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For many �������ý��Ƶ students, summers are more than a break from classes; they’re a chance to engage in intensive, hands-on research that bridges classroom learning with real-world application.  

This past summer, a diverse group of Lawrentians—83 students from 19 departments across the college and conservatory—immersed themselves in a variety of research projects, pushing their boundaries and gaining invaluable skills. Funded by the generosity of donors, their experiences highlight the incredible opportunities available to undergraduates who choose to spend their summers in pursuit of discovery.

“Working with �������ý��Ƶ faculty on their research over the summer is a truly distinctive opportunity for our students,” said Beth Zinsli, associate provost and adjunct associate professor of art. “In addition to a greater depth of knowledge in a specific discipline, this summer research helps them sharpen key skills needed for successful careers in their fields after graduation.”

This is a glimpse of this year’s summer research opportunities, showcasing the research opportunities at �������ý��Ƶ and the transformative impact it has on student learning and professional growth. 

Interested in pursuing a research project next summer? Summer 2026 opportunities will be posted the last Friday of January 2026. Applications will be due by the third Friday of February 2026. Now is the time to start exploring your options. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Summer Research Coordinator (resesarchcoordinator@lawrence.edu), your advisor, or a professor whose interests align with your own.

Art History: Highlighting the Permanent Collection

The permanent collection at the Wriston Art Galleries at �������ý��Ƶ boasts over 6,000 works of art, a testament to the generosity of the college’s alumni and friends. However, less than two percent of the collection is typically on display in any given year.

To help showcase more of this vast collection, Val Muzzarelli, a junior art history major from Hazel Park, MI, took on a research project to curate a year-long exhibition. Led by Beth Zinsli, associate provost and adjunct associate professor of art, the project began last year with Wren Chlystek ‘25, also an art history major. Muzzarelli picked up the mantle when Chlystek graduated.

“They (Chlystek) left a really good foundation and gave me a really good place to start,” Muzzarelli said. “It’s been more collaborative than just me.” 

Throughout the summer, Muzzarelli has been researching, examining, and drawing connections among the artwork to create a cohesive exhibition of about 90 pieces. The exhibit will be organized around four core themes:

1. Light, More Light! 

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1. The Unknown 

According to Madison Pierson, the collections and gallery assistant at Wriston, “The Unknown” highlights future research opportunities for pieces whose stories are not yet known.

“Many of the pieces came to us before this building (Wriston) existed,” Pierson said. “The paper trails for some of those early gifts in particular may be less thorough.”

An unofficial fifth theme, “Greatest Hits,” will also be featured, showcasing some of the collection’s most popular pieces, including Louise Bourgeois prints and the dancing bear statues.

The exhibition aims to expose students, faculty, staff, and the community to the full breadth of the �������ý��Ƶ permanent collection. If successful, this type of exhibition will become a regular event. Pierson hopes that continuing the project in future years will allow faculty to incorporate the works into their lesson plans.

“Getting more things in the gallery also helps expose students for research but also our faculty to the wide variety of things we have in our collections,” Pierson said. “There are so many who might not know that these collections exist or the breadth of the collection.”  

The exhibition is set to open in the back gallery on Friday, September 26, with a reception planned for October. It will remain on display for the entire academic year. In a related project, Alex Whaley, a junior English literature major, will curate an exhibition in the front gallery featuring works from the Earl and Aubrey Richmond Collection of Rare Books.

Biology: Prairie Restoration 

After their freshman year at �������ý��Ƶ, 5th-year senior Laura Friestad got an internship at Lake Forest Open Lands Association in Lake Forest, Illinois, as a restoration ecologist intern. While there, they learned how to identify invasive and native species, collected seeds, and learned all about ecological restoration; in the end, they fell in love with the work.

“I was like, I can’t spend the rest of my life not doing plant stuff,” said Friestad. “So I decided to put that more into what I’m doing at �������ý��Ƶ.” 

The experience led Friestad, a clarinet performance and environmental science major, to consider ways they could help improve the ecological landscaping on campus. While brainstorming ideas for their junior year capstone class, they decided they wanted to make a prairie on campus.  

The hill behind Hiett Hall presented a natural place to start, being covered in invasive species. They went to work removing invasive species from the plot and collecting seeds from native species around the city of Appleton. They visited Bubolz Nature Preserve and also searched older areas of the city; less development means it was easier to find existing populations of native species.

