As the fall semester begins, you may already be thinking about getting involved in undergraduate research, scholarship or creative endeavors outside the classroom. Perhaps you've heard about the ways engaged and applied learning can enrich your studies and enhance your college experience, even improving your academic performance and your future prospects after graduation. Maybe there is a faculty member you know and want to work with in a lab, studio, library, archive, or clinic or out in the field. Or you might have an idea for a project and aren't sure which faculty member would be best suited to advise you. The Office of Undergraduate Research in the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs is here to help.
To begin exploring the possibilities, visit ure.uic.edu. Click the button that says "Students start here." There you can search for a faculty member or a project using keywords, names or departments. Once you have found a "match," use this system to reach out to a prospective supervisor. Remember to be your most professional self in your email. These messages go directly to the faculty or staff member, so you want to make a strong first impression! If you don't hear back within a week or two, follow up with a formal email to the contact person with a resume and/or list of relevant courses or experiences attached, and visit the person's office hours after the semester begins.
If you are a student who qualifies for and has accepted Federal Work Study, you may be eligible for a Chancellor's Undergraduate Research Award. Ask the faculty member if they would put in an application on your behalf. The CURA allows you to use your research or creative experience as your Federal Work Study job at no cost to the faculty member or their department. Applications will be reviewed until the funds are depleted or the fourth week of the semester, whichever comes first. You can learn more here: http://ure.uic.edu/facfws.php
If you do not qualify for CURA, there are many other options for funding or to receive academic credit. Your degree-granting college may have a program (such as LASURI in LAS, GPIP in Engineering, UPPF in CUPPA, HUR or TERF in Education, Honors College research grants, etc.). A partial list of classes that grant credit for these engagements can be found here: http://ure.uic.edu/how_do_i_get_credit.php Some faculty are supported by grants that fund undergraduate participation. Be sure to discuss your plans and ideas with your academic advisor and/or the director of undergraduate studies in your major. They may also know of faculty and projects that aren't yet in the ure.uic.edu database.
The UIC Office of Undergraduate Research is here to inspire and support you. You can email us at our@uic.edu. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UICUndergraduateResearch/ Our Twitter handle is @UICOUResearch.
