1. Why should I do research as an undergraduate?
  2. Who can pursue research at Carolina and what kinds of research projects have undergraduates done?
  3. How do I get started?
  4. How can I find funding?
  5. Will I receive course credit for my research? Can research be used to meet general education requirements?
  6. Can I pursue a research project outside of my major department?
  7. Who can I contact in my major department in order to get answers to specific questions about enrollments, prerequisites, etc.?
  8. How can my research be recognized?
  9. I keep hearing that UNC is a research university. What does that mean? And, what are the benefits of attending a research university?
  10. How can the Office for Undergraduate Research help me and where is the Office for Undergraduate Research located?
  11. I want to explore my options for undergraduate research, but I don’t have a specific project in mind. What should I do?
  12. What is a faculty advisor and why do I need one?
  13. Can research be performed outside of UNC? Are there international research opportunities at UNC?
  14. What are the timelines associated with doing research at UNC?

 

  1. Why should I do research as an undergraduate?
    Undergraduate research is an opportunity to perform in-depth study, gain transferable skills, develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, define academic and professional interests, and form relationships with mentors, professors, and other students.

  2. Who can pursue research at Carolina and what kinds of research projects have undergraduates done?
    The Office for Undergraduate Research affirms the University’s commitment to provide “an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community.” Students from all majors and backgrounds pursue research, scholarship and creative performance at Carolina. Students may begin as early as their first year, though we suggest a semester of transitioning to university life before making a commitment to research. Although some people mistakenly think that research opportunities are limited to the sciences or to Honors students, there are independent study and research opportunities available in all departments at Carolina, including the arts & humanities and social sciences.

    Some examples of student projects include: “Cocoons and Canaries”-a mural in Southern Village, “Uniting Human Rights and Public Art” in Oaxaca, Mexico, “Misconceptions about Women of the Middle East,” “Anatomy of Delay in the NC Court of Appeals,” “Fair Trade Clothing” in Argentina, “Russian Wetlands Policy,” “News Coverage and Education Policy,” commercial, social, scientific, and artistic entrepreneurship, community-based research. . . undergraduates from all schools in all majors have conducted research, scholarship and creative performance projects on nearly all continents. You can see more examples of student projects in the Summer Research Projects Database and the Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research Abstracts where you can browse past projects by major or department.

  3. How do I get started?
    There is no one specific path for getting involved in research. Here are several ways to get started:

    a) Search the OUR Database of Research Opportunities.

    b) Contact an Undergraduate Research Ambassador. Ambassadors can meet with you to help find a research opportunity, initiate contact with professors or research mentors, and answer most questions about undergraduate research at Carolina. Contact information for Ambassadors can be found here.

    c) Contact a Liaison for Undergraduate Research. Liaisons are graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty in specific departments who are willing to meet with undergraduates regarding research opportunities, resume/CV preparation, and graduate school applications. Liaison contact information can be found here.

    d) Enroll in IDST 194: Modes of Inquiry. This is a one-credit pass/fail course offered each semester. The course, hosted by the Office for Undergraduate Research, includes faculty research presentations in all disciplines and exposes students to numerous research areas and methodologies.

    e) Schedule appointments with your professors and/or TAs to discuss their research interests. If you are interested in their work, ask if there is any way to get involved in an upcoming project.

    f) Look at faculty biographies and faculty research profiles on departmental websites and make an appointment to speak with professors whose work interests you.

    g) Visit the “Getting Started” link on the Office for Undergraduate Research website for additional tips on finding research opportunities.

  4. How can I find funding?
    If you are already active in a lab or research team, ask your supervisor if there are any opportunities for funding for an independent project. If your current research team does not provide funding, you can search the Internal Funding Database.

    The Office for Undergraduate Research also provides Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURFs) for students to complete summer research projects developed with a faculty mentor. Grants of $3,000 are awarded to over 60 students each year. Applications are competitive and due in February. More information can be found here.

