries as part of their research and some “traveled” to outer space.
Below is a sampling of 2017 projects:
Biology
Ezmeralda Gonzales and Mariah Krikke assisted in developing tools to teach children about cancer. They were supervised by Professor Amy Wilstermann.
Chemistry and biochemistry
32 students participated in summer research with 13 Chemistry faculty members. Anna Essenburg, Hyeong Gyu Jan, Michael Moentmann and Matthew Vander Wal all worked with Professor Michael Barbachyn on designing and synthesizing antibacterial agents that may be effective on multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Computer science
Jordan Doorlag worked with Professor Victor Norman testing a tool designed to help middle-school students transition to a computer science language used in high schools. See the poster he prepared for the Science Division Summer Research Poster Fair.
Engineering
Preston Ji studied the oxidation state of film layers in water pipes used to heat buildings. He was supervised by Steve Pohler, teaching staff in the Engineering Department.
Geology, geography and environmental studies
Matthew Wierenga worked with Professor Ralph Stearley. He travelled to Idaho for photography and analysis of wood fossil specimens. Read the summary Matthew wrote about his work.
Mathematics and statistics
High-resolution movement sensors can be attached to animals to observe their behavior, but there is a need for easy-to-use software tools to analyze and interpret the resulting, often complex, data. David Sweeney and Ye Joo Oh, supervised by Professor Stacy De Ruiter, helped develop and apply these tools. They were able to travel to St. Andrew's, Scotland to attend a workshop with participants representing 7 countries. See the poster they created for the Science Division Summer Research Poster Fair.
Physics and astronomy
Alex Van Kooten and Professor Jason Smolinski studied globular star clusters in the Milky Way to obtain data that may continue to shed light on the evolutionary history of individual clusters and the population of Milky Way globular clusters as a whole.
Calvin College Clean Water Institute
11 students, supervised by 8 professors from the Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Engineering, Geology, Geography & Environmental Studies, Mathematics & Statistics and Psychology departments, worked on projects involving different aspects of supplying clean water in the countries of Liberia, Jordan and Ecuador. Students traveled to Jordan and Ecuador for on site research. Students on campus studied the use of sand filters in Liberia, as well as statistical analysis of data and geospatial investigation. Read their summaries and see the posters they created describing their projects.
2016 summer science research projects
During the summer of 2016, 88 students worked on 55 different research projects across the science division.
Students were involved in a wide variety of research projects both on and off campus. Projects ranged from cancer research to a water supply design for gardens to studying hind limb form and function in early cetaceans to studying the orbital eccentricity of a specific binary star. Research took place in campus labs and outdoors. Some students traveled to other states as part of their research and some “traveled” to outer space.
Below is a sampling of 2016 projects:
Biology
Matthew Schepers studied how ant gut bacteria contributed to ant evolution. He was supervised by Professor John Wertz.
Chemistry and Biochemistry
27 students participated in summer research with 12 Chemistry faculty members. Allie Bogner and Cambrynne Rietberg studied the ubiquitination of Ras, a protein in which small changes cause more than one third of all human cancers, and how it can lead to an understanding of ways to treat Ras-driven cancers. Professor Rachael Baker was their supervisor.
Computer Science
Chris Dilley and Patrick Crain worked with Professor Joel Adams to develop a graphics library that would help educators teach computer science students about parallel programming. See the poster he prepared for the Science Division Summer Research Poster Fair.
Engineering
Tube bundles are used in the chemical industry as either heat exchangers or flow strighteners. Matthew Boelens studied the effects that different types of tube bundles have on the flow of air through a section of pipe. He was supervised by Professor Aubrey Sykes. Read the summary of Matthew's work.
Geology, geography and environmental studies
Daniel Blakemore and Nathaniel Bos worked with Professor Renee Sparks to analyze 11 copper samples (some from Calvin's own Dice Mineralogical Museum) to identify metal relationships within them. See the poster they prepared for the Science Division Summer Research Poster Fair.
Mathematics and statistics
Joyce Park and Sarah Strikwerda worked with Professor Hyunyi Jung to analyze data collected from 5 universities to determine what methods were most helpful to preservice teachers to learn about algebra and algebra teaching. See the poster they prepared for the Science Division Summer Research Poster Fair.
Nursing
Josie Granner, Marianna Perez and Elise Veurink, supervised by Professor Adejoke Ayoola, participated in research begun 2 years ago concerning the promotion of preconception and reproductive knowledge. This program is now wrapping up and the students visited homes, conducted surveys and analyzed data as to birth control methods, pregnancy recognition and program drop out rate. Read the summary Josie wrote about her research.
Physics and astronomy
Jacob Hartman and Professor Ryan Balili conducted their research at the University of Pittsburgh. They conducted optical experiments at liquid helium temperature on semiconductor microcavities to measure the strong coupling of light with semiconductor excitations.