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1. Sometimes you know that you want to do research, but you have no idea what you want to do. There are two ways to go about solving this problem. The first is to consider your interests; what do you watch, what do you read, what do you listen to in your spare time? Consider whether any of these things be converted into a research project. When taking the first route, you want to begin the steps below with those interests in mind. The second way is to follow the process below with an eye for what piques your curiosity to know more.
2. Start by checking out your major department. No matter your major, start with your department and look at the faculty page. Look through the profiles of faculty and see their general interests or research topics. If they align with your own interests, check out their CV. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a detailed resume that includes their entire professional career including all speaking engagements, publications, grants, etc. Keep an eye out for recent publications and grants, those two things will give you a better idea of what that faculty member is studying right now. Research interests change but typically if someone was being funded recently, the title of the project for that grant is likely (even if only tangentially) related to their current research.
3. Check out related departments' faculty lists. Say you are interested in mammals, look at Biology, Animal Science, etc. to see if they have faculty research in your interest area. Cancer? Consider the Larner College of Medicine, CALS has Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and Medical & Radiation Laboratory Sciences, what about Animal Science? Think about the big picture and then consider which fields may overlap with your own.
4. Narrow it down. Create a list of 3-5 faculty members that you are eager to work with.
5. Contact.

1. Personalize each email. Never send a mass email to faculty and don’t be generic in your approach so that it applies to a lot of faculty members. Take the time to really craft and hone your email so that the faculty member can recognize that you are thorough, detail-oriented, professional, and most of all, interested.
2. Start with a title. Even if you have had class with a faculty member, until they make it profusely clear, do not call faculty members by their first names. Depending on their degree (find it in the CV), call them Doctor or Professor LASTNAME. This is basic professionalism, and it goes a long way in establishing your respect of that faculty member.
3. Be brief and straight to the point and get that point across in the first line. When anyone (even I) receives an email from someone they do not know, they skim the first couple of sentences to establish exactly what they are being contacted regarding. Do not start your email with something that is a waste of time, such as your name (it's in the email already) and hold off on details in regard to yourself until you have their attention. Start out with the ask, which you must decide on beforehand. Whatever you are asking, make it clear - be it a volunteer or for-credit research position for the coming/current semester, or an opportunity to ask about a person’s research more in depth, etc.
4. Show your inner nerd. Do not hesitate to show your enthusiasm for a faculty member’s research. Just as we love to hear that we have something in common with someone, they love to hear that you are equally as enthused about their subject. Feel free to include a short anecdote of where your interest was sparked, it will only back up your excitement.
5. Lastly, state your experience. No one expects an undergraduate to have a resume full of research experience, but you have been learning over your time at ����̽̽ thus far and the labs and courses you have taken have established some background that is necessary in a research setting. So, feel free to say something like “I learned the proper technique for…. In my lab in… I would really like to apply those skills in a practical setting”. If you are a first-year student and don't have any or have little coursework behind you, spotlight that as your positive attribute. You are ready to learn and you're a blank slate, no bad habits to break and more potential years ahead of you as a research assistant.

FOUR recommends that undergraduates doing research obtain an ORCID iD through the ����̽̽ Directory system. For now, the requirement is only for researchers (as of end of 2025) applying for federal grants or intramural funding and trainees applying for research support, but the requirement could easily grow beyond federal grants. 

Even now having an ORCID iD makes it easier to submit articles on journal websites and for some conference presentations. Even if you are early in your research career, you may be publishing or presenting research in the future. Having an ORCID iD is to your benefit as you build your own record of scholarship during your time as a ����̽̽ undergrad. 

Based on the specifics of the research you are conducting, you may be required to complete certain trainings before you can start parts of your project. Please speak to your faculty mentor regarding whether you need to complete any of the trainings listed below. For more information about all these committees and trainings, see the Research Protections Office.

IRB

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee that reviews and oversees research involving human participants to ensure ethical standards are met. Its primary purpose is to protect the rights, welfare, and privacy of participants by ensuring that research is conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines and regulations. The IRB assesses research proposals to minimize risks to participants, ensure informed consent is obtained, and verify that the benefits of the research outweigh any potential harm.

The IRB is important because it promotes ethical research practices, safeguards participants from potential risks, and helps maintain public trust in the research community by ensuring that studies are conducted responsibly and ethically.

IBC

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is a group responsible for reviewing and overseeing research involving biohazardous materials, such as recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids, infectious agents, and other potentially harmful biological substances. The IBC ensures that research is conducted safely, following regulatory guidelines and best practices to protect researchers, the public, and the environment.

The IBC is important because it helps prevent accidental exposure to or release of hazardous biological materials, reducing risks associated with biosecurity and biosafety. By ensuring proper containment measures, safety protocols, and risk assessments, the IBC promotes responsible scientific research and helps maintain a safe working environment for those involved in bioscience and biomedical research.

IACUC

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is a committee that reviews and oversees research involving animals to ensure that animal welfare standards are upheld. The IACUC's primary role is to evaluate research protocols to ensure that the use of animals is justified, that animal care and use are conducted humanely, and that alternatives to animal use are considered whenever possible. It also monitors ongoing research to ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and federal regulations.

The IACUC is important because it promotes ethical treatment and humane care of animals used in research, teaching, and testing. By ensuring that animal research is conducted responsibly, the IACUC helps to minimize pain and distress, ensure appropriate housing and veterinary care, and uphold ethical standards in scientific research, thereby maintaining public trust in the scientific community.

Undergraduate Research Funding Opportunities

• Present your work at the ����̽̽ Student Research Conference.
• Apply for travel funding to present at a conference.