Start Doing Research

Start your own research:

If you decide to do independent research rather than join a faculty project, you will need to take many steps, and it is essential to put in the rigorous time and effort.

Developing a proposal:

To help with this, we encourage you to complete a research proposal worksheet. This can help you create a clear and concise plan and keep it handy when meeting with a faculty member.

Once completed, move on to the next steps regarding contacting faculty members.

Join a faculty member or lab:

When finding a faculty member to approach and work under, many students either contact someone they already know from a course or a faculty member who does research in the area they want to study.

Approaching a faculty member you know:

You can begin by seeing what research they are doing or have done. Try reading possible articles or projects they have written. If you find a faculty member that is doing research you’re interested in, you can either:

Attend their office hours and discuss your goals and interests.

If they do not have office hours, you can email them to ask if they’re open to working with undergraduate students and possibly arranging a meeting.

Find a faculty that’s doing research you’re interested in:

Try contacting your advisor to ask if they know any faculty researching your area of interest. Make sure to provide all the details about the research you want to do. Advisors are here to help you in times like this, so do not hesitate to ask for help!

You can find specific faculty members on the department websites. Most have profiles that include their research, how to contact them, or if they’re looking for undergraduates to take in!

Once you have set up a meeting with a faculty member, come prepared with questions, your proposal, and what you plan to gain from this opportunity.