Research
Be at the center of extraordinary breakthroughs.
Uncovering the story of America’s first settlement. Analyzing cybersecurity’s role in national security. Working throughout the Gulf of Mexico to mitigate one of the worst oil spills in our country’s history. These are a few of the many research opportunities unique to the University of West Florida.
At UWF, research is our way of putting our mind, power and resources to work for the region. Here, scholars, students, business leaders, community members and government experts collaborate on real-world problems. We believe big ideas can become even bigger solutions to local, regional, state and global issues.
Push through limits with us so that we can all move into a brighter future together.
UWF earns high research activity designation from Carnegie Foundation
The University of West Florida was designated a Research 2: High Spending and Doctorate Production institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This is the first time the University has received this reputable classification.
“This recognition highlights the outstanding contributions of our faculty, demonstrating that those engaged in research activities are not only committed but also highly productive in advancing knowledge and innovation,” said Dr. Jaromy Kuhl, UWF provost. “This also demonstrates that our University is excelling not only in enrollment and metrics but also in research.”
As an undergraduate at UWF, you will conduct research reserved for grad students at other universities. Our Explorers Program pairs you with research faculty according to your interests.
We provide dozens of project awards each year to fund your research. We grant 150+ travel awards per year to present that research at national conferences. You can even get paid to conduct research with our Federal Work-Study research assistantships.
Explore Undergraduate Research
UWF graduate programs host a vibrant community of faculty and student scholars from a variety of disciplines who are dedicated to innovative and substantive research.
As a UWF graduate student, you will work closely with our distinguished faculty to conduct substantive research and expand the body of knowledge in your field. In some master’s degree programs, graduate studies and research will culminate in a thesis. In the doctoral degree programs, your graduate studies and research will culminate in a dissertation.
The annual Student Scholar Symposium and Faculty Research Showcase features scholarly and creative works produced through collaboration between UWF students and faculty.
Student Scholar Symposium and Faculty Research Showcase
Four UWF faculty members ranked among world’s Top 2% of Scientists
Four University of West Florida researchers earned a place on Stanford/Elsevier's Top 2% Scientist Rankings lists in 2024 and 2023. The prestigious list identifies the world's leading researchers, representing approximately 2% of all scientists worldwide.
Dr. Jim Spain, research professor in the Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation, Dr. Frank Gilliam, professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Dr. Amitabh Mishra, associate professor in the Department of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, are on the “career-long” list through 2024. Gilliam, Spain and Dr. Allysha Winburn, an associate professor of anthropology landed on the 2023 list released earlier this fall.
In classwork, there are usually just a few set ways to do things. In the lab, when you are presented with a problem, you are not given any steps or sets of directions. It brings creativity into the normally rigid scientific process.
It never crossed my mind that I could travel to the Antarctic and look at interactions among organisms in an extreme environment. I’ve spent a lot of time working with samples from the previous trip, and now I’ll be on the other side—gathering samples, studying growth rates and analyzing what we collect.
Research News
UWF celebrates seventh annual Founders Week beginning April 12
The University of West Florida will honor traditions, engage in the community and celebrate the future of the University during its seventh annual Founders Week, which will be held April 12-17. Founders Week is a weeklong celebration that serves as an opportunity to bring the UWF family together, welcome alumni and visitors to campus and give back to the community.
A $500,000 gift establishes the John W. Merting Family Office of Research and Intellectual Growth at UWF
A $500,000 gift from the Merting Family has established the Merting Family Fellowship Support Endowment, which will fund the John W. Merting Family Office of Research and Intellectual Growth at the University of West Florida. The program will be based in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and recruit and prepare students and faculty universitywide to compete for prestigious fellowship and scholarship opportunities.
UWF students investigate Fort Kirkland to preserve a vital part of Northwest Florida history
The University of West Florida Archaeology Institute is leading the search for Fort Kirkland in Okaloosa County, Florida, thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Department of State. UWF students, faculty, archaeologists, local families and veterans with Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation are working together to study and memorialize the fort.