Undergraduate Research Opportunities

• Assistance on getting started in research:

• CBS Research Roadmap
• Finding a Research Opportunity at the U of M

• Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research
• Visit CLA Resource Pages
• CLA Research Services
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities
• CLA Career Hub
• Career Services
• You may also look at the following links for information about UMN specific summer programs and other research options. 
  
  • Directed Research & Directed Studies
  • GopheResearch
  • Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP)
  • Multicultural Summer Research Opportunities Program (MSROP)
  • Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)
  • Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

• Connect with a graduate student or postdoc at CFI through the Friend in STEM program.
• Meet with a Peer Research Consultant (PRC).
• Ask current or previous undergraduate researchers or your classmates about their projects and mentors.

Research Related Workshops, Videos, & Articles

• Council on Undergraduate Research's resource page
• IBP Resource Toolbox for students in STEM
• Making Your Summer Research Internship a Good One
• Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)
• Think Like a Researcher
• WebGuru: A Guide to Undergraduate Research

 CFI Research Interest Form                       CFI Faculty List

• Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research Find a Mentor page
• Ask your professors and teaching assistants for suggestions and recommendations.
• Attend scholarly and research seminars hosted by colleges, departments, and other campus offices. Look at the schedule ahead of time and do background research on the topic and/or presenter(s) to get a better idea of the project.
• Talk with individuals in the department(s) of interest including academic advisors, faculty, staff, undergraduate students, and graduate students. If a class topic interests you, discuss your interest with the instructor or your academic advisor.
• Start your research career early and RESEARCH the labs that you are interested in. Search sites like Experts@Minnesota and scholar.google.com for additional background information or for CFI specific faculty:
• CFI faculty list
• Fill out a CFI Research Interest Form
  
  

How do I select an advisor?

This is probably the most important step in getting involved in undergraduate research. The best approach is multifaceted, think about your major and fields of studies that are close that interest you for extended research. RESEARCH the Research, get informed about research areas and projects that labs are currently working on. Talk to other students who are already involved in research, reach out to a graduate student or postdoc at CFI through the EWIS Friend in STEM program.  If a particular research area catches your interest, read that professors current papers to become more informed. Write down well informed questions about the research that you can ask about during an interview. Identify 4-6 labs that are of interest to you. Fill out the CFI Research Interest Form.

The CFI Research Interest Form will ask you for several pieces of information to pass on to the labs of interest.  Include a CV/Resume and a letter introducing yourself, stating your education and career goals, and your interest in the research.  Request an appointment to learn more about the research of that individual/group.  Be sure to include all of your contact information and the days and times that you are available.

 Your letter should read like a cover letter and include the following:

1. Who you are (your background, major, any relevant course work, strengths or experience you bring. In many cases, prior research experience is not required).
2. Let the professor know that you are considering getting involved in research, you have read a bit about her/his research program, and that you would like to find out more. Professors understand that students are not experts in the field, and they will explain their research at a level that you will be able to follow. What you have learned about their research that most interests or excites you and why you are interested in it (a topic discussed in class, an article you have read).
3. What are your future educational and career goals
4. What you are looking for (Are you just starting out in the discipline? Are you planning to work on a research project over the summer? Do you anticipate writing an honors thesis? Are you looking to work during the regular school year)
5. Ask if you may schedule an appointment or come talk to them during office hours. It is not recommended that you ask for research opportunities directly in this message.  Keep the message brief and to the point. Give contact information and your availability.
   
     **Depending on the faculty member and the time of year, you will get different responses. If you do not hear back from the faculty member in four weeks, you may send an email reminding them of your interest.  But also be prepared that not all labs are looking for undergraduate students at the same time you are interested so you may need to try again at a later date.

Your research paid off and you have been asked back to talk to the professor...now what?

Set the meeting time

Make arrangements with faculty according to their schedule preference, not your own. Be prepared to arrange the date/time via a support staff person or by email. Alternatively, be prepared to stop in during the professor’s office hours.

Before the Meeting

• Read at least one article or abstract written by the potential mentor and prepare some well-informed questions about the research.  Have a clear idea about why you are interested in their work and, more generally, engaging in research in their lab. How can you contribute to the lab? Have a sense of what you think you can offer and what you might want to accomplish. Most importantly: be prepared to show enthusiasm and interest in what they do.
• Print out your unofficial transcript, a current resume or curriculum vitae (CV), and a personal reference or two.
• Be sure to include on your resume any prior research experiences and techniques or procedures with which you are familiar.
• Be prepared to provide —not necessarily a letter of recommendation, but the name and contact information of someone who knows you well. Especially if you are a freshman or sophomore, this can be a teacher or counselor from high school or someone who knows you personally. 
• Think about what dates and times you will have available to work and whether you are looking to receive academic credit, an undergraduate research funding award, a Federal Work-Study (FWS) position, or a volunteer position.
  
