The SOURCE

Undergraduate research work takes many forms but all follow a similar structure:

• Beginning with a sense of curiosity in the exploration of a topic of interest
• An understanding of the current landscape of a scholarly, professional or creative field of study.
• Designing of a study or project using the methods and tools of a discpline to present evidence that responds to a question or theme.
• All undergraduate research students are supported by a faculty mentor in their field.
• Student research and creative projects may be produced by students at all levels in classes, labs, recitals, as part of a distinction or thesis program, or independently. 

Participating in undergraduate research allows you to:

• Apply your knowledge to real-world problems and issues
• Develop a strong faculty mentor relationship
• Improve your problem-solving and creative thinking skills
• Explore potential career areas
• Develop skills you can use on the job market or in grad school
• Explore a topic you find fascinating and participate in the creation of new knowledge

• Students are guided by a faculty mentor (typically a tenured or tenure-track professor) or research staff member.
• In humanities, communications/journalism, business/management, social sciences, arts: students work as part of a research team or one-on-one with a professor to either assist with an ongoing project or design an independent project.
• In STEM fields: students work as part of a lab team, led by a professor (or Primary Investigator, “PI”): students assist with ongoing projects and may take leadership on part of the lab’s work.
• Students may also work off-campus, with a community organization, another university, or do research as part of the study abroad experience.

• Miguel Guzman, ’24 – lab research on bioactive protein-cholesterol-based nanoparticles
• Sophie Clinton, ’24 – conducted social science research while abroad in Santiago, Chile
• Ngai Lan Tam ’23 – created an exhibition with structural design, film and performance
• Fátima Bings Martínez ’24 – worked as a research assistant for a literary journal
• Ruchatneet Printup ’23 – directed a film set in his Native community

Jot down a few notes in response to these prompts:

• Readings or lectures from a class that sparked your interest and made you want to learn more or share with a friend
• Problems or issues that you’d like to contribute to solving or improving
• Gaps in your education
• Skills that you’re interested in developing
• Passions, hobbies, and personal interests
• Goals or outcomes that could build your portfolio and be shared with a future employer or graduate school

Connect with others

• Talk to your professors during their office hours about how they first discovered their research interests
• Get inspired at a student research presentation event on campus: the SOURCE Fall Expo, Spring Showcase, or Summer Symposium, or a school/college event
• Go to lectures and talks on campus and ask questions
• Chat with fellow students doing research (you could start with SOURCE Student Research Mentors) about how they found their focus
• If you have a specific post-graduate goal (career, graduate study, etc.), speak with career and academic advisors about the skills you should be building