student research

Tiny house project building momentum

Jessy Spencer ’18 oversees the construction of a straw bale bench made at a workshop last week.

Tiny houses were a big topic of discussion at Randolph last year, thanks to a project that researched the ins and outs of constructing one on campus. This summer, Jessy Spencer ’18 is building off that momentum—literally. Spencer is working on a Summer Research project with Karin Warren, the Herzog Family Chair of Environmental Studies,... READ MORE >>

Summer Research project examines history of martyrdom

Will Andress '17 and Gordon Steffey meet to discuss one of their readings in the Student Center.

Coloring books are all the rage these days. Besides the typical children’s characters, there are now coloring books for adults featuring everything from butterflies to mandalas. And as Will Andress ’17 found out during his Summer Research project, there is even a martyrdom coloring book. Martyrdom: The Coloring Book is one of many texts—historical and... READ MORE >>

For the health of horses

SRP meds

A group of Randolph College students are spending the summer comparing the effectiveness of over-the-counter medications in treating a skin infection commonly found in horses and livestock. Jessica Sidebottom ’17, Jacquelyn Parman ’18, Di Bei ’18, and Callan Frye ’17 are participating in Randolph College’s Summer Research program and are examining Streptothricosis, commonly known as... READ MORE >>

Plugged in to environmental issues

Sociology professor Brad Bullock and Harrison Pippin '18 talk about their project.

Each weekend this summer, Harrison Pippin ’18 has traveled downtown and set up a table at the Lynchburg Community Market. He’s not there to sell fresh produce, however—he’s there for research. As part of a Summer Research project with sociology professor Brad Bullock, Pippin has been administering a survey each week at the market, based... READ MORE >>

Making Internet security add up

Mathematics professor Jia Wan observes as Mengjin Sun '19 and Nhut Dang '18 study an equation.

Two Randolph students are using Summer Research as an opportunity to examine the critical role that math plays in cybersecurity. Mengjin Sun ’19 and Nhut Dang ’18 are working with mathematics professor Jia Wan to analyze the Diffie-Hellman problem (DHP). The DHP is a mathematical problem first proposed by Whitfield Diffie and Martin Hellman in... READ MORE >>

Summer Research builds students’ engineering, coding skills

Sarah Sojka, physics and environmental studies professor, observes as Zach Vernon '18 and Leonora Bratvold-Boyd '19 conduct a lab test.

Zach Vernon ’18 and Leonora Bratvold-Boyd ’19 liken their Summer Research experience to a nature adventure. When they began learning coding, the students felt like they were lost in a forest. Now, the pair of aspiring engineers feel more confident in their skills, and it’s as if they have found the river that will lead... READ MORE >>

Summer Research combines student’s love of Shakespeare and music

Marianne Virnelson '17 works to compose music for a scene in Twelfth Night.

After seeing a production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet last summer, Marianne Virnelson ’17 realized she wanted to dedicate her professional life to preserving the great playwright’s work. One of her first steps is to combine her theatre and music majors, as well as her love for Shakespeare plays, into a Summer Research project. This summer,... READ MORE >>

Students to present research at Randolph’s Symposium of Artists and Scholars

SAS logo

More than 80 Randolph College students will present their academic, scientific, and creative research at the College’s Symposium of Artists and Scholars, which will be held April 21 and 22. Modeled after a traditional academic conference, the event begins with a luncheon, followed by oral presentations, a keynote speech, readings of creative works, musical performances,... READ MORE >>

Randolph certified as Virginia’s first Bee Campus USA affiliate

Bee campus logo

Bee Campus USA has announced that Randolph College is the ninth educational institution in the nation and the first in Virginia to be certified as an affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program, designed to marshal the strengths of educational campuses for the benefit of pollinators. The Bee Campus USA designation recognizes educational campuses that... READ MORE >>

Virginia Living magazine names Randolph a top college for science, math, and technology

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Now on newsstands, the State of Education issue of Virginia Living magazine has named Randolph as one of the state’s top colleges for science, math, and technology for 2015. The College is one of just 15 four-year schools to earn the recognition. In Randolph’s listing, Virginia Living highlights the Randolph Innovative Student Experience (RISE) Program,... READ MORE >>