Purdue University
AC-10: Support for Sustainability Research

Undergraduates at Purdue participate in nearly 2,000 research projects a year. Their interests are wide ranging. Their efforts are multidisciplinary. Their ideas are full of potential. And some of them get published. Research occurs across colleges and disciplines and are available in every major. The office of undergraduate research (https://www.purdue.edu/undergrad-research/index.php) helps coordinate these efforts.

Research opportunities are available across the many majors that touch on sustainability, including all majors connected to environmental research: https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/majors/

In addition to those listed, research in sustainability also occurs in Mechanical Engineering and the Honors College. The office of undergraduate research provides funding for many of these research opportunities while others provide academic credit. Students undertaking research also can compete for research awards and work to have their research published.

Purdue’s Institute for a Sustainable Future specifically supports undergraduate research through the Discovery Park Undergraduate Research Internship (DURI) program. The DURI program is designed to involve Purdue undergraduates in the interdisciplinary research environment of Purdue’s cutting-edge research centers and institutes. The program provides opportunities for students to work with researchers on research projects that involve combining two or more disciplinary strengths. Offered three times a year, the DURI program funds 3-4 sustainability projects as submitted by faculty on a competitive basis. These opportunities come with funding for the selected student ranging from $500-$1000. Some projects from the last year include:

Nanostructured Membrane Heat Exchanger for Efficient Air Conditioning

Recycling of fiber reinforced polymer composite for construction applications

On the Use of Machine Learning for Causal Inference in Extreme Weather Events

Design, Planning, and Fabrication of Greenery on Buildings for Urban Environmental Sustainability

Data Collection and Analysis of Smart Building

Heat waves and their role in the food energy water security nexus

Research opportunities are available across the many majors that touch on sustainability, including all majors connected to environmental research: https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/majors/

In addition to those listed, research in sustainability also occurs in Mechanical Engineering and the Honors College. The office of undergraduate research provides funding for many of these research opportunities while others provide academic credit. Students undertaking research also can compete for research awards and work to have their research published.

Purdue’s Institute for a Sustainable Future specifically supports undergraduate research through the Discovery Park Undergraduate Research Internship (DURI) program. The DURI program is designed to involve Purdue undergraduates in the interdisciplinary research environment of Purdue’s cutting-edge research centers and institutes. The program provides opportunities for students to work with researchers on research projects that involve combining two or more disciplinary strengths. Offered three times a year, the DURI program funds 3-4 sustainability projects as submitted by faculty on a competitive basis. These opportunities come with funding for the selected student ranging from $500-$1000. Some projects from the last year include:

Nanostructured Membrane Heat Exchanger for Efficient Air Conditioning

Recycling of fiber reinforced polymer composite for construction applications

On the Use of Machine Learning for Causal Inference in Extreme Weather Events

Design, Planning, and Fabrication of Greenery on Buildings for Urban Environmental Sustainability

Data Collection and Analysis of Smart Building

Heat waves and their role in the food energy water security nexus

The Institute for Sustainable Future (ISF) supports academic research by providing key research support services for faculty across campus including:

Research conceptualization
- Identify and communicate potential funding sources for environmental projects;
- Brainstorm project ideas at early stages;
- Organize campus meetings, workshops, or seminars to connect affiliates and stimulate interest in research projects;
- Assist in identifying internal and external stakeholders.

Project development
- Work through requirements, opportunities, and challenges of identified calls for proposals;
- Review and discuss pre-proposals, outlines, or project summaries;
- Identify and reach out to potential partners for activities, support, or creation of an advisory board;
- Help teams navigate the proposal development and submission processes.

Project implementation and promotion
- Provide help for planning and coordinating team meetings and events;
- Promote project progress and results through C4E communication outlets;
- Monitor funding landscape for future opportunities.

ISF also provides funds to faculty for travel to advance their research development (Ie trips to DC, arranging meetings with program officers, supported travel to relevant meetings, coordinating and hosting development meetings). ISF currently helps support over 250 affiliated projects and has ~$6 million in affiliated grants supported each year.

As an institution of higher education with a commitment to excellence and a diversity of missions, Purdue University values creative endeavor, research and scholarship; teaching and learning; and engagement in its many forms, including extension and outreach. Tenure helps to ensure academic freedom and should promote creative, innovative pursuits.

Purdue University’s mission is to serve diverse populations of Indiana, the nation and the world through discovery that expands the frontiers of knowledge, learning that fosters the sharing of knowledge, and engagement that cultivates the application of knowledge. To be considered for Tenure and/or promotion, a faculty member must meet the minimum thresholds in each of the three mission areas – discovery, learning and engagement.

Individual excellence and scholarly productivity are the basis for promotion, and while these are often defined in discipline-specific terms, the University recognizes that scientific, curricular and engagement activities of faculty are not limited by disciplinary boundaries. Significant interdisciplinary efforts are also recognized and contribute to the excellence and diversity of the academic enterprise; this, too, is recognized when considering a candidate’s strength and accomplishments.

Sustainability spans all disciplines and subjects, and our Purdue University’s Libraries offer subject experts to provide research consultations for those seeking to conduct research related to sustainability in their respective domains. By using the online search, users can access scholarly resources on sustainability research, including books, journals, databases, streaming videos, technical reports, standards, government documents, and more. Our Ask a Librarian service is also available to anyone who needs assistance finding the resources they need.