  

The Interview

• Arrive on time (or early).
• Come to the meeting prepared!! Do your own research. Search online for papers and lab/research information about the potential mentor. Try to understand the basic principles of their research areas and the methods they use before you meet with them. But don't worry if you find some of the methods confusing professors understand that students are not experts in the field, and they will explain their research at a level that you will be able to follow.
  
  • access CFI faculty info for lab info and mentor specifics
  • Search for recent papers or articles on Google Scholar, check out the co-authors on the papers, this might lead you to another potential mentor.

• During the meeting, you should give the potential research mentor an idea of the amount of time you can commit to the research experience, both in hours per week and total number per semester, and how long you anticipate you will be in the lab (1 semester...1 year, etc)
  
  • Practice your “elevator pitch,” which includes why you are interested in a research experience and in their particular program. It should not last more than a few minutes.
  • Be sure to cover your interest in getting involved with their research program.
  • Have some questions ready when they ask if you have any questions.

What questions to consider asking faculty?

• Do you have a research project that needs an undergraduate student’s help?
• How did you get involved with this particular area of research?
• What motivated the faculty member to do this work?
• What excites them? What plans they have for the future?
• What are the typical responsibilities for undergraduate students engaged in your research?  And what are your expectations of them?
• What skills or characteristics do you expect an undergraduate to have before beginning a project with you?
• Are there specific courses you suggest that I take?  Or skills that I should develop?
  
  

Follow-up.

You want to make sure that a great conversation continues. You should send a thank-you note/email to acknowledge their time and to elaborate on why you would enjoy working with them. Also, you should follow-up with anything that was requested of you during the meeting, such as a recommendation contact or a writing sample.

• If you have a few labs to choose from, make a list of pros and cons, taking into consideration not only your enthusiasm for the project but also your schedule, other commitments, and travel time.
• After you make your decision, contact all potential mentors you met with to thank them again and let them know your plans.

 ("elevator pitch" adopted from https://www.purdue.edu/undergrad-research/students/get-started.php)

The Council on Undergraduate Research's resource page for supporting undergraduate students who are conducting faculty-mentored research is a comprehensive page to get you started.

UMN Summer programs that you can apply for:

Cancer Disparities Internship

*CTSI Pathways to Research Program (PReP)

*Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP)   

McNair Summer Research Program (TRIO)

The following is a list of funding sources that can provide fellowships and research funding during school and summer terms:

UMN Internal Programs:       

• Additional CBS scholarships: Additional Funding/NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
• CBS Undergraduate Research Travel Award
• CBS Undergraduate Scholarships

National Programs that provide external funding:

CBS Students: External Research

GoldPASS

GoldPASS powered by Handshake is the University of Minnesota’s free search database for jobs, internships, and volunteer positions offered exclusively to UMN students and alumni! You can register for career fairs and employer events, sign up for interviews with organizations that are coming to campus, and access other job search resources.

GoldPass

GopheResearch

GopheResearch is a “Monster.com” for undergraduate research to help widen opportunities for UMN undergraduates to participate in research. GopheResearch was developed by Kashif Qureshi, an undergraduate in CBS.

GopheResearch

UMN Student Job Board

Student jobs are a form of financial aid. The University has programs to help you find work that best fits your needs. Before applying for a student position, review the eligibility information to make sure you are able to hold a student position. Eligibility for Student Employment

OHR Student Jobs

UMN Mentoring connections:

UMN Career Services Program Compilations: Mentor a Student

Clinical and Translational Science Institute: Mentoring page

UMN Alumni Association: Mentoring Guide

Helpful information about mentoring

• 2020 New Mentor Panel Webinar Video
• Adviser, Teacher, Role Model, Friend: On being a mentor to students in science and engineering
• Council on Undergraduate Research: Mentor engagement
• Four lessons for being a great mentor to undergrads
• Mentoring Phases (PDF)
• Mentoring Skills for Mentors (PDF)
• Put it In Action: Diversity and Inclusion in Undergraduate Research
• The Science of Mentorship podcast presented by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
• UW Mentoring: A guide for faculty
• Webinar: Getting the most out of mentoring: Best practices from mentors and mentees
• Webinar: The inside scoop about mentoring: Tips from fellow U of M mentors