Research Opportunities

The CRDM program aims to prepare students to pose and solve research problems pertaining to the uses and potentialities of new communication media and information technologies, especially as they are applied in emerging contexts in the 21st century. They should also gain experience with a variety of research and analytical methods, both quantitative and qualitative. To meet these goals, the curriculum requires a minimum number of research methods courses, and the student’s dissertation committee will ensure that the student is qualified to carry out independent research.

Beyond the course requirements, students will find research opportunities in programs and initiatives across campus at NC State. Cross-disciplinary initiatives and sponsored research programs offer opportunities of particular interest. The following list includes examples of such programs that CRDM Program Faculty and Affiliated Faculty are involved with.

CIRCUIT Research Studio is an interdisciplinary, collaborative media research space for CHASS faculty, graduate students, and their team members from across the colleges. It is supported by the CHASS Office of Research and Engagement, CHASS IT, the Departments of English and Communication, and CRDM. The mission of the Studio is to support theoretically engaged critical media practice and project development, from conception to completion, in the following areas: digital media, digital humanities, physical computing, and mobile media. Project development supported by the Studio should be associated with internal funding, external grants, scholarly publication, or public events. The studio is on the ground floor of Ricks Hall Addition in the North Campus of NCSU.

The Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCOST) project’s mission is to provide opportunities for scholars to understand and improve the public communication of science and technology. That includes engaging faculty and students in a wide arena of scholarship including communication, media studies, computer science, design, environmental and bench sciences, and associated fields. PCOST's audiences include stakeholders in science, medicine and technology such as policymakers, scientists, business leaders, health practitioners and nongovernmental organizations.

The North Carolina Language and Life Project at NC State is a non-profit initiative that researches the many dialects, languages, and cultures of the United States of America. The project documents this nation’s incredible linguistic variation and shares it through books, classes, online media and award-winning documentaries.

The Digital Games Research Center is a multi-disciplinary center whose focus investigates the scientific, engineering, artistic, social and educational challenges of digital entertainment. Housed in the Department of Computer Science, the center’s faculty include colleagues from the colleges of Education, Engineering, Design, Management and Humanities and Social Sciences that collaborate on a wide range of research and educational initiatives which focus on new modes of entertainment and interaction in digital worlds.

The Graduate Certificate in Digital Humanities at NC State participates within the broader community of the Triangle Digital Humanities Network, including the National Humanities Center, Duke University and an existing certificate program at UNC-Chapel Hill. Together with NC State, these resources present an array of training and support opportunities for students and instructors as they innovate in DH fields such as cultural heritage digitization; media history and technologies; analysis and critique of digital culture; applied programming for analysis and visualization; project management; interface design and user experience; and/or digital pedagogies.

The Studios at NC State Libraries host a variety of resources available to students, faculty, and staff at the university. These resources can be used to both conduct and display research on campus. Some of the resources available through the Studios include:

  • The NC State Libraries Makerspace is located on the first floor of D.H. Hill Jr. Library. This space gives students, faculty, and staff hands-on access to the tools, technologies, and skills of making, including 3D printers, low fidelity electronics, sewing machines, a laser cutter, and many other tools and materials.
  • The NC State Gaming and Esports Lab is located on the fourth floor of the Hunt Library. The NC State community can experience the thrill of competitive gaming, learn new skills and strategies, and connect with other gamers and enthusiasts using the 35 gaming PCs and 4 console stations. The lab supports the NC State Esports program and serves as an incubator for esports research, teaching, learning and student involvement.
  • The VR Studio is located at the D. H. Hill Jr. Library. This studio is a space for experimenting with virtual and mixed reality hardware, developing exciting new interactive media experiences, and enjoying a deep catalog of VR experiences. The VR studio is equipped with seven PC workstations built for working with demanding graphics and real-time computing. The studio is staffed at all times that it is open, and the staff can help you customize any workstation to suit your project's needs. This can include the virtual reality equipment already running at the workstations (including the HTC VIVE Pro, Valve Index, and Oculus Quest) as well as a wide array of extended reality hardware available for use within the VR Studio.
  • The Digital Media Lab (DML) is located on the first floor of the D.H. Hill Jr. Library. The DML has workstations with audiovisual editing software, scanners, video and audio editing decks, an enclosed studio with a green screen, and four music booths. The lab is staffed whenever it is open, meaning you can find drop-in consultation assistance for projects, technology, and more just by stopping by.
  • The iPearl Innovation Studio showcases the creative and innovative work of NC State’s students and faculty. The studio team supports courses by collaborating on exhibits for the space, and by leading workshops on future thinking. Our exhibits are driven by a novel interactive projection experience, which combines physical and digital elements and can adapt to show many types of work.

The NC State Laboratory for Analytic Sciences (LAS) is a partnership between the intelligence community and NC State that develops innovative technology and tradecraft to help solve mission-relevant problems. Founded in 2013 by the National Security Agency and NC State, each year LAS brings together collaborators from three sectors – industry, academia and government – to conduct research that has a direct impact on national security.