Research
Research at the Department of Natural Sciences provides a well-rounded experience that extends beyond traditional classroom learning
Faculty research
Leading Innovative Studies
Our faculty are at the forefront of discovery, continuously conducting research across a diverse spectrum of scientific disciplines. They also play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of scientists by providing invaluable mentored research opportunities that allow hands-on experience in cutting-edge laboratories and out in the field.

Gain sought-after skills
Undergraduate Research
Our students have the opportunity to build their skills with hands-on research opportunities in one of the many labs run by our faculty.
Skill Development
Get hands-on experience, interpret data, and apply theory to real-world scientific investigation.

Lab & Field Research Experience
Gain practical skills in experimental design and scientific techniques.

Career Preparation
Build a strong resume for graduate school and future careers in science, health, medicine, and more.

Research opportunities
Jumpstart Your Career
Cutting-edge research takes place year-round, and there are multiple ways to get involved in labs in the Department and off campus. Faculty do research on a wide range of topics, and student researchers are key to this work. We offer an intensive summer program in which students are paid to work with faculty and conduct research. Students of all experience levels have opportunities to get involved.
- Academic-year research
- Summer research
- Outside research
- Seminars
- Fellowships

Research Resources
Explore

Human Subject Research
Learn about our rigorous system of oversight for research involving human subjects.

Vertebrate Animal Research
Learn about the rules and regulations in collecting data from living non-human vertebrates.

Bernard Field Station
Located on 86 acres of natural habitat, the Bernard Biological Field Station is a hub for ecological research.

Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California (RRC)
The RRC at Pitzer College aims to increase socio-ecological justice and sustainability.

Firestone Center for Restoration Ecology
Engage with some of the most biodiverse tropical forests in Costa Rica at Pitzer’s Firestone Center.

Research Classes
Natural Sciences I and II are for-credit classes for students doing research.
What our students say
Hands-on Learning
“Having your own project in a lab makes you want to get into a lab, to see progress, to nurture this thing that you’re helping build—knowing that you’re physically doing it with your own hands is the most rewarding thing.”
Max Richmond PZ ’23,
Biology major

Advanced instrumentation & learning spaces
High-Tech Labs
The Nucleus, the Department of Natural Sciences’ home base, was completed in the Fall of 2024. The newly expanded, 135,000 square-foot building offers state-of-the-art classrooms, tutoring rooms, and collaborative spaces. Features and instrumentation include:
- Rooftop scientific greenhouse
- High-tech teaching laboratories
- Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
- Portable X-ray fluorescent (XRF) analyzers

Recent Research Awards
AWARDS
Our faculty and students get funded for their groundbreaking research.
NIH Grant
2024
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NSF CAREER Grant
2024
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NIH Grant
2024
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Barry Goldwater Scholarship
2024
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NSF Fellowships
2023
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We Act Grant
2022
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NSF Grant
2021
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