Research at Marian University

The Nation’s First and Only Franciscan Research University

At Marian University, research is a living expression of our Franciscan heritage—rooted in St. Francis of Assisi’s awe for creation, radical service to the marginalized, and joyful pursuit of the common good. As the nation’s first Franciscan Research University (recognized in 2025), we uniquely blend rigorous scholarly inquiry with Catholic and Franciscan values of human dignity, peace and justice, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship.

Here, every project—whether addressing community lead exposure, advancing osteopathic medicine, or exploring human flourishing—embodies ethical leadership, student-faculty mentorship, and real-world impact. Our vision positions Marian as a national leader by 2030 in student-driven, values-grounded research that fosters holistic human flourishing and prepares compassionate servant-leaders for today’s challenges.

Central Research Hub

• Research & Scholarship Main portal outlining Marian’s 2030 research vision, benefits of scholarly engagement (deeper learning, career preparation, retention), external funding highlights, and overview of opportunities—including the Scholarly Learning Communities Initiative.

Research Governance & Compliance

• Library Research One-stop access to catalogs, full-text databases, journals, and librarian support across all disciplines.
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) Ethical oversight and approval for human-subjects research, aligned with federal regulations and Franciscan principles of responsibility.
• Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Ensures safe, compliant handling of biological agents and materials in research activities.

Provost’s Office – Research & Scholarship Resources

• Publications Gallery showcasing recent faculty and student scholarly outputs, presentations, and achievements.
• Office of Undergraduate Research Support for student-led projects, mentorship, symposia, experiential learning, and entry into Scholarly Learning Communities.
• Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Assistance with grant seeking, external funding applications, and sponsored project management.
• Funds for Research and Scholarly Activity Internal grants and funding to initiate and sustain faculty, student, and community-engaged projects.
• Lifecycle of Scholarly Work Course Hands-on course guiding participants through the complete research-to-publication lifecycle.
• Scholarly Learning Communities Initiative Overview of interdisciplinary, team-based groups open to students, faculty, and staff—addressing complex societal challenges via experiential learning, transformational leadership, and community engagement, rooted in Franciscan mission.

Scholarly Learning Communities (interdisciplinary groups driving big ideas, real-world impact, and Franciscan-inspired solutions):

• Human Flourishing Scholarly Learning Community Led by Dr. Kirsten Guidero; campus-community collaboration exploring models of meaningful human life and flourishing through interdisciplinary lenses—grounded in Franciscan values of peace, justice, dignity, reconciliation, and stewardship.
• Aging and Society Scholarly Learning Community Led by Dr. Todd Logan; multidisciplinary efforts to advance knowledge, understanding, and practical solutions related to aging, societal well-being, and quality of life.
• Innovation in STEHM Education Scholarly Learning Community Led by Dr. Catherine Steding; focuses on advancing and innovating Science, Technology, Engineering, Health, and Mathematics (STEHM) education via training, mentoring, and equitable treatment of all scholars as lifelong learners.

Department- & College-Specific Opportunities

• Research Opportunities (Chemistry & Physical Sciences) Faculty-mentored undergraduate research in analytical, environmental, computational, and applied chemistry—including 3D printing applications (Dr. Nicholson), muon and quantum chemistry/laser fluorescence/NMR spectroscopy (Dr. Macrae), pharmaceutical/plant metabolite analysis via mass spectrometry (Dr. McVey), hazardous by-products in vape liquids (gas chromatography-MS), and community-based lead contamination studies (Dr. Kamila Deavers)—with emphasis on hands-on lab experience, community health/justice impact (e.g., lead prevention in Indianapolis schools/gardens via testing, remediation, education, partnerships), student project contributions/presentations, and Franciscan alignment with service, stewardship, and environmental care.
• Lead Poisoning Research Opportunities (Chemistry & Physical Sciences) Community-engaged projects addressing environmental health risks and justice through lead exposure prevention and mitigation.
• College of Osteopathic Medicine – Research Overview of high-impact, mentored research in areas like head injury, musculoskeletal conditions, and related biomedical fields.
• Faculty Research (Osteopathic Medicine) Profiles of faculty expertise, ongoing projects, and scholarly contributions.
• Student Research Opportunities (Osteopathic Medicine) Tailored, resume-enhancing research experiences for medical students under faculty guidance.
• Marian’s Research Spaces (Osteopathic Medicine) Virtual tour of open-concept laboratories and specialized facilities designed for collaborative, cutting-edge discovery.