1. Determine what most interests you in your discipline.
In other words, define a research area/topic (e.g. organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, materials science, nanotechnology, analytical chemistry, etc.). To do this, think about what truly interests you or what you would like to learn more about. Think back to your previous courses in high school and/or college—
- What topics/courses did you find most interesting?
- What topics in the news do you find intriguing?
- Are there any questions/problems in science that you would like to help solve, such as a specific medical condition, global warming, synthesis of new/cheaper pharmaceuticals, etc.?
If nothing comes to mind, then start by doing a general review of faculty research in the academic department in which you are majoring. Go to the departmental website and start clicking on the research profiles of the various faculty members/researchers.
2. Find faculty that work in your area of interest.
Once you have a topic in mind, do a search of campus websites (see below) to identify faculty working in your area of interest.
You can do this in a few ways:
- Search through academic program listings, department/lab websites, student job sites, and undergraduate research databases.
- Find research opportunities advertised through the Chemistry Department newsletter or other departments’ newsletters.
- Attend departmental and university research forums and seminars to get an idea of what research is possible.
- Network by talking to classmates, friends, and TAs who are currently involved in research, and interacting with your professors who have a research group.
You can use this Google spreadsheet to keep your search organized. To use the file, go to File –> Make a Copy or Download.
Checkpoint
Identify what common themes or research concepts that you are interested in. Reflect on why this specific research area stands out to you and what you’re interested in learning more about it. You might want to write this down somewhere – it’ll be useful for your emails to professors, which we will go through in Step 2.
3. Create a list of potential research groups that you want to join.
Read the faculty research descriptions and generate a ranked list of potential mentors. Identify at least one thing about each person’s research that is interesting to you and that you would like to know more about. You can use this Google spreadsheet to keep your search organized. To use the file, go to File –> Make a Copy or Download.
Do not get discouraged by jargon or unfamiliar concepts in the research descriptions. Research is often highly specialized and different sub-fields use different terminology. If you don’t understand something vital to understanding the research summary, take a moment to Google the word or concept, and keep going.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if research groups accept undergraduates?
Contacting the research advisors through email is often the best way to determine if they are currently accepting undergraduates. Looking at research group websites to see if any undergraduates are listed as group members or to see if the research group has any specific direction on how undergraduates can get involved with their group is also a good way to check; however, some research groups will still accept undergraduate students even if they do not currently have any listed on their website. Overall, if you are really interested in doing research in their group, it is best just to ask.
Another option is to ask the TA’s you have in your coursework, the instructors you may have in class, or your fellow students if they know of any groups that are currently taking undergraduate researchers. In addition, ask them if they are conducting research and if so, what they are researching—you may find that they are doing amazing, interesting things that you might like to also get involved with.
How long does it take to find research?
For most students, it often takes 3-4 weeks of actively reaching out to groups who you would like to work with. If you have sent out well-constructed emails and had no response after a week, try emailing the research group(s) again.
If you have been actively looking for research for 3-4 weeks and still haven’t had any success getting a response, please make an appointment with the Chemistry Undergraduate Office. We will be happy to sit down with you to look over the emails that you have been sending and talk you through additional strategies for finding research opportunities on campus.
Can I work in multiple research groups in the same semester?
Students are highly discouraged to work in two different research laboratories for two different research advisors. If you have an interest in a project that would encompass the research of more than one professor, you could inquire about doing a collaboration with both professors. Alternatively, find a research group that already conducts multi-disciplinary research in the fields that interest you.
