Richter Faculty-Led Research Abroad Projects

Through the Richter program, Occidental students have the opportunity to engage in international projects of scholarly merit across all disciplines that promote cross-cultural engagement.

Generously funded by the Joseph Edward Richter trust, which maintains the Paul K. and Evalyn E. Cook Richter Memorial Fund, Richter Faculty-led Research Abroad projects have sent ��鱨վ students and their faculty mentors on research expeditions in Mexico, Scotland, Ecuador, Jamaica, Iceland, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Italy, Phillippines, Nepal, and Thailand.

Occidental’s rigorous Richter Faculty-led Research Program provides students the opportunity to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills beyond the classroom through mentored research opportunities and creative projects. Student participants will partner with cohorts to pursue individual or joint projects that together will answer an overarching research topic guided by their faculty mentor.

a group of three ��鱨վ students poses in Nepal

Pursuing Creative Projects in Nepal

Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Culture Vivian Lin took three Occidental students to Nepal for a Faculty-Led Richter project. Read about their experiences helping local women use media to share their personal stories.

Read student blogs

a brown and green lizard on black lava rocks in the Galapagos Islands

Occidental Students Research in the Galápagos

Occidental students conducted research on the Galápagos Islands alongside Assistant Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy Karla Peña in May 2026 thanks to a Richter Research Grant for faculty-led research. Learn about how they spent their time abroad!

Proposals are developed by faculty and with the support of their mentors, students conduct work that has a direct impact on communities around the world. By working in tandem with faculty, students develop mentorship connections that transcend the classroom environment. These partnerships have long-term impacts on students’ academic and professional careers.

Successful candidates are fully funded to do research for three weeks over the summer or winter break. While abroad, recipients work full time alongside their faculty mentor. Back on campus, some students will present their projects at the Occidental Undergraduate Research Conference or other Richter-focused events. Students have presented their projects at outside conferences and often utilize their work for senior comps projects. Many Richter scholars successfully pursue graduate fellowships and graduate degrees overseas.

Three students in the jungle of Costa Rica conducting research

“I have experienced academic, personal, and professional enrichment that I will carry with me beyond graduation. My time at La Selva Biological Station allowed me to continue learning about tropical ecology, conservation, insects, and microbial symbioses in real time, while deepening my connections with faculty, peers, and Costa Rican collaborators.”

Bianca Dal Bo ’24

Biology major; Richter Scholar, Costa Rica

student in a lab with a neuroscience cap and wires on their head

“I am forever thankful to have had this opportunity to learn so much about EEG preprocessing and Thai culture. These interactions helped advance my EEG data collection skills and professionalism in the lab. I was exposed to interactions with participants from different linguistic backgrounds, and I was able to learn how to quickly build strong team dynamics in a new work environment.”

Ella Čolić ’23

Biology major; Richter Scholar, Thailand

Contact International Programs

McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Johnson 102

Phone: (323) 259-2533

Fax: (323) 341-4976

ipo@oxy.edu

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