THE VALUE OF A
RESEARCH INSTITUTION:
WHAT'S IT WORTH TO YOU?

What Does It Mean to Be a Research Institution?

As you’ve read up on the University of Pittsburgh and other schools, you’ve probably come across the phrase research institution. Sometimes you’ll see research university or research school instead, but these terms all mean the same thing. Essentially, a research institution is one that has made conducting research a vital part of its mission and goals

At research institutions, leadership actively encourages, prioritizes, and supports faculty and student research. Research funding may be sought and provided by the school itself or through external organizations like government agencies, industry organizations, and private foundations. School researchers regularly collaborate with outside organizations as well. Research institutions can range in size, focus, selectivity, and programs offered, but they all share this focus and commitment to research.

Faculty at research institutions are actively engaged in research and publishing throughout their careers. This research is often supported by students. Graduate students sometimes dedicate a large portion of their studies to assisting and expanding on faculty research, but they’re usually not the only students involved.

Opportunities also exist for undergraduate students to participate and assist in faculty research, in some cases as early as their first year of college. In many research schools, master’s degree, doctoral, and post-doctoral students lead their own research under the guidance and oversight of a faculty mentor. At research schools like Pitt, undergraduates can pursue their own research experiences as well—and gain valuable skills, insights, and experience in the process.

What are the Benefits of Attending a Research University?

• 1. Learn from faculty with cutting-edge knowledge.
  • Research universities have numerous distinguished, high-profile faculty who are leaders in their domains. When you attend a research institution, your instructors will be actively contributing to their fields and passionate about advancing and shaping the future of their industries. Their expertise will be shared with you in your courses as well as through various open lectures and events held online and on campus. In fact, because faculty are directly involved in research as it happens, you’ll be able to learn about the latest discoveries and theories before they hit the textbooks.
• 2. Study and explore more specialized fields.
  • Attending a university where specialized knowledge abounds will give you the opportunity to explore more niche topics and choose from a wide variety of majors, minors, certificates and courses. For example, at Pitt, the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences alone offers 100+ majors, minors, and certificates along with 1,000+ courses. Because the faculty designing and leading these courses are at the forefront of their fields, students are able to learn about new and emerging areas that are unavailable or hard to find at other institutions.
• 3. Access top-of-the-line facilities built to support university research.
  • Doing world-class research requires world-class facilities. For you, this means you’ll have access to bigger, better libraries and labs with state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Whether used for classes, coursework, events, or independent research, these facilities will be beneficial across your undergraduate journey. Depending on your future plans, you may also gain exposure to the technology and tools you’ll be using in your career or graduate studies.
• 4. Network with current and future industry leaders and changemakers.
  • Research institutions are filled with inspiring, hard-working faculty members and graduate students who can serve as your mentors and role models. In many programs, you can meet and interact with industry professionals as well. Take the time to make connections with all of these people. Not only can you learn from them, but they can offer professional and academic support, from providing guidance and advice to serving as references. They can introduce you to topics and ideas you wouldn’t otherwise encounter. They can invite you to collaborate and get involved with their business and research. Make a good impression and they’ll introduce you to more people who can help you pursue your goals and dreams.
• 5. Join or take the lead on research projects.
  • As an undergraduate at a research school, you can participate in or even lead research projects, from small-scale course assignments to in-depth capstone research experiences. Beyond being fun and interesting, undergraduate research can be academically, professionally, and personally rewarding. It lets you contribute your skills and knowledge to make an impact on the world today—and sets the stage for you to continue doing so in the years ahead. Below, we explain in more detail the value of getting involved in undergraduate research.

What are the Benefits of Doing Undergraduate Research?

• 1. Find your path.
  • Doing research allows you to start exploring fields and arenas that excite you. These experiences can shape your future, as you discover where you want to focus your career or your future academic studies. You’ll also spend a lot of time with other people who share those interests, building relationships that can help you down the line. You can connect with other Pitt students on our social media pages and start talking with your fellow classmates about research topics you might have mutual interests in! With some research projects spawning new entrepreneurial ventures, you might have the chance to get in on the ground floor or start your own business or product line with the help of knowledgeable mentors.
• 2. Acquire experience and accolades.
  • Another benefit of doing research as an undergraduate is acquiring valuable experience for your resume and grad school applications. Students who decide to pursue graduate school and research will already know what to expect and be ready to hit the ground running. Getting publications to your name, participating in conferences, and receiving recognition and awards also looks good to employers and grad school admissions offices. Competitive graduate programs may prefer applicants with undergraduate research experience because it reflects your interest and expertise. Plus, when you attend a well-known research university, grad school admission teams (and employers!) will immediately have a baseline understanding of the caliber of your education and research experiences.
• 3. Build in-demand professional skills.
  • Even if you don’t pursue grad school, conducting research lets you build skills that translate well to the workplace. The research process teaches you how to find, assess, and validate information. It strengthens your critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and analytical skills. It forces you to practice communicating your thought processes and findings in writing, speech, and visual formats. You also develop the ability to advocate for and defend your work. All of this will help you to enter your career equipped to impress employers and colleagues.

What Research Happens at Pitt?

At Pitt, innovation and breakthroughs happen all the time. We bring over $1 billion in external research funding to Pennsylvania each year and are among the top US institutions for National Institutes of Health funding. In the last 5 years, over 83 spinoff companies have been developed at Pitt. We are ranked in the top 20 in patents granted universities and home to 5 National Medal of Science winners, 4 Macarthur ‘Genius’ award winners, and 8 National Academy of Sciences members. Pitt is also a proud member of the Association of American Universities, a group of leading research universities across the US, and of the prestigious Association of Research Libraries.

Across our schools and disciplines, Pitt undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students have a vast array of research opportunities that meet their interests and aspirations. As a first-year, you can get involved in research as early as your first term. Our Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship also offers many systems and resources to support students, faculty, and community members in areas like intellectual property management, mentoring and funding, startup formation, and more.

To find out more about how researchers at Pitt are shaping the future—and the research opportunities that would be available to you as a Pitt student—visit pitt.edu/research today