Student Research

Lake Forest College is an institution where students regularly engage in dynamic, hands-on research, and one-on-one student-faculty collaborative research. It is a place for students who wish to pursue intellectual independence and to be a part of greater discovery. It is a place where students come to learn, share their knowledge, and find their passion.

At Lake Forest, you will work right alongside professors, giving you access to the highest level of research and scientific discovery. Many faculty members publish articles and scholarly papers with student coauthors, with students assuming the primary role in the writing process. Students have also presented their own research when they accompany faculty members to national or international professional conferences. As recent graduates will attest, the research available at Lake Forest - often unavailable to undergraduates at other schools - will open the doors to graduate, professional, or medical schools or the coveted first research job.

Lake Forest College students participated in the 17th Annual Argonne Symposium for Undergraduates in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics at the Argonne National Laboratory in November. Located just south of Chicago, Ill.  Argonne Laboratory is the nation's first national laboratory and is one of the U.S. Department of Energy's largest research centers. All eleven students are preparing for scientific careers and plan to pursue PhD, MD, or a graduate degree in the health professions after graduating from Lake Forest College.

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Participating students included:
Katrina Brandis ’06, Chelsea L. Bueter ’07,
Anne K. Haas ’07, Lokesh Kukreja ’08,
Benjamin N. Larsen ’07, Jennifer L. Riddle ’07, Alina Spivak ’07 Mithaq Vahedi ’08, Sina Vahed ’08, Stephanie Valtierra ’08, Michael D. White ’07, Michael Zorniak ’07       

The Richter Apprentice Scholars Program

First-year students with academically superior records, are invited to apply for this unique program in the fall of their first year.  Those accepted into the program are employed for a ten-week period in the summer after their first year.  During this time, they work one-on-one with a faculty member, doing independent research in one of a wide variety of fields.

Honors Fellows Program

The Honors Fellows program is a new initiative, begun for the class of 2013, that recognizes those students admitted to Lake Forest College with exemplary high school careers and high promise for independent study and research at the College. The Honors Fellows program is an example of the strength of a liberal arts education.

Annual Student Research Symposium

This annual event is a highlight of the academic year at Lake Forest College and illustrates the breadth and depth of our intellectual community. Students from every discipline present the fruits of many hours of research and scholarship to audiences of their peers and mentors in a truly inspiring display of talent. The symposium is held each spring and classes are cancelled to allow the College community to fully participate in the day-long program.