How to Get Started in Research FAQ

The Journal of Undergraduate Research and the Office of Undergraduate Research hosted an information session on Friday, September 4, 2020 about how to get started in undergraduate research. The session was recorded and is available to view on YouTube. Frequently asked questions from the session can be found below.

Looking for more? Check out our Getting Started guide.

How do I learn more about XXXX research and how to get involved in it, specific opportunities, etc.?

It would be best to look through your desired department’s website. Typically department websites have a list of opportunities/ funding available for students related to the specific major.

How does STEM research look like when done remotely?

We’ve reached out to the leadership team of the University of Rochester Journal of Undergraduate Research to help answer this:

“Personally speaking I learned bioinformatics in order to analyze previously published genomic data sets. As a lot of STEM research is lab-based, I would expect the majority of STEM research done remotely to be mainly data analytics/ bioinformatics related.” John Lozada

“I had a similar experience to John’s, as I worked remotely in a STEM lab this summer. Although many opportunities will definitely be less hands on, whether in a wet lab or human subject lab, there are still great opportunities to become more proficient in data analysis and scientific writing, which are essential research skills.” Shelby Sabourin

How should I email professors about starting research in their lab? Do I need to attach a resume?

We recommend including a short introduction on yourself (year, major, past research introduction) with a sentence or two detailing what specifics of their research you are interested in. It would be also helpful to include your resume/CV for professors to get a glimpse of your previous experience. It would be ideal to keep emails short and simple as professors are typically very busy. See the sample emails page for examples.

When is the Discover Grant open for applications and what are some requirements needed when applying for it?

The Discover Grant opens up around March. You will need a letter of support from your supervisor/ mentor in order to apply.

If I have my own idea to conduct my own type of research, is this possible to pursue, and how would we go about this? If there isn’t a professor working on the type of research I want to do, how should I go about this?

To be very honest, it is quite rare to see a student be able to pursue their own research idea. The best way would be to discuss your idea with a professor whose research interests align the best. It admittedly is rare for a professor to be willing to mentor and fund a student’s own original research idea due to funding constraints. However, it doesn’t hurt to ask as professors typically are more than happy to discuss research, especially when it is related to their interests.

Can I pursue research outside of my major?

Yes, of course! You will want to emphasize why you are interested in their research, given that your major is unrelated (professors typically like to see why someone may be interested in their research).

Is there a method of contact (Joblink, handshake, email, etc.) that is more specific for a type of research position (paid, credit, volunteer, etc.)?

It depends on the department. Many of the biology/medical related positions on Joblink start out as research technicians (basic lab maintenance, unrelated to research) so if you are really interested in a specific professor’s research, you should email them directly.

How should we know about the current research opportunities from professors who do not have their own research websites?

Professors who do not have their own research websites usually have their research interests listed at the faculty directory or some sort of page with their specific research projects. If they do not have any research interests/ projects listed, they may not be active in research.

You can also look at their most recent list of publications—there you may get a good sense of the research questions they are asking, as well as the methods they are using. PubMed is a great source to look for professors’ publications if you have a hard time finding their interests on Rochester’s website.

Are undergraduates able to conduct research in the medical center or at Eastman?

Yes! Of course! Many professors at the medical center, as well as some at Eastman are interested in taking in University of Rochester undergraduates. Just reach out!

How do you manage time for research on top of academics?

Admittedly, it might be best to get comfortable with your course load first during your first year. However, for those of you who want to get a head start and believe you can manage just fine, you should be well aware of your mental and physical capacity/state. The most important thing is to not burn out!

If you do think you are not in a good state, you may want to step back a bit from your current commitments and re-prioritize! It is more important to take care of yourself as burning out early on will delay you more in the future!

As for managing time, it is important to have a talk with your professor about the time expectations for you—be honest with how many hours you can actually commit.

What opportunities are possible for international students?

There are many opportunities out there for international students! Typically professors/ principal investigators pay students from their own grants, so restrictions for international students are typically only found in specific summer research/ fellowship programs.

How do I go about using an RIG?

The Office of Undergraduate Research will be hosting orientation sessions at the end of the month, so just be on the lookout! For students who are unaware of RIG, please note that it is only an award given at enrollment.

About how many hours a week would research typically take up?

For STEM research specifically, research is a dynamic process. That means, the hours typically vary a lot based on what you plan for. It could be as little as five hours a week at a time vs 20 hours a week. For four credit independent research courses, however, the minimum currently during COVID times is ten hours of contact time per week.

Is there a certain level of technical knowledge/ skill required for starting research?

So the great thing about undergraduate research is that it is very much a time for learning. When you start in the lab, the professor/principal investigator should have a good sense of what your technical knowledge/skills are at that point. Thus, for those of you who do not have a lot of experience, no need to worry. As long as you are motivated and dedicated enough to get through that initial learning curve, you should be fine.

If you email a professor and get a rejection for the time being due to no open space in the lab, how long should you wait before asking again in the future?

If a professor says they do not have space currently, we recommend waiting at least a semester to email them again for an opportunity. Professors typically budget based on how much spaced they have at that given time, and that doesn’t really change that much throughout that specific semester. However, there typically are a good amount of professors working on a similar topic at the same time so if one professor doesn’t have space, then try looking for one with similar research experience. Getting more experience earlier may help you a lot in the future!

What summer research opportunities are possible?

There are a lot of research opportunities available during the summer! You can start by determining what research topic you are interested in and doing a simple Google search from there. Many established research institutions have their own summer program.

Many professional societies also provide funding for research done at the labs of their own members. Furthermore, professors typically have the funding to take on one (or more) undergraduates during the summer (in this case, there are no restrictions for international students)! Thus, just reach out to professors, whether they are at the University of Rochester or not, for opportunities! When reaching out about summer research opportunities, remember that it is always best to do so early because exclusive positions/labs/programs can fill up quick, so aim to reach out around November or December.

Who should I look to for help with making a resume?

You can look to the Gwen Greene Career Center for help. Just schedule an appointment with one of their advisors! You can make appointments through Handshake (accessed through Blackboard).

How do I get involved in Journal of Undergraduate Research (JUR)?

JUR has opportunities for students as content or layout editors.

Content editors review accepted articles for clarity and syntax. You can submit an application to become a content editor.

Layout editors are responsible for designing and putting together the final journal. No application is necessary. If you are interested, email oion.akif@rochester.edu.

See the JUR CCC page for more information, as well as the JUR website. If you have any other questions feel free to reach out to the editors-in-chief at jurrochester@gmail.com.