Undergraduate Research

Jump-Start Your Career with Undergraduate Research

While pursuing a B.S. or B.A. degree in the College of Natural Science, students are encouraged to participate in science research as the junior colleagues of faculty. Participation in science research provides practical skills and knowledge that will jump-start your career after graduation or as a graduate student.

Students working in a research laboratory gain a deeper understanding in a scientific area and valuable hands-on experience. Conducting undergraduate research is a unique opportunity to learn from faculty, researchers, graduate students, and other undergraduate students who share similar career interests and goals.

Simply put, being involved in science research greatly enhances your degree. It provides a unique experience and makes you competitive for graduate school or high-end science careers.

Students participate in science research at various levels

• Developing research plans
• Writing proposals
• Conducting research
• Analyzing data
• Presenting research results

The MSU Advantage

As a Tier-1 major research institution, MSU provides the opportunity to actively involve science research with undergraduate education. The research opportunities available at MSU are unlike anywhere else.

The number and diversity of research projects at MSU gives students the ability to participate during the academic year or the summer – there are no universal starting dates.

Students become involved in research at any time while at MSU. There are no prerequisites. The experience often allows students to receive academic credit as well as stipends and pay depending on the research project.

Scholarships and Financial Support

CNS and our alumni recognize the importance of undergraduate research and have established funds to help support students with undergraduate research. Read more about the scholarships and grants available…

How to Get Started in Undergraduate Research

1. Determine the amount of time you can commit and consider how this will work into your schedule. Faculty want continuity in their research team, so students with a consistent commitment are the most valuable.
2. Find an area of research that aligns with your career goals and interests. Look across a variety of departments since research often involves collaborative partnerships with faculty from different departments. Visit the faculty research sections of department and interdisciplinary graduate program websites. While research teams primarily consist of graduate students, many faculty often allow undergraduate students to participate on their research team.
3. Contact the individual faculty member conducting the research and inquire about a position on the research team. Students can also contact their undergraduate program director, within their major, to help identify research positions which align with their goals and interests.
4. Visit the Research Opportunities page for various sources to help you find undergraduate research opportunities.
5. Review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on undergraduate research at MSU.

Professorial Assistants

CNS boasts the highest number of Professorial Assistants on campus. This highly selective program for entering freshmen provides an opportunity for students to work directly with a faculty mentor on tasks directly related to scholarly research. Contact the MSU Honors College for details.

Venture and the Undergraduate Research Office at MSU

A database of research, scholarship, and creative opportunities for MSU undergraduate students. Venture connects students to these opportunities and provides an avenue for student engagement in original investigation, experimentation, and creativity across many fields of study. Search the Venture Database.

The Undergraduate Research Office at Michigan State University supports the work of faculty and students across the campus by collaborating to develop, promote, enhance, and assess undergraduate research and creative activities at MSU. Visit the URCA website for details on research opportunities and the annual Research and Arts Forum.

McNair/Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)

This program encourages first-generation, low-income college juniors and seniors to enter doctoral study. McNair runs simultaneously with the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP), which is a research program for underrepresented students. Together these programs enable students to obtain the necessary skills for success in graduate school. Find more details on the McNair/SROP website.