What comes to mind first when you think of undergraduate research?

Lab coats?

Test tubes?

Microscopes?

That’s exactly what I used to imagine when I thought about undergraduate research—and for a long time, I assumed that was all it could be.

It wasn’t until I settled in to my degree in History at the University of Denver that I realized how much broader undergraduate research truly is. Research is not limited to labs and experiments; research can be writing, presentations, storytelling, and archival work.

For me, research became a mode of connecting both history and the Denver community in a personal and impactful way. Through the Department of History, I had the opportunity to participate in research focused on veterans and military history.

One project in particular, More Than a Headstone, shifted my understanding of what research can really mean. Started by the Veterans Legacy Program in collaboration with the university, the project aims to expand public awareness and education about veterans’ stories and experiences, often highlighting individuals and communities whose histories have been overlooked or silenced.

As part of this program, I conducted extensive primary-source research on U.S. veterans buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery. I explored archival records, newspaper articles, and oral histories to piece together each veteran’s story. From these sources, I wrote and edited biographies that were ultimately published on the More Than a Headstone website. These biographies serve as acts of memorialization and recognition while also contributing to public education.

This experience showed me that research within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is not only possible, but also collaborative, creative, and deeply personal. It was incredibly rewarding and completely changed my perspective on undergraduate research.

For students who may feel that research doesn’t apply to their field of study, I encourage you to look beyond conventional expectations. Undergraduate research takes many forms and it offers an opportunity not just to learn and grow, but to make a lasting and meaningful impact.

Written by: Katie Mittelstadt