Beyond the nest: FGCU student research, from the classroom to the community and the world
August 05, 2026 / Tags: Seidler Undergraduate Fellowships, iNaturalist, FGCU TRIO, FGCU Transferrible Skills, English MA Student Research, Academic Affairs Newsletter, Mathletes Circle at FGCU, Digital Badges, Bower School of Music, Eagle Expo, WiSER Research Internship
FGCU Mathletes Circle students at a mathematics outreach event on campus
Faculty at FGCU offer a genuine expression of curiosity and innovation, turning their courses and disciplines into career paths for students through research and hands-on classroom experience and equipping them with transferable skills that will follow them beyond graduation.
In biology, faculty-led research immerses students in the full scientific process, from field collections and laboratory analysis to data interpretation and conference presentations. Community partnerships with local wildlife organizations tie student research directly to regional environmental issues.This mentorship extends beyond the nest, with former students receiving guidance on graduate school applications, personal statements, and career opportunities, including opportunities to study abroad through faculty connections.
The outcomes, travel experiences, and presentations belong to the students, while faculty are the ones designing the research opportunities and mentorship behind it.
Biology faculty integrate the community-science platform iNaturalist, a free resource available to faculty looking to advance their student research assignments.
FGCU Biological Sciences students
The tool connects millions of scientists and naturalists worldwide through shared observations and global data. On the FGCU campus alone, iNaturalist has documented 1,333 species, including 750 animals, 538 plants, and 36 fungi. Research-grade observations are also shared with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), a global biodiversity data repository.
(Above) Student Madisyn Hildenbrand presenting at the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology in Scotland.
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In mathematics, student research extends beyond the classroom through participation in regional STEM organizations and outreach programs. Students engage in all stages of the research process, from project design and data collection to conference dissemination, while completing ethics training through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).
Partnerships with local schools, the FGCU TRIO program, and regional STEM organizations create opportunities for students to present at regional and national conferences and engage with educators, researchers, and community leaders.
(Above) Senior Psychology major Grace Carey works on data organization for FGCU's Transferable Skills Micro-credentials research and is expected to present initial findings at a national conference this year.
The faculty work highlighted is a small sample of some of the robust research being conducted across FGCU’s colleges and schools.
These efforts reflect FGCU’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, Innovating for Student Success, to advance high-impact practices, workforce-aligned learning, and student well-being in alignment with Goals 1, 2, and 3, while also reinforcing the university’s commitment to global scholarship and international mobility.
Participation in conferences on research in undergraduate mathematics education (RUME) and FGCU Eagle Expo further expands students’ professional networks and academic portfolios.
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In the humanities, faculty intentionally design research so students gain experiences that prepare them for graduate school, careers, or competitive opportunities.
Through the WiSER Research Internship and Seidler Undergraduate Fellowships, students gain hands-on experience collecting data, facilitating focus groups, and analyzing qualitative data, building transferable skills, leadership experience, and professional connections. This work has helped establish FGCU as a national leader in micro-credentialing, with the Southern Illinois University System building a system-wide initiative using FGCU’s framework.
Bower School of Music & the Arts' student Quang Vo performs at a piano competition in Colombia where he won third place competing against the best young pianists in the world.
This year, students traveled internationally to present research across disciplines, from zebrafish cardiology at the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology in Scotland to a piano competition in Colombia, showcasing how FGCU student research competes and contributes on a global stage.
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- Bower School of Music & the Arts
- Seidler Undergraduate Fellowships
- FGCU’s Transferable Skills Digital Badges
- WiSER Research Internship
The outcomes, travel experiences, and presentations belong to the students, while faculty are the ones designing the research opportunities and mentorship behind it.
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