Research at Merrimack

Paving the Way of Tomorrow

Discovery Through Inquiry

Research at Merrimack College is driven by our Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue, and our desire to make life-changing impacts on our community, society and beyond. 

Across the fields of health, engineering and computational sciences, life sciences, human development, education, and the humanities, the scholarly inquiry and discovery taking place at Merrimack is collaborative, innovative and forward-thinking.

An Evolving Research Culture

Faculty are positioned to lead and collaborate across the research ecosystem and contribute to societal knowledge and wisdom. Undergraduate and graduate students have rich opportunities to expand their understanding of their fields of study through exploration in partnership with faculty mentors. 

As the research culture at Merrimack College evolves, and progress continues toward the institutional goal of achieving R2 status in the Carnegie Classification, so too does the impact and influence our community of scholars has on fostering a just, peaceful and sustainable world.

Our Research Partners

  • UConn
  • Boston University
  • Pennington Biomedical Research Center
  • UMass Chan Medical School
  • Tufts University
  • Columbia University
  • The University of Memphis
  • The University of Kansas Medical Center
  • Saint Louis University
  • Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  • Texas Tech University
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • University of Kentucky
  • University of Wisconsin – Madison
  • NC State University
  • Union College
  • Wayne State University
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Drexel University
  • University of Alaska
  • USC University of Southern California
  • Mass General Brigham
  • Oregon State University

Research by the Numbers

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Student Research Experiences

Hear from some of our undergraduate & graduate students about their work.

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In Research Grants Awarded

This is only the starting point for sponsored research at Merrimack College.

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Peer Reviewed Search Publications

Our faculty are busy constantly conducting research to advance our community.

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For Education & Community Service

Our faculty play an important role in the national & global research ecosystem.

Hubs of Research, Innovation and Learning at Merrimack

OB Class - Janet Ierardi

Center for Health Inclusion, Research and Practice (CHIRP)

CHIRP focuses on closing the gaps in systematic health disparities that adversely affect people from historically marginalized groups.

elab2

Entrepreneurship Lab (E-Lab)

The new Entrepreneurship Lab provides the Merrimack College community with a space for innovation and problem-solving.

Food Justice Symposium presenter standing in front of attendees and a large screen

FOOD JUSTICE RESEARCH & ACTION CLUSTER (FJRAC)

FJRAC promotes research, practice and policy to reduce food justice disparities in our communities.

Bacteria culture

MITOCURE LAB

The MitoCure lab conducts basic research to advance our understanding of metabolic illnesses that come with aging.

Merrimack College students volunteer at the Greater Boston Food Bank in Dorchester, MA Friday September 2, 2011.

NOURISH LAB

NOURISH focuses on school nutrition, fast food, nutrition policy, and cognition and academic performance.

Laura Kurdziel working with students in Psychology labs

PSYCHOLOGY LABS

Learn more about the various psychology labs which range from learning, memory and sleep, to conditions like awareness and learning.

Student doing work on an iPad.

THRIVE LAB

At Translational Health Research and Innovation for Vulnerable ChildrEn and Teens (THRIVE), laboratory research is adapted into activities that both kids and their caregivers can feel good about, like video games that require physical activity.

Research Ecosystem

Learn about some of the ways we support our faculty members and student’s research.

Resources, manuals and other supporting literature are continually being created by the Office of Sponsored Programs for faculty to use in their research projects. The team is also available to answer any questions about the research process at Merrimack College. To access any of these resources or to learn more, please visit the OSP webpage.

The Strategic Academic Research Trajectory Package (START) offers faculty members the opportunity to receive support for their research. Each selected member receives ongoing support in developing their research strategies, funding to use during their research, and administrative assistance in writing grants and submitting applications.

 

Students who aspire to delve further in their pursuit of knowledge can do so at Merrimack College. We encourage our students’ love of learning and inquiry, and we work to give them any tools they might require along the road. Our academic members are highly qualified and eager to support our students as they conduct research to increase their understanding of the world around them.

Merrimack is now part of over 7,000 institutions who comprise the REDCap Consortium. REDCap is a secure web application for building and managing online surveys and databases. The software is specifically designed to support data capture for research studies and operations. Faculty interested in utilizing REDCap or learning more about the software should reach out to redcap@merrimack.edu.

Merrimack's research teams have partnered with more than 20+ national and global institutions.

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

"I work primarily within the philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and aesthetics. My focus is on embodied cognition and interactive processes. Given these foci, I often investigate both the cognitive and aesthetic aspects of dance. My current research looks at group role formation (leaders, followers, naysayers, lurkers) within creative group work."
Assistant Professor of Practice, Honors Program
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"The main goal of my current research is to determine biologic markers and patients' characteristics that can hopefully be used to help advance personalized medicine for people with endometriosis and identify patients who may not experience pain relief after an endometriosis-related surgery."
Assistant Professor, Nutrition & Public Health
Amy Shafrir
"My research centers on the identification, evaluation, and dissemination of effective school nutrition policies and initiatives to address diet-related disparities, reduce the risk of obesity, and improve academic outcomes."
Director of CHIRP and Professor of Nutrition and Public Health
Julia Cohen
CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Showcasing Our Research

Merrimack holds two events in the spring to showcase the research our students, faculty & staff are developing.

For students, the Research & Creative Achievement Conference is a way to gain experience presenting their findings at an academic conference held in the MPR.

For faculty & staff, Tolle Lege is our annual event that celebrates the creative spirit and scholarly research of its faculty and staff, honoring all their published works from the previous academic year.

Upcoming Conferences

Where will research take our faculty next?

Faculty reading during research bootcamp

Political Science Association Conference - Glasglow, Scotland

  • March 25-27, 2024
  • Glasglow, Scotland

Broadcast Education Association (BEA) - Las Vegas, Nevada

  • April 13-16, 2024
  • Las Vegas, Nevada

International Nursing Research Congress - Singapore

  • Aug. 6-8. 2024
  • Singapore

Faculty Research Bootcamp - Save The Date

Wednesday, May 22 – Thursday, May 23, 2024

Merrimack College’s Faculty Research Bootcamp is an opportunity for faculty to join their peers at the bootcamp for a broad overview of Merrimack’s research resources and proposal process. Expect to find engaging presentations from a variety of speakers, diverse perspectives from across campus and detailed information on how to manage research endeavors. These presentations and workshops offer opportunities for faculty regardless of research experience and funding sources.