Case Western Reserve Students in a research lab
Case Western Reserve University's math and science students engage with elite research organizations and renowned academic mentors.

CWRU faculty in math and natural sciences eagerly accept undergraduates, as early as their first year on campus, to join research teams and even to co-author scientific studies. Because of the exposure to an exceptional education and unparalleled opportunities for lab experience, you'll be particularly well-prepared for graduate or professional school and career success.

Facts
#16

in the nation among private universities for federally funded research and development 
National Center for Science and Engineering/ National Science Foundation/Higher Education Research and Development Survey

#13

in the U.S. for commercialization of research
Brookings Institution

#18

in the world for contributions to innovation
Nature Index

10

consecutive years placing first in the MAA mathematics competitions

16

Nobel Prize winners in physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine and economic science in the CWRU community

95%

booths of student work showcased at CES (2019)—more than any other university in the country

Case western reserve university student uses telescope

Research

Well-funded research opportunities take students around the world. More than half of math and science majors are involved in multiple experiential learning and research opportunities, such as:

Chris Carr: Physics and Astronomy

  • Conducted research with Dr. Glenn Starkman, physics, searching for a theorized form of dark matter using Martian seismology.
  • While reviewing deep-field images taken from CWRU’s Burrell Schmidt Telescope, he discovered one of the faintest galaxies ever detected via integrated light. Conducting this research with Dr. Chris Mihos, astronomy, Carr's work was published in the Astrophysical Journal as an undergraduate.

Diane Bernardoni: Evolutionary Biology, Mathematics and Physical Anthropology / Studio Art minor

  • Spent five weeks at the Koobi Fora Field School in Kenya doing running trials with the Daasanach people and learning about field techniques in anthropology.
  • Spent 10 weeks in Ethiopia with anthropology faculty member Yohannes Haile-Selassie, PhD, participating in paleontological surveying and excavating for his ongoing Woranso-Mille project.
Our students

Each Case Western Reserve University student brings their own background and interests to our campus, creating a culture that’s dynamic, diverse and inclusive.

Let them tell you more about themselves.

Some recent award-winning research funded by CWRU’s SOURCE* office

  • Investigating the Mechanisms of Oligodendrocyte  Damage in Hypoxia-Induced White Matter Injury
  • Evaluating the Effects of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in  the Growth, Biomass, and Chlorophyll Production of  Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum)
  • Selective, Reversible Inhibition of Small-Diameter  Axons Using Glucose
  • Extradomain-B Fibronectin as a Biomarker for  Invasive Prostate Cancer

*Support of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors

Case Western Reserve Students in a research lab

Outcomes

Nearly 90% of recent math and science grads are employed or attending graduate/professional school within six months.

Some recent grad school acceptances

  •   Carnegie Mellon University
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Cornell University
  • Dartmouth College
  • Duke University
  • Georgetown University
  •  New York University
  • Northwestern University
  • The Ohio State University
  • Stanford University
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of Michigan

Some recent job placements

  • Amazon

  • Cleveland Clinic
  • Epic
  • Google
  • Lubrizol
  • Microsoft
  • NASA
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Progressive
  • Quality Electrodynamics
  • Sherwin-Williams

Events math & science students love

Pumpkin Drop

  • Test gravity and eat pie—pumpkin, of course! Pumpkins of various sizes are dropped at the same time from Strosacker Auditorium in honor of Galileo’s experiment at the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Biology Student/Faculty Trivia Night

  • An evening of shared fun, food and board games culminates in teams of students against faculty in biology-themed trivia written completely by students.

Humans vs. Zombies

  • Hosted by the Big Games Club, a 10-day long, campus-wide zombie apocalypse simulation. All students are invited to grab a Nerf blaster and join a group of humans or zombies for some intense play—and to raise money for a good cause.
Conditional admission to medical or dental school

Do you have your goals set squarely on medical or dental school? CWRU's highly competitive Pre-Professional Scholars Program (PPSP) grants undergraduate admission and conditional admission to Case Western Reserve's School of Medicine or School of Dental Medicine.

Clubs and organizations for math & science students

With clubs and organizations ranging from Acts of Random Kindness to IMPROVment to the Scuba Club, you’ll find all kinds of ways to pursue your academic goals and personal passions.

A few to check out

  • Big Games Club (Nerf Wars, large-scale snowball fights and the like)
  • Case Amateur Radio Club
  • Cognitive Science Student Organization
  • CWRU Developer Student Club
  • CWRU Electrochemical Society Student Chapter
  • CWRU Geological Society
  • CWRU Science Olympiad Organization
  • CWRU Undergraduate Biochemistry Society
  • Esports Club
  • Math Club
  • Origins Club (evolution, cosmology, astronomy and other origins topics)
  • Physics and Astronomy Club
  • Puzzle Club (jigsaw, word, logic, mechanical, riddles…all kinds!)
  • Robotics Club
  • Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
  • Tabletop Empire (tabletop games like Dominion, Coup, Settlers of Catan, etc.)
  • Women in Physics and Astronomy Club
  • Women in Science and Engineering Roundtable
  • ...and dozens more!