Get Started in Undergraduate Research

“Now” is the right time to get involved in undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activities regardless of your major or year in college.

Getting started in undergraduate research involves two important components. The first is developing your research skills, and the second is finding the right opportunity for you to engage in research, scholarship, and creative activities with a mentor.

Begin with Curiosity

Ask the Right Questions

Just as every research project begins with a good question, your own start in undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activities should begin with curiosity. Start by asking yourself:

What kind of research is most interesting to me?
What skills are needed for the research I am interested in?
What opportunities for research, scholarship, and creative activities are available for me to engage in as an undergraduate student?
How much time do I have each week to commit to research and still keep up my grades?

Working through these questions as you search for research projects will help you identify those opportunities that are the perfect fit for you and will draw and sustain your interest, as well as make important decisions about how to develop your own research skills.

Observe Other Researchers

The curiosity that drives research is never insular—socially and professionally speaking, research never happens in a vacuum. No matter how talented and successful they are now, even the most accomplished researchers had to start somewhere and look to many others for inspiration, feedback, advice, mentoring, and more. The best place to start is by learning about the research going on all around you. You can begin to develop your own research skills by looking to the example of others in many ways:

Listen carefully when faculty talk about their research in class—or better yet, just ask them about it!
Attend a seminar or presentation by an expert in your area of interest, or attend a lecture on a topic new to you (it might resonate with you more than expected).
Check websites and social media from organizations aligned with your field of interest to learn about new developments.
Attend WSU’s Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA) and learn about the undergraduate research that other students are doing.
Visit the WSU Libraries in person or online to read research articles, look through industry journals and e-journals, and peruse databases on dozens of topics.
- Note: Don’t forget that this step is crucially related to all the others. Every WSU faculty member you speak with, every expert whose talk you attend or poster you view, almost every individual mentioned in relevant websites and social media feeds, and even many of your fellow undergraduate researchers are disseminating their research work in some form. Most often, they are formally publishing their work through writing—and you can read about their work for yourself through the resources made available to you through WSU Libraries.

As you progress through your own career, you will find that the practices listed above will always be important for maintaining your effectiveness as a researcher.

Take Advantage of Our Programs

Sign Up for Our Course

We offer a one-credit course entitled “UNIV199: Introduction to Directed Research” in both fall and spring semesters. It is designed for those interested in—but not yet working on—research, scholarship, and creative activities. Take it to learn how to get involved in research and gain skills that will prepare you for a mentored research experience.

Meet with Our Peer Mentors

Undergraduates currently involved in research serve as “peer mentors” and are available to meet with you. Their experience and training will help them answer your questions, such as how to get started, options for financial support for your efforts, and finding the right mentor. An online scheduling system helps you get an appointment with any of the mentors profiled on the Office of Undergraduate Research website.

Attend Our Information Sessions

The Office of Undergraduate Research offers a number of information sessions on getting involved with undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activities. Watch for workshop announcements on our events page.

Engage in Course-Based Research

Some classes at WSU involve course-based research. These courses provide a convenient opportunity to engage in research, scholarship, or creativity activities in your discipline while you are earning credits toward your degree.