Undergraduate Research

Before you explore undergraduate research opportunities, ask yourself, what do hope to get out of the experience? Are you hoping to get any experience, or find a good resume builder? Do you wish to network with faculty members, researchers, graduate students, and other undergraduate students? Do you have specific skills you want to develop through a research experience? Perhaps you have scientific questions you’ve always wanted to answer. Or are you just genuinely curious and want to explore what research is like?

In the next step in your journey to connect to research take an inventory of your interests. We recommend you create a list to visualize your “data.” Ask yourself:

• What were your favorite classes (in high school and in college)?
• Do you look forward to taking particular courses in your major?
• Do certain tracks, areas, or specialties related to your major interested you?
• What areas interest you outside of your major?
• Are there any opportunities to collaborate with major interests and interests outside of your major?

There are many ways for undergraduate students to get involved in research. Options for involvement include:

• Directed research courses (generally 392 and 493) through departments
  • Depending on your major, directed research might be a graduation requirement
• Independent research course (check with your department for course numbering and availability)
• Summer REU’s (Research Experience for Undergrads)
• Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships
• Other competitive research programs (such as UBRP, UROC-PREP, or SRI)
• Volunteering in faculty research labs and projects

Once you have figured out what areas of research you would like to engage in, and what type of experience is best suited for you, the next step is to find faculty and researchers connected to your areas of interest. There are a few different ways to do this.

• Visit the Undergraduate Research Database, and you can find research by college, department, type of opportunity (paid, volunteer, intern, etc.) or by listing key words.
• Search faculty profiles, using key words, topics, areas of interest, etc. 
• Find off-campus REU’s through the National Science Foundation website.
• Learn more about/apply to University of Arizona undergraduate research programs.
• Explore departmental research websites for information on departmental areas/ researchers.

After finding faculty members you would be interested in working with, create a list of 7-10 (if possible) faculty members to contact.

After compiling your list of faculty members, start to email them a few at a time. Start with your top three, wait a week, and if you haven’t heard back, email your next three. We suggest using the email as a way to connect with the faculty member and to begin the cultivation of the relationship. You can choose to state your intention, i.e. getting involved in their lab, having them serve as your faculty mentor for independent research, etc. We would recommend that you ask to schedule a meeting with them and then ask in person.

When emailing faculty:

• Introduce yourself, your year, your major, and your interests.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the faculty member’s research.
• Identify why you are interested in their research, how your interests align with their research, and mention any classes or contacts you’ve had that show your interest.
• Ask to schedule a meeting. Provide your availability and ask what would be best for them.
• Be professional.

Additionally, here are two good resources for emailing faculty from the UC Berkley, and UC Santa Cruz.

Meeting with faculty:

• Dress business casual.
• Have a conversation with them before asking to conduct research with them.
• Bring a list of questions about the faculty member’s research with you.
• Bring a copy of your resume and schedule.
• Send a follow-up email/thank you after the meeting.