Students participate in a Collaborative Research Project group in one of five possible DANM research focus areas. These faculty-initiated, three-quarter-long projects span a student's first and second years.

This work is intended to provide the student with the opportunity to learn collaborative and practical research methodologies, and to participate in a professional-level research project.

collaborative research focus areas:

mechatronics - the functional integration of mechanical, electronic, and information technologies.

participatory culture - (there are currently two research groups offered) the role of information and communication technologies in the current shift from “top-down” culture to a culture of participation and social engagement.

performative technologies - new methods for combining media and technology to create the visual, aural and connective material of performance.

playable media - the potential of computational systems for the creation of new media forms that invite and structure play.