Research Opportunities

We are proud that our graduates leave WSU and go on to become innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders in all areas of the pharmacy profession.

Your future success is our mission today, and one of the ways we can help you to achieve your career goals is by offering opportunities for WSU student pharmacists to get involved in research.

As a pharmacist you will use the scientific method in many aspects of your job. The traditional role of pharmacy is based on the fundamentals of brainstorming, identifying opportunities, tracking metrics, and reporting. Being able to think like a researcher is a highly sought-after skill with employers, whether is it listed on a job description or not, and research experience will help you to be successful in your career.

Types of Research

Basic: Systematic study geared toward increasing the general scientific knowledge base. For example, how a system runs, how a cell functions, what the cause and effect of a specific drug is. According to the National Science Foundation, this type of research explores the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind.

Translational: Application of basic research findings into pharmacy and other health care practice to achieve positive health outcomes, healthier individuals, and healthy communities. This is often explained as “bench-to-bedside” or “bedside-to-community” research.

Clinical: Directly involves human subjects, or on material of human origin. The differentiating factor for clinical research is the direct interaction with people or groups of people. This includes patient-oriented research, epidemiological and behavioral studies, and outcomes and health services research.

Educational: Focuses basic and translational methods on understanding human learning processes and develop new tools and methods for enhancing educational outcomes.

WSU Grand Challenges

Washington State University is deploying its land-grant mission to achieve broad societal impact in today’s world through focusing our fundamental and applied research strengths into the areas of sustaining health, sustainable resources, opportunity and equity, smart systems, and national security. WSU pharmacy faculty contribute to this mission through research initiatives that protect, promote and improve human health. Your participation in research enables you to see firsthand how to advance knowledge—and enjoy the adventure of discovery! More on Grand Challenges at research.wsu.edu.

Pharmacy Research Opportunities

You may not realize just how many ways you can gain exposure to research at WSU. Many of our pharmacy faculty are nationally-renowned researchers and well connected within the professional landscape. This means the wide variety of research projects you can get involved in allows you to strategically align your research experience with your personal pharmacy interests and future career goals.

Independent study projects (electives)

We offer multiple research electives. These electives are only one semester long and are a great way to gain exposure to research in your field of interest.

499 Independent Study – may include studies in technical or specialized problems, selection and analysis of specified readings, development of a creative project, or field experiences. (1-4 credits per semester, maximum of 12 credits)

599 Project – laboratory research, clinical research or comprehensive review of selected subjects. (2 credits per course, not variable. Maximum of 4 credits)

Read more about the difference between a 499 and 599 project »

Next steps:

1. Find a faculty research project and gain approval from the researcher to participate. Or bring your idea for a research project to a faculty mentor.
2. Discuss your elective with your advisor.
3. Your faculty mentor for the project contacts the pharmacy student services office and submits required information.
4. Start your project.