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College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Mahua Biswas working on the Scanning Electron Microscope.

Discover, Innovate, and Create

Research by students, faculty, and staff in the College of Arts and Sciences advances knowledge and contributes to our global society. CAS members are deeply engaged in a wide variety of research and creative projects. Find out what we are doing and how you can get involved!

Resources For Faculty

Faculty and Staff in the CAS can access important resources by visiting the CAS Faculty/Staff Intranet

Research in Focus

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Mapping to go a different direction: ISU geographer plots to plan a brighter future

Geography Professor John Kostelnick has used his expertise in GIS mapping to examine a range of issues, from the spread of religion in a U.S. region during the 1800s to the modern-day question of how expanding broadband service could improve crop production.

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Psychology professor explores how we remember, how we forget, and how we forget to remember

Dr. Dawn M. McBride, professor of psychology, has been teaching and researching human memory for decades. Her interests include false memory, prospective memory, task order decisions, and facial recognition.

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Dr. John McHale wins the Santa Barbara International Diversity Film Script Award

Illinois State University School of Communication Professor John McHale and co-author Xavier Jackson have won the 2023 Santa Barbara International Diversity Film Script Award for their script Nurses Versus the Virus, a dramatic feature film about a Black male nurse on the front lines during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Student Researcher Accomplishments

GradBird Scholar Esther Oshaji

Meet the October 2023 GradBird Scholar: Esther Oshaji

The Graduate School has selected Esther Oshaji as its October GradBird Scholar recipient.

Students receive recognition at 26th annual WGSS Student Research Symposium

Four WGGS students received awards for their involvement in the program at the 26th annual Student Research Symposium

26th Annual WGSS Symposium award winners: Paula G. Taylor (Dorothy E. Lee Scholarship), Nadia Smith (Luellen Laurenti Scholarship), Brooke Lindell (Student Achievement Scholarship), and Megan Mahoney (Anne M. Semlak Memorial Scholarship).
Amélie Mwilambwe, center, has been getting an early start on research in Dr. Ben Sadd's lab. Sadd, right, and Dr. Logan Sauers, left, have been mentoring her through a project for which she received grant support.

Nurturing the next generation: Redbirds get early start in research with grant support

Students Amélie Mwilambwe and Lydia Gomez have started researching early in their Redbird careers through the support of an Office of Student Research grant program.

Supporting Your Research

You have important work to do. Here’s how we support your research efforts.

Student Travel Funds

CAS Student Travel Funds are internal awards intended to promote high-quality research, scholarship, and creative activity by undergraduate/graduate students of the College of Arts and Sciences at Illinois State University. This is intended to supplement travel funds provided by departments/schools or other organizations to help defray the costs of travel.

The program is made possible through the reallocation of temporary funds on an annual basis and will be renewed in subsequent years pending availability of funds.

Award Description

Awards may be funded up to a maximum of $250 for travel to a professional conference or meeting to present the results of research or creative activity. A student may be funded once per academic year.

Undergraduate students who are presenting internationally or in non-contiguous U.S. states may also apply for the CAS Undergraduate Scholar Fund.

Selection Process and Criteria

The Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences will make these awards. Applications from Undergraduate students with either a first or second major in the College as well as Graduate students in a College of Arts and Sciences graduate program will be considered. Students must be presenting, not just attending.

Proposal Process and Submission Deadlines

Travel is funded during the fiscal year (July 1- June 30) in which the travel takes place. Note: Applications may be submitted at any time but will be awarded based on the timing of the trip and availability of funds.

How to Apply

Applications may be submitted at any time but will be awarded based on the timing of the trip and availability of funds.

Apply Now

Check out the Travel Fund Instructions (ULID login required)

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding the CAS Student Travel Fund, please contact the College of Arts and Sciences at (309) 438-5669.

Make your impact.

Get involved in research at Illinois State.

You can make major contributions and move society in a positive direction. CAS faculty, students, and staff team up with each other and work solo on projects they’re passionate about.