Other UD Opportunities


Academic Year Research

    Students interested in participating in research throughout the academic year generally go about doing so in two ways: as a volunteer or via and independent study. Many first year students who are still adjusting to life on campus and working on time-management opt to begin their careers as researchers by volunteering for a faculty member: this type of research work allows for much greater flexibility with the work schedule and required time commitment. While you will not receive any official recognition for your work (for example, on your transcript), it is still a great way to learn about your field and become part of a professional community. Plus, volunteering at the start of a project can help you to get an idea of whether or not you are really interested in a particular project, and you can then work more fully on it in the future.

The most common option for students participating in academic year research is to enroll in an independent study course. This option allows you to receive credit for your time completing research; however, it also comes with a time commitment. Depending on the number of credits you enroll in for independent study, you are required to complete a certain number of work hours: 1 credit independent study = 3-5 hours/week, 2 credits = 6-9 hours/week, 3 credits = 10-12 hours/week. You and your faculty advisor should discuss the time commitment that works best for both of you.

A Note about Winter Session: students are encouraged to continue their research over Winter Session, or to begin it at this time and continue on during the spring. The reason we encourage this is because the Winter Session is not usually enough time to become trained and involved with the research process, and to find conclusive results. For the most part, students who conduct research over winter also work on that project during the regular academic year. Research during the Winter Session may be done on a volunteer basis, or as an independent study.



Other UD Programs

While the Undergraduate Research Office offers many exciting opportunities for students to engage in research, the University of Delaware is also home to many other exciting and interesting programs, such as the McNair Scholars Program and UD Study Abroad, which often incorporate undergraduate research components. Follow any of the links below to find out more specific information about these other programs:

  • McNair Scholars
  • Beckman Scholars
  • NSF/REU -National Science Foundation/Research Experience for Undergraduate Participants
  • Center for Composite Materials(CCM)
  • College of Marine and Earth Studies Summer Internship Program
  • Computer Architecture and Parallel Systems Laboratory (CAPSL)
  • Delaware Water Resources Center (DWRC)
  • Disaster Research Center (DRC)
  • Resources to Ensure Successful Engineers (RISE)
  • Plastino Award
  • Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Biological Sciences
  • Arts and Humanities Summer Institute