Research in the Combined Degree
When I first toured Tufts, I remember hearing an admissions counselor describe it as a Tier One research university. At the time, that sounded impressive but completely unrelated to what I thought I wanted to study. Research, to me, seemed reserved for labs in biology or chemistry—not something that applied to my future as an Engineering Psychology and Studio Art major. I even remember asking my mom, how could research possibly be relevant to a combined degree?
But since becoming a student here, I’ve seen how deeply research is embedded in the Tufts experience. Not only am I involved in research, but so are most of my friends. Students here don’t just work in labs—we’re conducting interviews, prototyping systems, designing interactive experiences, and asking questions that span disciplines. I even received the Dean’s Research Award with a friend to fund a collaborative art-based research project. Research at Tufts isn’t confined to the traditional sciences—it’s expansive, creative, and deeply personal.
To demystify what research looks like for combined degree students a bit, I talked to two of my friends who are doing incredibly cool work across disciplines.
Sathvika is a biopsychology and studio art student whose research journey began with curiosity about how classroom concepts translated into real-world contexts like medicine and drug development. She reached out to a PI at UConn Health who became an important mentor, encouraging her to dive into neuroimmunology research. Over time, she went from learning basic lab skills to designing and leading her own experiment, even introducing tissue imaging techniques that contributed to a publication. Through this process, she discovered how her creative thinking enhanced her scientific work, and how collaboration—not isolation—is at the heart of meaningful research.
Andie, a computer science and studio art student, was drawn to research for its practical applications. From programming LIDAR sensors to building VR training simulations for medical professionals, her work has helped her see how technical skills can be used to make a difference in people’s lives. She’s also exploring creative computing—visualizing synesthetic experiences using layered music and visuals—where her art and tech skills intersect seamlessly. These projects have pushed her to pick up new tools quickly and taught her to lead with purpose and adaptability.
Their stories reflect what I’ve come to believe: research at Tufts isn’t about fitting into a mold. It’s about expanding the definition of what research can be.
This mindset has deeply shaped my own research journey. I’m currently working with the Idea Lab on an experimental project that reimagines how we design products using machine learning and human cognition. Our goal is to create a web-based design evolution system that allows users to mentally imagine a product—like a mug—and then iteratively refine computer-generated models until the results align with their vision. It’s a collaboration between students in Human Factors Engineering and Computer Science, combining product design, cognitive science, drawing, and AI.
This project is a perfect example of how research at Tufts blends disciplines in surprising and meaningful ways. It’s taught me how powerful it can be to bring a designer’s intuition into conversation with a computer scientist’s logic. And like Sathvika and Andie, I’ve come to appreciate how research is less about finding answers and more about asking better questions, being comfortable with ambiguity, and learning through iteration.
Research as a combined degree student is often where our multiple interests really get to speak to each other. Whether it’s in a lab, a makerspace, or a digital prototype, research has given me and so many of my peers a place to grow, explore, and shape the world in ways we hadn’t imagined when we first stepped onto campus.