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Student-led, Discovery Driven

Transform your ideas into reality while utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and discover how you can build the technical, analytical, and professional skills to address complex scientific and societal challenges.

Whether you have just started your academic career at Virginia Tech or are preparing to leave Blacksburg and begin your professional journey, the Discovery Lab is open to students from all STEM disciplines, backgrounds, and experience levels.

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Student Opportunities

ALL Virginia Tech undergraduate students, regardless of year, major, or experience level can utilize the Discovery Lab’s instruments and equipment!

See below for more information about current opportunities for students.

Undergraduate Research Experiences

Gain valuable and practical research experience by participating in one of the Discovery Lab’s Undergraduate Research Experiences.

In these for credit research experiences, students work as part of small interdisciplinary teams. Students start with an initial research topic, but work collaboratively to draft their own unique research questions, develop/refine research methodologies, and lead data analysis.

Current URES

As part of these experiences, you will receive technical support and guidance from Discovery Lab Faculty Mentors, but the How, What, and Why come from you! We just get you started.

Freshwater Ecosystem Analysis

Freshwater Ecosystem Analysis

Sensing our Environment

Sensing our Environment

Microplastics of Everyday Things

Microplastics of Everyday Things

Pollinator Problem Solving

Pollinator Problem Solving

Problem:  

  • Roadside springs serve as primary drinking water sources for many residents of rural Southwest Virginia; however, these decentralized sources are not subject to routine regulatory monitoring, and changes to the microbial community due to climate change can go undetected.
  • Freshwater macroinvertebrates are widely used as indicators of ecosystem health. To do so though, species-specific identification is required. Current identification approaches are time and resource intensive. Identification through MALD TOF can improve accuracy.

What are Students Currently Working On: 

  • Analyzing water samples collected from across Southwest Virginia with an array of techniques, including fluorescence microscopy, Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, and MALD TOF Mass Spectrometry.
  • Developing a spectral reference library that can be used for applying MALD TOF to macroinvertebrate identification.

Problem:  

  • Many contaminants present in everyday things are challenging and expensive to measure.
  • Microfluidics combined with sensors specific to select targets can help. Engineers, life scientists, and social scientists are all required to develop these platforms.

What are Students Currently Working On: 

  • Design and fabricate microfluidics devices - "Lab on a Chip" systems using 3D printing.
  • Develop assays for specific environmental targets using electrochemical techniques.
  • Prototype and fabricate environmental monitoring devices that can capture accurate and real-time data in varying conditions.
  • Design outreach materials that can clearly communicate the potential benefits of sensor-based technologies.

Problem: N/A

What are Students Currently Working On: 

  • Determining how various consumer plastics, including PET and polyethylene, chemically weather under real world sunlight exposure by using FTIR spectroscopy to monitor chemical changes of the polymers. Students are focused on assessing which plastics / conditions produce the greatest chemical changes.
  • Assess the effects of real-world handling conditions – (i.e. freeze-thaw cycles, temperature change, and physical agitation) – have on the rate of microplastics release in disposable plastic bottles. Students are gaining hands-on experience in experimental design, sample preparation, LIMS-based sample tracking, fluorescent microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and data analysis/interpretation. 
  • Disposable feminine hygiene products, which can be up to 90 percent plastic, can release millions of microplastics and nano plastics during use. To date, students have: sourced an array of disposable feminine hygiene products from local retailers for testing, developed a method for extracting microplastics in an aqueous environment with temperatures that align with those seen in the human body, and imaged collected samples (to date) with fluorescence microscopy and detected the presence of microplastics.  
  • Students have assessed the microplastics content in several brands of table and sea salts. Microplastics were detected using Nile Red staining and fluorescent microscopy while also confirming plastic identification using FTIR spectroscopy.
  • Quantifying the potential microplastic introduction from steeping commonly available tea bags and from single-serving pod coffee brewers. 
  • Harnessing Machine Learning to Accelerate Microplastics Particles Detection

Problem:  

  • Insect pollinators, especially Honeybees face numerous environmental threats, pathogens, and diseases.
  • Pollutants and climatic conditions effect the proteins and lipids found in pollen, which can impact Honeybee diet & nutrition.
  • Adulterated honey, often bulked with cheap sugar syrups, is a widespread form of food fraud; undermine value addition opportunities for beekeepers and posing health risks for consumers.

