The SOURCE

Fostering and supporting diverse undergraduate participation in faculty-guided scholarly research and creative inquiry.

Undergraduate 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 helps you apply what you are learning in class, find a mentor, improve your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and pursue a topic that fascinates you.

SOURCE Upcoming Spring Deadlines

2025 ACC Meeting of the Minds Conference

  • Opportunity to present a research or creative project at a funded in-person undergraduate conference with students from all ACC universities, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh (March 28-30, 2025)
    • Application and mentor recommendation due January 23, 2025 deadline extended to January 30th!
    • Apply Now

Faculty Research Assistant Grant

  • Faculty-led research projects that allow students to develop key research skills within their discipline

Research Fellowship (Funding for Summer 25, Academic Year 25-26, or Summer 25 + AY 25-26)

  • Funding for original and student-led research/creative projects that will substantially develop a student’s research skills, engage with methods of their discipline, and culminate in a deliverable (up to $7,500)
    • Intent to Apply due Feb. 13, 2025 
    • Application and faculty mentor recommendation due Feb. 27, 2025 
    • Intent to Apply
      • You must complete an Intent to Apply form to access the application portal. Once you submit an intent to apply you will receive an email with more information.    

Bridge Award (Funding for Summer 2025)

  • Short-term, renewable support for students at all levels to pursue mentored research experiences (up to $2,000)

CFSA-SOURCE Emerging Research Fellows 

  • Guided, in-depth development for first-year students with a significant interest in research and creative work. Funding is available, up to $7,000, over the two years of the program.

CFSA-SOURCE Graduation Recognition 

  • Recognition for students that have participated in undergraduate research and/or national fellowships programs. Students that meet all requirements will receive a cord to wear at commencement.

Undergraduate Research FAQs

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.

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