Student Research Opportunities

In order to stimulate student interest in graduate education and research leading to careers in academia, the College of Pharmacy at South Dakota State University (SDSU) has developed a research program in the pharmaceutical sciences that gives pre-pharmacy and professional program students the opportunity to participate in a research project. Through this program, students receive hands-on experience in the laboratory as well as exposure to graduate school and the academic environment through interactions with current graduate students and faculty.

The student research program is open to all pre-pharmacy and professional program students at SDSU. Research is typically conducted over the summer months; students can choose to continue working through the academic year.  The student and their faculty mentor develop the individual research project that the student will work on. 

Objectives of Student Research Program

• Increase student awareness of pharmaceutical sciences research at the SDSU College of Pharmacy
  
  
• Give pre-pharmacy and professional program students hands-on experience in the research laboratory

• Stimulate student interest in graduate education and research

• Explore career opportunities in the pharmaceutical sciences

• Facilitate interactions among pre-pharmacy students, professional program students, graduate students, and faculty
  
  
• Develop leadership and communication skills in students

Research Projects

          Some of the types of projects that students have worked on recently include:

·         Cancer drug resistance reversal

·         Development of new anticancer agents

·         Cancer chemoprevention

·         Development of novel drug delivery systems

·         Preclinical drug development for major neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders

Visit the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Opportunities page for detailed descriptions of current projects.

Activities Conducted in Program

          During the summer research program, students have the opportunity to participate in several activities including:

·         Journal club

·         Discussion groups

·         College of Pharmacy Research Presentations and Convocation

·         Presentations at local, regional, and national meetings

·         American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences SDSU Student Chapter events (AAPS Website [External Hyperlink])

Research Scholarships

          Scholarships are available for students participating in the research program including:

·         American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (AFPE) Gateway to Research Scholarship

·         American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) Summer Research Fellowship

·         Joseph F. Nelson Undergraduate Research Mentorship

Contact Dr. Seefeldt for information on applying for these scholarships.

Interested in participating in student research?

          Contact Dr. Seefeldt or Dr. Dwivedi for more information.