What are Students Currently Working On: 

  • Investigating the chemical profile, physicochemical composition, antimicrobial activity, potential botanical sources, and colony-level production characteristics of the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) propolis collected from apiaries across Virginia.
  • Assessing methods that could be used for detecting sugar-based honey adulteration
  • Exploring how Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometry could be used to analyze different volatile organic compounds that give honey unique aromas and flavors.
  • Extracting genomic DNA from bees collected from different hives across the Commonwealth.

Spring 2027 Semester Undergraduate Research Experiences (UREs)

Applications for the Discovery Lab’s Spring 2027 UREs will open just before Thanksgiving break. We anticipate accepting 4-6 students for the Spring semester. 

We require that accepted students register for at least two credits of undergraduate research credit – one credit of undergraduate research equals about six hours of work per week. You must spend all hours in the lab each week. 

Students can complete their research hours anytime between 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, but students should plan to attend a weekly 1-hour project meeting once a week. Having availability on T/W/R afternoons is a positive.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Check back later to submit your application.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Discovery Lab’s UREs

What are the benefits for students? 

  • You can receive graded (A-F) credit for participating.
  • You work with industry relevant equipment. 
  • You can build their technical, analytical, and professional skills

What is the time commitment for students?

  • You can register for 2 or 3 credits of undergraduate research. Depending upon your selection, you would need to work between 6 to 9 hours per week in the Discovery Lab.

What are the different assignments students must complete?

  • Over the semester, you are expected to keep up with your Lab Notebook, submit weekly reflections, prepare a poster to present at the Discovery Lab’s Research Symposium, and prepare a final research deliverable.

Who can apply?

  • Any undergraduate student from any major. We recommend first semester Freshman wait to apply till their second semester at Virginia Tech.

Independent Research, Prototyping, or Experimentation

The Discovery Lab is also hosts individual students or small student project teams – providing access to the Lab’s Technical Spaces, consumables, and instruments.  Students work with Peer Leaders and members of the Discovery Lab Leadership Team to characterize their ideas and transform them into reality.

Project Co-creation Process

  • Step 1 Discover the Possibilities in the Lab: Schedule a time to meet with our team to brainstorm an idea you have been working on, tour the Discovery Lab, and/or talk through an idea you want to bring to life in the Discovery Lab. The team will work with you to characterize your idea and assess how you could best utilize the instruments and equipment in the lab.
  • Step 2 Document your Initial Idea in a Mini-Project Proposal: After an initial design session students will need to submit a proposal detailing how their projects: 
    • Align with the Discovery Lab's mission & values 
    • Will utilize the Discovery Lab's instruments & equipment
    • Will help applicants develop the technical, analytical, and durable skills required to succeed in the modern workforce
  • Step 3 Proposal Review, Refinement, and Formalization: Project proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis. After your proposal has been reviewed, we will schedule a final co-creation session to discuss proposal feedback, collectively refine project objectives, outline an action plan for completing your project. At the end of this meeting, you will have a formal project plan that will help guide your work in the Discovery Lab.
  • Step 4 Onboarding, Safety Training, & Project Training: After your project plan is finalized. Your onboarding process begins!

Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Projects

Can I really work on any project in the Discovery Lab?

  • We welcome all ideas / project submissions. However, the instruments/equipment in the Discovery Lab are not suited for every idea. The Discovery Lab team will help you better understand, what questions the lab’s different instruments can address, what questions they are not suited to address, and prioritize your ideas.

Students approved to work on independent projects in the Discovery Lab are also required to:

  • Participate in a co-creation session with Discovery Lab Leadership Team members and Faculty sponsor.
  • Complete Discovery Lab required on-line and in-person training
  • Check-in regularly with Discovery Lab Leadership Team members and Peer Leaders
  • Submit mid-term and end-of-project updates

Student Led Workshops

The Discovery Lab is student-led, and our training workshops are the same. We aim to host at least two workshops per month where existing users and other interested students can learn new skills, such as proper micro pipetting technique, how to use the lab’s stereolithography 3D printers, soldering basics, and/or how to interpret a LC-UV chromatogram. These workshops are developed by and facilitated by the Discovery Lab’s Peer Leaders. 

We are still finalizing our Fall 2026 workshop offerings. Please check our workshop calendar for updates.

Looking for Advice?

  • Discover the Possibilities in the Lab: Schedule a time to meet with our team to brainstorm an idea you have been working on, tour the Discovery Lab, and/or talk through an idea you want to bring to life in the Discovery Lab.
  • Mentorship: Meet with a member of the Discovery Lab Leadership team to talk through your technical and/or career questions.
  • Student Employment & Volunteer Opportunities: Explore volunteer and paid Peer Leader opportunities. 

Transform Your Curiosity into Innovative Research

Join us and See What You Can Discover