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

Discover, Innovate, and Create

Research in Focus

tulips bloomed in front of campus building

Dr. Hendricks receives College of Arts and Sciences’ Outstanding College Researcher Award

Dr. Michael Hendricks, associate professor in the Department of Politics and Government, received the Outstanding College Researcher Award from the College of Arts and Sciences.  Hendricks will be formally recognized for this honor August 31 at the college’s Welcome and Award Ceremony.

group photo of QuaSy-Con event participants

Quantum Symmetries Conference at Illinois State University promotes research and collaboration

The Department of Mathematics at Illinois State University recently hosted QuaSy-Con IV, the fourth Quantum Symmetries Conference, on May 23–24, 2026. The conference welcomed participants from across the Midwest and beyond for two days of mathematics, collaboration, mentoring, and community-building centered around quantum symmetries.

image with faces and string depicting how people are connected

OSF HealthCare and Illinois State University announce spring 2026 Connected Communities Initiative awardees

 Illinois State University and OSF HealthCare have announced the spring 2026 award recipients for the Connected Communities Initiative (CCI), a joint program designed to advance collaborative, applied research that addresses real-world healthcare challenges in Central Illinois.

Student Researcher Accomplishments

students viewing information on projector screen

FIREbird Grant fuels undergraduate research in atomic physics at Illinois State

Undergraduate students at Illinois State University do not have to wait years to begin research, and for James Aygun, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in physics, that early access has led to grants, publications, and a future in the field of physics.

group photo at awards ceremony

Students rise to challenge in highly competitive OSF-ISU Data Science Competition

The OSF HealthCare-Illinois State University Data Science Project Competition brought together students to tackle a real-world healthcare challenge: predicting patient no-shows for scheduled medical appointments. Designed as a highly competitive and engaging experience, the competition challenged students to develop high-performing binary classification models to identify patients at risk of missing appointments—an issue with significant implications for healthcare efficiency and patient outcomes.

Dr. Kathyrn Jasper and student looking at medieval manuscript

Paleography illuminated: Manuscript translation project connects language, history

Dr. Kathryn Jasper can’t help but smile when her research students nervously and cautiously turn the pages of a medieval text for the first time.

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.

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. 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 be eligible for an additional $250 in funding.   

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

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.

Resources For Faculty

Faculty and Staff in the CAS can access important resources by visiting the CAS Faculty/Staff Intranet (Restricted Access)