Outstanding Research Opportunities
All Wilkes Honors College students conduct original research, and they have unparalleled, direct access to world-class research opportunities. Wilkes Honors College’s on-campus partners include FAU’s Jupiter Life Science Initiative and Brain Institute, along with research giants Scripps Research Institute Florida and Max Planck.


Program | Info | Website |
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FAU Max Planck Honors Program | The FAU Max Planck Honors Program (FAU MPHP) provides honors students with exclusive enrichment opportunities, including courses taught or co-taught with Max Planck scientists. | Learn More about FAU Max Planck Honors Program |
Wilkes Medical Scholars | High school seniors are eligible apply to the Wilkes Medical Scholars Program, a highly selective, early admission program into the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at FAU. | Learn More about Medical Scholars |
FAU Max Planck Honors Program | The FAU-MPFI Honors Program provides undergraduate science majors the opportunity to gain intensive lab research experience learning from some of the world’s best neuroscientists in a state-of-the-art research facility. | Learn More about Max Planck Honors Program |
Internships | Remarkable internship opportunities provide invaluable experience. | Learn More about Internships |
Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI) | OURI offers a wide variety of services and funding opportunities to support both student and faculty in the pursuit of undergraduate (UG) research. | Learn More about Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry |
On-Campus Partners:
Partner | Info | Website |
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FAU’s Jupiter Life Science Initiative (JLSI) | JLSI is aimed at building educational and research capabilities in the life sciences on FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter, and is a collaborative effort between the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. | Learn More about Jupiter Life Science Initiative |
FAU’s Brain Institute | The Brain Institute supports research, education and community outreach, with efforts spanning all of the FAU campuses. | Learn More about Brain Institute |
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) | MPFI focuses each day on discovering answers to fundamental questions of the brain. | Learn More about Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience |
Scripps Florida | Scripps Florida – a division of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), headquartered in La Jolla, California – is a state-of-the-art nonprofit biomedical research facility located in Jupiter, Florida | Learn More about Scripps Florida |
Student Profiles

Michael Rohr ‘16
Concentration: Biological ChemistryResearch at Scripps Research Institute
Awards: Outstanding Thesis Award
Currently attending University of Florida, College of Medicine
“The close proximity to both Max Planck and the Scripps Research Institutes on FAU’s Wilkes Honors College campus was one of the reasons I choose to attend the school.”
—Michael Rohr

Nicolas Tran ‘16
Concentration: Biological ChemistryResearch at Max Planck Florida Institute
Currently attending University of Florida, College of Pharmacy
“The reason why I decided to go to the Honors College was because of the research opportunities at TSRI and MPFI. I worked in the Ja Lab at Scripps my freshman year and grew an appreciation for research. When I was informed of the MPFI Scholars Program, I jumped at the opportunity to research at a world-renowned facility.”
—Nicolas Tran

Monique Tromp ‘16
Concentration: BiologyAwards: Outstanding Thesis Award
Research at Max Planck Florida Institute
Beginning work at Max Planck Florida Institute in Fall of 2016 as a Research Assistant
“Florida Atlantic University’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College provided me a comprehensive platform for education, research experience and mentoring in my chosen field. There is an enormous number of opportunities on the Jupiter campus between FAU, Max Planck Florida and Scripps Florida, which provides students a wide range of options in choosing a research area. You get to work with the very best in hands on training.”

Emily Senderey ‘15
Concentration: BiologyResearch at Scripps Research Institute
Currently at FAU, College of Medicine
“My desire to attend the Honors College stems from its small class size, its emphasis on teaching through problem-based learning and its early exposure to patient care.”
—Emily Senderey

Asnel Joseph ‘15
Concentration: Biological ChemistryResearch at Max Planck Florida Institute
Currently working at Max Planck Florida Institute in Bolton Lab since 2015.
“I was attracted to the living and learning community of the campus along with their biological chemistry program. It seemed like the perfect place for me.”