Undergraduate research
Transform your passion into a research project
Undergraduate research is at the heart of turning your enthusiasm for sustainable biomaterials into impactful projects. Our program offers numerous opportunities to engage in hands-on research, allowing you to work closely with faculty and industry experts. You’ll have access to state-of-the-art labs and resources to explore innovative solutions. Whether you’re conducting experiments, analyzing data, or presenting your findings, you’ll gain invaluable experience that will set you apart.
Undergrad's research looks toward a more sustainable future
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Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Undergraduate research fellowships allow students to develop and carry out a unique research project or expand upon an existing project while collaborating with a faculty mentor. Students can request up to $2,500 to support a research project they will complete during one semester or one academic year.
The application window is in the spring. Interested students should read the information below carefully and talk with a faculty member before starting an application.
Departmental sponsored research centers
Some of our research is done in concert with our faculty-directed research centers and is supported by these Centers and their external cooperating partners.
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Center for Forest Products Business , redirectThe forest products industry is an important industry for the United States. Competition within the forest products industry has become fierce. Marketing as well as management of production and people have become integral to remaining competitive. The Center for Forest Products Business strives to help firms improve the management of their operations and the marketing of their products.
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The Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design , redirectThe Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD) is one of the leading packaging research facilities in the United States. Using state of the art technology, CPULD researches every aspect of the material handling system from primary packaging all the way through unit load design.
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Wood-Based Composites Center , redirectThe Wood-Based Composites Center (WBC) is Cooperative Research Center driven by an industry-scientific community that develops research related to composites and renewable materials. The WBC is a leading source for fundamental research and education in wood-based composites.
Student research in the news
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Virginia Tech researchers work to create biodegradable bioplastics from food waste , articleResearchers in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are making affordable bioplastics.
Date: Jul 05 -
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College of Natural Resources and Environment focused on infrastructure upgrades to power experiential learning and research , articleDean Paul Winistorfer recently illuminated how human, financial, and physical capital converge to create a culture of excellence in the college and championed the infrastructure improvements that are the keys to future success.
Date: Mar 24 -
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Virginia Tech sustainability research impacts retirement community residents , articleThrough seed funding provided by the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment, Jennifer Russell and her students are working with a retirement company to study how it could increase its sustainability efforts.
Date: Sep 06
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Video ItemCNRE undergrad's research looks toward a more sustainable future , video
Brian Tea is an undergraduate research fellowship recipient in the College of Natural Resources and Environment. Tea's work investigates how some single-use cutlery could be composted at home.
Date: Feb 27 -
Video ItemAffordable housing drives CNRE undergrad's research , video
Justin Brandt is an undergraduate research fellowship recipient in the College of Natural Resources and Environment. Brandt is studying the effect of encased bamboo on the structural properties of cross-laminated timber.
Date: Jan 04