Student Opportunities

Be part of the next research breakthrough

As a student in the School of Science, we encourage you to participate in research through every phase of your academic journey. Opportunities exist for you to get involved your very first year—and only get more plentiful as your knowledge and expertise grows.

More than 120 of our faculty members are actively engaged in research projects—and many of them welcome student helpers. There are also a number of campus programs that place you in relevant initiatives, enabling you to challenge yourself, build relationships with senior scientists, and add depth to your university experience.

How to join a faculty research project

When you close your eyes and picture the perfect research project, what do you see? 

Are you helping to create a lifesaving medication? Finding new ways to protect the planet? Unlocking the brain’s mysteries? No matter what research areas fuel your passion, you’re bound to find a faculty member working on a project that interests you.

Getting involved in faculty research can be quite simple:

1. Use the People Directory to find faculty working in research areas that interest you.
2. Filter your results to find faculty actively involved in that research.
3. Read the profile pages of the faculty members working on projects that are of interest. 
4. Explore the websites related to their work, including labs and centers.
5. Decide which projects interest you most
6. Contact the people in charge of each initiative, either during office hours or by email

From there, each faculty member’s process will be a little different. If the first professors you reach out to aren’t accepting new students, don’t give up! Keep trying until you find the right fit.

• Explore the people directory
• Learn more about finding a faculty mentor