From there, they would make a seed mix, weigh it out, and spread it over the hill. A year later, Friestad is continuing their work through a summer research project with Alyssa Hakes, associate professor of biology, along with Rylee Polanka, a junior environmental science major. The project allows them to study prairie restoration methods, visit restored prairie sites, identify invasive and native plant species, and develop a plan on monitoring and restoring prairies and other Wisconsin ecosystems

“We are trying to overpower the invasive seed bank with our seed bank, and that means a lot of digging up the invasive seed species, cutting the seed heads, removing the seeds, and trying to get as few of those seeds staying and more of our seeds going in,” Friestad said, “and hopefully, eventually, create a self-sustaining ecosystem.”

A seed bank can refer to the seeds already in the soil, some of which can persist for years. Prairie plants flower, produce seeds, and appear to die at the end of the season. However, their roots are still alive under the soil and can return season after season.

“That’s one of my absolute favorite things about the prairie —how they put so much into the roots,” Friestad said.

The Conservatory: Brass Pedagogy  

Joey O’Connor, a senior trumpet performance and music education major, had the opportunity to collaborate with assistant professor Nadje Noordhuis in editing interview transcripts for Noordhuis’s PhD dissertation, “The Teaching Philosophy of Laurie Frink.”

O’Connor was able to explore the teaching philosophy of brass legend Laurie Frink and uncover best practices for future educators. The dataset comprised over two dozen interviews with Frink’s former students and colleagues and the students of her renowned teacher, Carmine Caruso.

The Conservatory: LGBTuben, The Lodge, & Meditations 

Ann Ellsworth, associate professor of music, led several summer research opportunities tied to her involvement with the �������ý��Ƶ Graduate Bayreuth Tuben Quintet (LGBTuben), an ensemble with roots at �������ý��Ƶ. Ellsworth brought together �������ý��Ƶ musicians and talented tuben players from across the country to create music rooted in inclusivity, visibility, and diversity.

LGBTuben was recently was recently gifted a lodge on 20 acres in New York’s Adirondack State Park, which the group plans to transform into an artist retreat. This space will serve as both a meeting place and an income generator to support the ensemble’s scholarship and outreach programs.

Aimee Patch, a senior music education major from Greenville, WI, collaborated with Ellsworth on managing the lodge. Patch traveled to the lodge this summer with LGBTuben to research similar nonprofits and study how a musical nonprofit can operate.

“My research looked at similar nonprofit organizations such as this to see what models we might adopt, and then also checking out a lot of the zoning laws and building laws for the Adirondack Park,” Patch said. “It’s such a beautiful space.”

Patch appreciated the opportunity to see a lot of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making music happen.

“Being able to sit in on group meetings and see what happens behind closed doors and official decisions being made wasn’t something you usually see,” Patch said. “To sit there as a student, as an intern, was really incredible. To see how these decisions were made and debated and decided as a group was really powerful.”

Junior Leo Rodda, a music major from Appleton, WI, also visited the lodge this summer to continue his research with Ellsworth. Last year, he arranged music by Arvo Pärt and John Cage for horn and some clarinet to create 10-30 minute ‘meditations’ that can be used for bilateral music.

Bilateral music can be used in different therapies by providing auditory stimulation where sounds alternate between the left and right ears. The music keeps the brain activated with continuous sound.

“We’ve been using a lot of minimalist music, so the point is to listen for the small things that change,” Rodda said. “It’s to get you to mindfully pay attention.”

This summer, he collaborated with Ellsworth to finalize the digital scores and record, edit, and master the new album. Although the original plan was to record in New York, audio issues led them to re-record in-house with Brent Hauer, director of conservatory productions.

Rodda is currently selecting the best takes for the album, which will be released this fall. Additionally, a performance by the horn and clarinet studios is in the works for November 2025.

“The people there (at the lodge) and the environment that was created there were so awesome,” Rodda said. “Everyone was so accepting and passionate about what they did; to me, that was the best part. That is something that I see at �������ý��Ƶ as well; you don’t see many other places.”

Ethnic Studies: Sibling Bonds 

Seniors Gabby DeBoer (psychology), Owen Bakker (psychology and double bass performance), and Faith Onukaogu (business & entrepreneurship and global studies) worked with Estéfani Marín, assistant professor of ethnic studies, in studying sibling bonds. The three research fellows dove into interviews, coding and analyzing data to understand how siblings generate and transmit resources in the educational context. A particular focus was placed on Latin American and Asian American families.

Although Onukaogu is not an anthropology student, she said participating in research outside of her area of study gave her a unique experience. 

“Being at a liberal arts school gives you the opportunity to try things you usually wouldn’t,” Onukaogu said. “The research helped me learn some soft skills, like time management and professionalism, and also cultivate my leadership skills and communication skills. It also helped me connect with professors who are really good resources.”