Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ

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divers underwater looking at sea life

Generously funded by the Joseph Edward Richter trust, which maintains the Paul K. and Evalyn E. Cook Richter Memorial Fund, Occidental students have the opportunity to engage in international projects of scholarly merit across all disciplines that promote cross-cultural engagement.

Richter Faculty-led Research Abroad projects have sent Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ students and their faculty mentors on research expeditions in Mexico, Scotland, Ecuador, Jamaica, Iceland, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Italy, Phillippines, Nepal, and Thailand.

a group of three Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ students poses in Nepal

Pursuing Creative Projects in Nepal

Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Culture Vivian Lin took three Occidental students to Nepal for a Faculty-Led Richter project. Read about their experiences helping local women use media to share their personal stories.

Occidental’s rigorous Richter Faculty-led Research Program provides students the invaluable opportunity to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills beyond the classroom through a variety of mentored research opportunities and creative projects. Students participating in faculty-led experiences will partner with cohorts to pursue individual or joint projects that together will answer an overarching research topic guided by their faculty mentor.

Proposals are developed by faculty and with the support of their mentors, students conduct groundbreaking work that has a direct impact on communities around the world. By working in tandem with our faculty, students develop connections with mentors that transcend the classroom environment. These partnerships have long-term impacts on their academic and professional careers. In alignment with our mission, Occidental champions internationally focused work that expands our students’ understanding of their place in the larger world.

Successful candidates are fully funded to do research for three weeks over the summer or winter break. While abroad, recipients work full time alongside their faculty mentor on their project. Upon return to campus, some students will present their projects at the Occidental Undergraduate Research Conference or other Richter-focused events. Research abroad scholars have successfully presented their projects at outside conferences and have utilized their work for senior comprehensive projects. Many Richter scholars successfully pursue graduate fellowships and graduate degrees overseas.

Three students in the jungle of Costa Rica conducting research

“I have experienced academic, personal, and professional enrichment that I will carry with me beyond graduation. My time at La Selva Biological Station allowed me to continue learning about tropical ecology, conservation, insects, and microbial symbioses in real time, while deepening my connections with faculty, peers, and Costa Rican collaborators.â€

Bianca Dal Bo ’24
Biology major; Richter Scholar, Costa Rica
student in a lab with a neuroscience cap and wires on their head

“I am forever thankful to have had this opportunity to learn so much about EEG preprocessing and Thai culture. These interactions helped advance my EEG data collection skills and professionalism in the lab. I was exposed to interactions with participants from different linguistic backgrounds, and I was able to learn how to quickly build strong team dynamics in a new work environment.â€

Ella Čolić ’23
Biology major; Richter Scholar, Thailand
Contact International Programs
McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson 102