Getting Started in Undergraduate Research

by Josh Fuchs | Feb 21, 2013 | Career Navigation, Undergraduate Research

We have talked a number of times on here about NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs. But what if you want to stay at your undergraduate institution for the summer doing research? You know that professors are doing research and working with other students, but how do you get involved? Here are some ideas and thoughts about how to navigate this process. Ready… There are a few things you can do before you even begin talking to professors to prepare yourself: The first step is to learn what kind of research is happening in your department. The departmental website is a great place to figure this out. Most professors will have a description of their research on their website. Read through the descriptions and see what sounds interesting. However, do be warned that sometimes these sites are not kept up to date. Talk to undergraduate students or graduate students to find out about their experiences working with various professors. Learn about different projects your fellow students are working on. This is especially helpful when websites are not kept up to date. Students are sometimes listed on the professor’s website or just ask around. Do what you can to learn about current research. Most of what you will learn in your introductory classes is pretty old stuff. Starting to understand what researchers are doing now will give you a leg up. Hint: Reading Astrobites is perfect for this! Getting paid to do research is always preferable, so it doesn’t hurt to start looking for options before even talking to a professor. Many universities offer summer research funds for students….