Getting Started in Research
First, we recommend that you read through the guidelines given here, which are based on a booklet prepared in 2005 by the student editors of UR’s Journal of Undergraduate Research (jur). Then, if you like, you may contact the Office of Undergraduate Research to talk about your situation and specific steps for you to take.
Guidelines to Undergraduate Research
1. In almost all cases, students who want to do independent research will need the support of a faculty member. We emphasize this – in some cases even more than figuring out what you want to study – for many reasons, one being that a good research advisor may help you find your topic or get you excited about a subject you hardly knew existed before. So, you may ask, How do a I find a research advisor? Keep reading.
2. Students may undertake research for credit, pay, or experience. Note that different departments have different practices in this regard. Research for credit takes place in independent study or supervised research courses, senior or honors theses, and the Senior Scholars Program, for examples. Research for pay generally means working with a faculty member as a student research assistant or lab assistant, through the work/study program, for example, or a paid internship. In some departments, students are likely to begin research simply for the experience, without pay or credit, and later continue in a paid or for-credit capacity.
Even if you want to design and carry out your own project, a research advisor is needed in a number of roles, such as signing your 39X form, arranging for payment, advising you regarding courses or reading related to your research, and later, providing letters of recommendation.
3. There are courses in almost every department designed to introduce students to discipline-specific research methods or otherwise integrate research experience as part of the course (for example, Quest courses). This is a good place to start when you have little or no prior experience.
4. An in-depth summer research experience is one of the best ways for a student to get started and find out what doing research is really like. Summer research programs for undergraduates at the UR and at institutions across the U.S. usually pay a stipend.
5. To find a project you’d like work on, start with what you know: Most undergraduates find projects from faculty members from whom they have taken classes. Many professors make announcements in their classes or post information outside their offices about available projects. Some even have links to information on their current research projects on their personal websites.
So, a good place to start your search for a project is to identify faculty members with whom you might want to work on a project. Check their websites to investigate their fields of research. If one or more sound interesting, you may approach the faculty members about the possibility of helping them with their research or doing an independent project. (But see # 7 below!)
6. Do some investigating to get a sense of what research projects are available. If you do not have a specific faculty member in mind, begin by checking the research conducted in your department or the research interests of the faculty in your department. Read about the different types of research going on in your department. It is possible to do projects outside of your major, so consider checking the research being done in other departments, too.
Find a field of research that interests you and learn a little more about it. Find out the names of faculty members who are involved in this research area and check their personal websites or their office doors for information on their current projects. You also may want to make an appointment to talk with them to learn about their projects. Then, when you’ve identified a project that sounds promising, approach the faculty member about working on it. But keep reading…
7. A little advice before approaching a (potential) faculty supervisor: Be considerate of the faculty member that you are going to be asking for a project. Try to avoid knocking on their door without any idea of their field of research or current projects. Make sure you have already read about the research they do and can show an interest in the topic.
Be prepared to tell them of any relevant coursework you have completed or other experience you have that might be applicable to a project of theirs. If possible, write up a short resume outlining these details (prior coursework, relevant experience and/or skills, and so forth). If you are responding to an advertised project, take time before speaking with the faculty member to investigate the project as fully as you can. It will help you to be prepared with some specific questions and ideas about the project. All this sets the stage for a good working relationship with the faculty member.
Emileigh Greuber '07, Molecular Genetics
“Make connections with faculty—going to office hours, researching faculty web sites, and getting a part-time job in a lab are all good ways to find out if laboratory research appeals to you and what areas of research you might enjoy.”
Research: Dephosphorylation of G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)
More Information about getting started in research...
Wondering how to talk to a faculty member? Read jur’s advice on Approaching Faculty with Your Research Ideas and Interests.
And last but not least: consider Eight Points for Developing a Positive Working Relationship with Your Faculty Mentor.
You are bound to have more questions than we have answered here. Check the list of Frequently Asked Questions, and, if you don’t find the answers, contact our office.
In addition, we are in the process of expanding this web site so you can investigate department specific programs and opportunities for research experience.