Getting Involved in Undergraduate Research

A Student's Guide

• 1

  Connect with a Peer

  OSEEL's multidisciplinary team of passionate, experienced undergraduate researchers will mentor you as you begin your research.

• 2

  Join Council on Undergraduate Research

  Access your free membership to the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). Join a community of like minded individuals and access avariety of free resources.

• 3

  Determine Your Interests

  Think about your research area of interest. Don't pursue a project you won't give 100% to — do something that you'll enjoy, even if it's not in your major.

• 4

  Check Out Faculty Research

  Look at what research faculty members in your field of interest are conducting. Make a list of the faculty that you're interested in working with.

• 5

  Contact Faculty

  Reach out to faculty with research interests similar to yours. Even if that person is unavailable, they may be able to point you in the right direction.
• 6

  Make a Time Commitment

  Think about how much time you can commit to conducting research. Be honest with yourself and your faculty mentor.
• 7

  Use Your Resources

  Use the many resources on campus that can help your research — apply to OSEEL programs to fund your research.
• 8

  Understand Expectations and Start

  Discuss with your faculty mentor what their expectations are of you. Once everything is clear, start your new journey of undergraduate research.
• 9

  Present Your Work

  Whether it NIU's annual Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement, another on-campus opportunity or professional conference, presenting is a great way to build you communication skills.
• 10

  Transfer Skills

  Take all the amazing skills you developed while conducting research and use them while working in your future career. List these skills on future résumés and applications (PDF) to set yourself apart from other applicants.