Research

This competition began at the University of Queensland in Australia in 2008 as a way to "cultivate students' academic, presentation, and research communication skills... (by) explaining their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience." Universities across the world now participate in this unique event. Any graduate student conducting research for a thesis or dissertation can compete. The Graduate School hosts Loyola's competition each February and the winner is invited to compete in the annual regional Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools 3MT event later in the Spring. Global 3MT competition films can be seen here.

The Graduate School encourages students to present their work at conferences throughout the United States and abroad. Students may apply for up to $750 (per academic year – with academic year ending on the final day of last summer term) in travel costs associated with presenting at a conference. Please note that travel awards are only available to current students whose programs are housed on the Lakeshore Campus and Water Tower Campus. Students enrolled in graduate programs at the Health Sciences campus should consult with the Graduate School at the Health Sciences Division or the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing for travel-related funding programs. Students whose conferences fall after their thesis/dissertation defense date (for programs with a thesis/dissertation requirement) or after their final course (for those programs without a thesis/dissertation) are not eligible to apply for travel funding.

To be considered for funding, you must apply online BEFORE the conference takes place. See application and reimbursement instructions below. 

The Graduate School and the Graduate Student Advisory Council host the Annual Graduate School Interdisciplinary Research Symposium on the Lake Shore Campus organized around the diverse research methods exhibited in scholarly work. The symposium is an excellent forum for Loyola graduate students to present their scholarly work. Any current graduate student within The Graduate School is eligible to submit a presentation. Monetary awards will be given based on research category and student’s program status.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

The call for abstracts usually appears in January of each year and is featured in the Graduate School newsletter. The call for proposals for next year's conference will be posted in December.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, please email the Research Symposium Committee.

Office of Research Services: The Office of Research Services (ORS) assists faculty and students at the Lake Shore and Water Tower campuses with externally funded research, training and public service projects.

Institutional Review Board (IRB): All use of human subjects including the use of any surveys, questionnaires, and interviews even with data previously obtained from human subjects must receive approval from the IRB.

Also view the Introduction to the IRB PowerPoint for more information.

Graduate School students who are approved in advance for a Research Funding Request may receive reimbursement of up to $500 for expenses related to the research and preparation of a dissertation, thesis, or major research paper if applicable. The Graduate School will only grant one research funding award per student, and reimbursement for the funds must be claimed within the same academic year. To apply, please submit a Research Funding Request Form.  
 
Once the approved activities are completed, fill out an Expense Reimbursement Form and submit it to the Graduate School along with your original receipts. If your award included gift cards or incentives of some kind, please be aware that IRS rules require that you complete a disbursement log tracking what was distributed. Do not forget that the Graduate School cannot reimburse gift cards purchased with personal or departmental funds. You MUST submit a request for the Graduate School to purchase the gift cards for you. If subjects must remain anonymous, please indicate that on your reimbursement request and list the subject’s study number on your disbursement log.

Note: Research Funding is only available to students in historically underfunded disciplines and whose programs are housed on the Lakeside Campuses. Students interested in submitting a request to purchase a laboratory supply and/or material relevant to the student’s research should reach out to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School.

Research is a central part of graduate education. As part of its commitment to graduate level research, the Graduate School will provide support for mentored research at the master’s degree level. Fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis to outstanding students who have a demonstrated record of academic excellence and an interest in a mentored research opportunity but are in a degree program without the option of a thesis component.

• 2025 Research Experience for Masters Programs Call for Applications

Note: the Research Mentoring Program is currently on hiatus. 

The Research Mentoring Program (RMP) is designed to partner graduate students who are working on their dissertation research with undergraduates who are interested in participating in research. The graduate student application deadline for this competitive summer fellowship is early December. Once the approved activities are finished, please submit original receipts and a completed reimbursement form to the Awards Coordinator in the Graduate School to receive reimbursement for expenditures.

This summer research program provides an opportunity for undergraduates to learn more about graduate studies and graduate-level research while supporting the mentorship training and research of a doctoral student. PhD mentors will be matched with an undergraduate research assistant to support their dissertation research, as well as receive a $2,000 summer stipend and a budget of up to $500 for research costs. Undergraduates will also receive a $1,500 stipend for serving as a research assistant.

Components of the program include:

• One-to-one mentoring of an undergraduate student for 6-8 weeks during the upcoming summer.
• Check-in meetings about progress and a final presentation meeting where you and your undergraduate assistant share your research accomplishments with the group.
• Joint poster or oral presentation at the Undergraduate Research and Engagement Symposium and/or Graduate Research Symposium in the spring following completion of your project.

Research Mentoring Project Abstracts

Testimony from a Previous Research Mentor

"As a PhD student in the English department, I found the summer research fellowship to be a valuable opportunity to practice mentorship with an aspiring scholar. My mentee helped me make significant progress in my research organization by identifying and collecting resources in places I wasn't looking. More importantly, her willingness to ask questions and challenge my ideas provided a new and productive voice from outside my immediate critical circles." – a 2020 research mentor

If you have any questions or problems, please contact Heather Sevener, Associate Dean of Student Academic Services. 

In support of the University Mission and in accordance with federal regulations effective January 2010, Loyola University Chicago has implemented a Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship program that incorporates ethics education into the curriculum for all students.

Beginning fall 2011, the Graduate School requires RCRS training for all matriculating PhD students and master’s students who are writing a thesis. Graduate Program Directors in non-thesis master’s programs may recommend RCRS training for their students.

All PhD students and Master’s students* who are writing a thesis must successfully complete the Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship training as part of the degree requirements. It is strongly recommended that students complete this two-day training before beginning the dissertation/thesis stage of the program.

*Students in the School of Education and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing receive separate RCRS training.