Indianapolis Explorers Club will cultivate research path and community for undergrads
INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue’s Office of Student and Community Engagement in Indianapolis, in partnership with the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, the College of Science and the College of Engineering, will soon open student applications for the Indianapolis Explorers Club, launching fall 2026. This initiative creates a structured pathway for undergraduates to join faculty-led research projects to develop skills in scholarly inquiry and scientific communication while building academic community.
The semester-based program combines a weekly one-hour seminar with guided research in a faculty lab or research setting. Explorers will also present at Office of Undergraduate Research conferences in Indianapolis or West Lafayette as part of the experience.
“This is about helping students develop into scholars and discovering new knowledge,” said Scotty Secrist, director of student engagement in the Office of Student and Community Engagement in Indianapolis. “We’re creating a matched way for students and faculty to come together so their interests and goals align.”
Modeled on Secrist’s prior work on an undergraduate research project program in West Lafayette that drew hundreds of applications for 35 spots, the Indianapolis launch is expected to be similarly competitive. The inaugural cohort will be limited, with students in any major and from first-year through senior standing eligible to apply. No prior research experience is needed.
Participants will receive a $1,000 semester stipend, issued in two disbursements: after submitting an abstract and after presenting at the end-of-term conference. Faculty mentors receive a $500 project incentive.
Beyond an impressive resume addition for participants, Secrist emphasized the program’s impact on the research community. “Instead of just general belonging — ‘I feel good here’ — this is building scholarly community and scholarly belonging with enduring impact,” he said.
The weekly seminar prepares students to ask strong research questions, readies them for the lab environment and develops their ability to effectively communicate their findings, culminating in abstracts and presentations designed for interdisciplinary audiences. Secrist will provide guidance for writing and submitting abstracts as well as for presenting, in partnership with the faculty mentors, at a conference that completes the program.
Applications for faculty projects are being solicited now, followed by the student application window that runs March 30 until April 24. Matches will be made by a review committee. Returning students may reapply for additional semesters if their project is expanding or meaningfully different, and they will not be required to enroll in the seminar.
“Ultimately this is a pathway for students and faculty to align interests, ask good questions and share discoveries with our scholarly community,” Secrist said.
Faculty project applications are open through March 27.