Undergraduate Research
We're delighted to support undergraduate research in multiple ways.
INSIGHT
The Initiative for Scholarship & Inquiry Guided by Humanistic Thinking (INSIGHT) is our new flagship program designed to support, amplify, and celebrate undergraduate research at Purdue. Our mission is to empower students to pursue undergraduate research that resonates.
While housed within the Writing Program, we are expanding our strategic partnerships both within and beyond the College of Liberal Arts to best support students interested in humanities and humanistic social science research.
We are proud to announce that we’ll be debuting our inaugural INSIGHT award at this semester’s Spring Research Expo. This award marks the beginning of our commitment to recognize student excellence in research.
If you’re interested in collaborating, mentoring, or learning more about our efforts, please contact Dr. Michael D. Johnson (mdjohnson@purdue.edu).
ENGL 494, Undergraduate Research Practicum
Launching in Fall 2026, ENGL 494 serves as a foundational pillar for INSIGHT’s mission. This inquiry-based course mentors students as they engage in high-impact independent research in the humanities and humanistic social sciences.
In this research practicum, students will develop the technical and critical skills necessary to navigate the research process from initial inquiry through to the sharing of findings in academic and professional venues. Furthermore, this course is designed to be repeatable for credit, allowing students to pursue complex, multi-semester projects without losing academic momentum.
ENGL 49400 - 001 - 29904
TuTh, 3:00-4:15p
Instructor: Dr. Michael D. Johnson (mdjohnson@purdue.edu).
Office of Undergraduate Research Events
The English Department participates actively in events hosted by Purdue's Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), including the Fall Expo and Spring Conference. Our instructors mentor researchers in classes in literature, writing, linguistics, and more.
OUR’s mission is to promote and expand experiential learning for students through research experiences with skilled mentors. Studies show that students who engage in research are more likely to graduate, more likely to go on to graduate school, and have more successful careers after graduation.
"Literatures, Languages, and Cultures" Symposium
The “Literature, Language, and Culture” symposium (hosted in collaboration with OUR and the School of Languages and Cultures) is held annually in Spring. It features student research presentations in Literature, English Education, and Linguistics, including projects from our senior capstone seminars.
Submissions:
250-300 word abstracts for 15-minute paper or Power Point presentations. One submission per student, please.
Deadlines:
Abstracts are due on March 1. Submit through the OUR Spring Conference website.
Be sure to check the "oral presentation" box, and also “English/School of Languages and Culture colloquium” in the "special course designation" category.
Writers' Night is an undergraduate reading event at which Purdue's creative writing students can read their work aloud to peers, graduate students, and faculty. The event is a combination of scheduled readers and an open mic, so any writers in the audience can get involved too.