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
The numbers listed below are for 2022-2023.
Student Research Experiences
Hear from some of our undergraduate & graduate students about their work.
In Research Grants Awarded
This is only the starting point for sponsored research at Merrimack College.
Peer Reviewed Search Publications
From January 2022 to June 2023, our faculty have been busy conducting research.
For Education & Community Service
Our faculty play an important role in the national & global research ecosystem.
Our Research Labs & Centers
CHIRP
The Center for Health Inclusion, Research and Practice focuses on closing the gaps in systematic health disparities that adversely affect people from historically marginalized groups.
MITOCURE LAB
The MitoCure lab conducts basic research to advance our understanding of metabolic illnesses that come with aging.
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.
PSYCHOLOGY LABS
Learn more about the various psychology labs which range from learning, memory and sleep, to conditions like awareness and learning.
Entrepreneurship Lab (E-Lab)
The new Entrepreneurship Lab provides the Merrimack College community with a space for innovation and problem-solving.
NOURISH LAB
NOURISH focuses on school nutrition, fast food, nutrition policy, and cognition and academic performance.
Research Ecosystem
Learn about some of the ways we support our faculty members and students’ 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's research teams have partnered with more than 20+ national and global institutions.
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?
European Consortium of Political Research - Prague, Czechia
- Sept. 4-8, 2023
- Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Future Directions: Physics-based Ground Motion Modeling
- Oct. 10-13, 2023
- Vancouver, British Columbia
National Communication Association - National Harbor, Maryland
- Nov. 16-19, 2023
- National Harbor, Maryland
Discovery in Action - Research News
Keep up to date on research news at Merrimack.
Furthering Fitness For Law Enforcement
In addition to increasing the pipeline of law enforcement professionals earning their master’s degrees, student officers in the Merrimack College Police Academy (MCPA) are helping to set new health, physical training and recruitment standards for future police officers across Massachusetts.
The Science of Better Sleep
From working as an entry-level biomathematical programmer to becoming the principal investigator on two National Institutes of Health grants, Melissa St. Hilaire’s relationship with Brigham and Women’s Hospital has proven fruitful both professionally and in the field of circadian rhythm research.
Understanding Earthquakes
Associate Professor James Kaklamanos is examining the ways to improve how experts estimate earthquake ground motion and better inform engineering design to minimize structural damage.
The Nutrition of School Lunch
Google Alerts led Professor Juliana Cohen to research what would ultimately be funded by the National Institutes of Health.
