College of Basic and Applied Sciences Research

CBAS faculty and students are engaged in interesting and productive research in a broad range of disciplines. CBAS faculty lead the university in research productivity and external grant research funding. We are especially proud of the collaborative research that our faculty do with our students, both graduate and undergraduate.

From watershed management to solar-powered vehicles, from STEM education to the development of new medicines, from quantum science to equine health, from AI and machine learning to unmanned aircraft systems and so much more, the College of Basic and Applied Sciences has a research opportunity that will prepare you for the next stage of your career.

Student Research

The College of Basic and Applied Sciences fosters student learning through discovery. Faculty mentor students in the research process through various mechanisms: classes, laboratory experiences, clinical practicums, professional presentations, and scientific writing. Excellence in science and scholarly productivity are fostered in a student-centered learning environment in all majors within the college. Students in the departments and graduate programs in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences have many opportunities to be actively involved in scholarship individually, in collaboration with their peers, and with a faculty mentor. 

Explore the opportunities below available to CBAS students interested in research.

The Undergraduate Research Center is a great place to start.  Here you can learn about the incredible opportunities the university offers to support undergraduate research, including URECA, SOAR, Scholars Week, conference travel support, graduation distinctions, and many more.

The goal of the Undergraduate Experiential Training (U*NEXT) program is to increase the representation and diversity of students on a path towards obtaining a doctoral degree by offering a 10-week immersive summer training experience.

AMPLIFY is designed for undergraduate STEM students interested in the fields of quantum/computation/material sciences/modeling/education across various CBAS departments: physics, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, biology, engineering. Addressing the growing national demand for the expertise and the workforce development in these areas of CBAS sciences, this program offers hands-on research, career exposure, comprehensive mentorship, and professional development during a 24-week program spanning the academic year, aiming to enhance student success while reducing barriers in these emerging fields. We aspire to cultivate an interdisciplinary MTSU scholar community, fostering inclusivity, diversity, and representation in the rapidly evolving realms of quantum, computation, and materials science.

The 3-minute thesis (3MT) graduate competition is designed to cultivate students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills.  Held each fall in CBAS, this competition is open to all graduate students with prizes awarded competitively. 

CBAS Day During Scholars Week is a day to celebrate all things CBAS!  This annual event held each March features a student poster competition with awards, departmental highlights, and a keynote address.  Any student participating in CBAS research is encouraged to submit an application for the poster competition.

Departmental Research Pages

Several departments maintain webpages highlighting the amazing research opportunities provided by their faculty.  Check out these pages to learn more!

Faculty Research

Talented faculty from a broad range of disciplines in CBAS serve as the primary driver of research growth at MTSU. Collaborative efforts between departments and programs are encouraged to foster and promote interdisciplinary research. Additionally, research projects with community agencies in the region are promoted to strengthen partnerships with business, industry, and non-profit organizations. External sponsorships through grant proposals and industry partnerships are the primary mechanism that funds research in CBAS and faculty are encouraged to use the resources detailed below and available from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to increase competitiveness for external funding.

CBAS offers bridge funding on a competitive basis to support faculty who have recently submitted an external grant proposal. This funding can be used to support a graduate research assistant or data collection and analysis expenditures related to the external proposal. The purpose of this funding is to jumpstart data collection and/or improve the quality of a grant proposal resubmission. The linked page provides details and the application form for this program.

A number of high-quality Centers are housed within CBAS. These Centers provide unique and valuable support to research within the college. As such, they are eligible for a distribution of facilities and administration (F&A; indirect) funds from funded grants. The linked page provides guidance on when and how to include Centers as indirect distribution recipients.

Navigating open-access publishing requirements, article-processing fees, and predatory publishers is challenging. Review this resource for advice on publishing your research in this changing landscape.

COMING SOON! Helpful checklists to help you develop your next external funding proposal.

MTSU has recently transitioned to the use of CAYUSE for management of proposals and grants. Faculty with questions about CAYUSE should contact ORSP or the Associate Dean for Research in CBAS.