How do I find out which type of research interests me?
This is one of the most common questions we get. Most students build on past research they have done in class or through internships. Maybe there was a topic in one of your seminars you really enjoyed and want to know more about. Or maybe you’ve always had questions about a topic, but never had the time to study it more. Engaging in research can give you the time you need to encourage your own curiosity.
If after thinking through some possible ideas you are still feeling stuck, you can schedule an appointment to brainstorm ideas with us. We can certainly help you identify your interests and figure out where you can fit into a research plan. In addition to helping you identify your interests, we can help you find research opportunities, reach out to faculty mentors and advise you on other elements of undergraduate research at UD.
Once I find a research idea, what is my next step?
Your next step should be identifying and reaching out to potential research mentors. Whether you have a specific research question you want to pursue through an independent research project or you’ve identified general research areas you want to explore more through an internship-style research experience, your next step should be finding someone with whom you might want to work.
- First go to your department’s website and navigate to the faculty lists. Then, check out each professor’s individual profile page and reach through their research interests. Some of them may even have projects posted where they need undergraduate help. Many professors will also have their CV available – read through it if you can so you can get a better sense of the person’s past work.
- Take a look at research articles that they (or others in their lab) have written – you can often find these in e-journals that the UD Library subscribes to.
- Contact the faculty member to see whether they have openings for undergraduates and to see whether you can schedule a one-on-one conversation to chat with them further about their research. Faculty like to work with students – and talk about their research interests. Most faculty will be very interested to hear from you.
- If after looking through your own department’s faculty you don’t feel as if you’ve found a good match, you can also look through the faculty lists in other departments to try to find someone. Interdisciplinary work is often an important part of research, so reaching out to professors in other disciplines and departments can often be helpful.
- Most departmental websites should also have a page about research resources for students or list related internship opportunities. Each department organizes their website differently, so it may take a little bit of searching before you find what you’re looking for.
- Some departments also have a dedicated professor for undergraduate research or undergraduate study. If there is a person for this type of position in your department, you should reach out to them for support and to see if they are aware of any ongoing research projects for undergraduate students to participate in.
How should I reach out to faculty? What should I write in my message?
In your initial contact email, be sure to communicate your interest in conducting undergraduate research and your desire to work with that particular faculty member. The more specific and tailored your email is, the more success you will have connecting with potential faculty mentors.
Things you may want to include in the email:
- Introducing yourself – mention your name, major, and class status
- Reading up on some of their research beforehand and letting them know what about it interests you.
- Being genuine. Remember there are no right or wrong answers here – and the more detail you convey about what it is in their research that appeals to you, the more authentic your interest will be and appear.
- Requesting a meeting to talk with them further about possible ways you could get involved in research the professor is conducting, other projects the professor might know about, or even positions previous students in the department have done. Framing the request less as an inquiry about a specific job and opening it up to other possibilities will help to make the conversation more beneficial.
- Always ending the email by thanking them for their time.
Some other tips to consider:
- Your email should come from your udel account.
- You should include a clear subject line, address the faculty member as “Dr.” or “Professor,” and be professional in tone and language.
- Remember, this is a very stressful time, and everyone is managing a number of both academic and non-academic related tasks. Faculty may take a while to get back to you – so certainly don’t get discouraged if you do not hear back right away.
What happens if I don’t hear back, or the faculty member is unavailable to work with me?
Finding a research opportunity is not unlike finding a job – you may well have to apply to more than one. If you are having a hard time contacting a faculty member or finding one who is interested in working with you, don’t feel discouraged. Just reach back out to our office for more help. There are no bad questions, and whatever you want to ask about is almost certainly something we’ve been asked about before. We’re here to help!
I’m still having trouble. Where else can I look for opportunities?
- Try looking at the websites for professional organizations in your field. The purpose of professional organizations is to support the work of people currently in the discipline as well as to provide resources and opportunities to the next generation. Many professional organizations offer networks and research positions for college students.
- You can find a list of all the labs and programs at UD here: https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/chs/research/labs-programs/ – try looking through and see if any are advertising positions for students
- Look through the list of research positions our office is connected to here: https://www.urp.udel.edu/internal-opportunities/
- Try reaching out to organizations related to your field in Delaware or other places near where you live to see if there are any volunteer or paid positions you could apply to.