At UWM, curiosity leads the way. As a top-tier (R1) research university, research here isn’t just about answers. It’s about asking questions that are big and bold. With faculty mentorship, paid research opportunities for undergraduate students and dedicated support resources, your next breakthrough could change everything.
Paid Faculty-led Research
You can get paid to conduct research. The Support for Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program, offered in partnership with the Office of Undergraduate Research, connects you with opportunities to participate on faculty research projects.
You’ll dive into fascinating faculty-led research that aligns with your interests. Our faculty are highly active in the SURF program, which means you’ll have no shortage of opportunities to get involved.
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Undergraduate Research Examples
Green and Healthy Schoolyards: Transforming Milwaukee Public Schools
Students worked with faculty to advance schoolyard redesigns that improve outdoor learning, stormwater management and student well-being. Through surveys, public feedback and collaboration with a medical college, students evaluated positive outcomes of previous redesigns to inform future designs. The projects have received multiple design awards and continue to impact tens of thousands of community members.
Creating a 3D Model of Milwaukee to Highlight SARUP Alumni Connections Across the City
Students worked with faculty to map and model Milwaukee’s urban environment using GIS, historical research and site analysis to create a digital 3D model. Then, they built a physical scale model highlighting UWM SARUP’s impact on the city, combining data visualization, architectural tools and hands-on making to explore the school’s urban legacy.
New Immigrant Place-making: Case Study of Chicago’s Devon Avenue
Students worked with faculty to investigate immigrant placemaking in Midwestern cities through drawings, diagrams and physical installations. They analyzed built environments, documented everyday spaces and curated a public exhibit exploring social justice, equity and inclusion in architecture while encouraging dialogue around more inclusive design approaches.
Multispecies Playground: 3D-Printed Wild Clay in Non-Human-Centric Design
Students worked with faculty to explore ceramic 3D printing using wild clay and recycled materials to design playful, multispecies architectural forms. Through material sourcing, fabrication testing and site-specific prototyping, students developed engaging interventions that challenge conventional aesthetics and advocate for non-human-centric, joyful approaches to architectural design.
Undergraduate Student Work
Evelyn Gruber and Isabelle Poole
Undergraduate
Spencer Smolen
Undergraduate
Makenzie Halla and Sarah Paquette
Undergraduate