    Other individual research fellowships for the summer or academic year can be found here.

  5. Will I receive course credit for my research? Can research be used to meet general education requirements?
    There are many ways to receive course credit for both learning about research methods and doing research. You can learn more on the Get Course Credit page and in the Courses and Workshops section of this website. Research conducted outside the classroom can be volunteer, paid, or for credit. This will be decided by the individual lab or research team, as requirements differ by department.

    The curriculum includes an Experiential Learning requirement, which can be met by receiving credit for one course which includes sustained and mentored research. Departmental course descriptions should be used to verify that any particular 295 or 395 course has been approved to meet the Experiential Learning requirement.

  6. Can I pursue a research project outside of my major department?
    Yes! Students are not limited to pursuing projects within their declared major, and are encouraged to pursue interdisciplinary projects that span any and all disciplines. Please note that occasionally students encounter difficulties if they need course credit within their major department for research that is conducted in other disciplines.

  7. Who can I contact in my major department in order to get answers to specific questions about enrollments, prerequisites, etc.?
    Every department has a Director of Undergraduate Studies, who can either answer your questions or direct you to another person in your department for the assistance you need. In large departments, there is often a very knowledgeable student services assistant who can provide useful information. For a listing of the Directors in departments within the College of Arts and Sciences, visit http://college.unc.edu/undergraduateed/directors. For other undergraduate programs, consult the department website to find the appropriate contact.

  8. How can my research be recognized?
    The Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research Symposium (CUR) is hosted each April in the Frank Porter Graham Student Union. The event includes poster and platform presentations showcasing undergraduate research conducted by Carolina students. The event is free and open to the public. Abstracts must be submitted by mid-March. Visit this page for more information.

    The OUR also collaborates with others to enable students from all North Carolina schools to present their work in the “State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium” held in mid-November. In odd years when the NC General Assembly is in session in April, students from all UNC system schools are invited to present their results in a poster session for their own legislators. This “Research in the Capital” symposium was initiated by the OUR. The OUR also offers Undergraduate Travel Awards to enable undergraduates to present their work at professional meetings.

    The Carolina Research Scholar Program (CRSP) is a program that provides a framework for undergraduate research at UNC-Chapel Hill. Requirements include the completion of one multidisciplinary course, two research-intensive courses, and a presentation of research. Specific program requirements can be found here. The program is open to all undergraduates. Successful completion of the program culminates in transcript designation as a “Carolina Research Scholar.”

    Additionally, there are many publishing opportunities at Carolina and beyond. This page includes peer-reviewed research journals accepting undergraduate research submissions. You can search by major or department.

  9. I keep hearing that UNC is a research university. What does that mean? And, what are the benefits of attending a research university?
    A research university is a complex and interdependent community of individuals who value the intellectual and practical benefits of original inquiry and creative expression. There are many responsibilities associated with belonging to this community. Faculty are both engaged in original research, scholarship and creative performance, and also responsible for continuing to define the boundaries between the known and the unknown, and teaching the methods that can be used to reach significant conclusions. Students also have many responsibilities as they abandon novice-like approaches to learning and embrace the more expert-like habits of mind that will be necessary to address the unsolved problems of the future. There are also many benefits of contributing to the University’s research mission, including the development of your creative abilities and confidence that you can undertake original work of significance to society.

  10. How can the Office for Undergraduate Research help me and where is the Office for Undergraduate Research located?
    The programs and resources of the OUR can help to empower you to take the next step that you need in order to engage in undergraduate research. We hope that all students will use these resources in ways appropriate to their situations and feel welcomed into the communities of performance, scholarship and research that comprise the Carolina campus. We look forward to helping you to pursue topics of your greatest intellectual and creative interests, and to communicate the results through campus symposia, publications, and professional meetings.

    The Office for Undergraduate Research is located in 220 Graham Memorial Hall. Please stop by the office or contact us with any questions or comments!

    Website: http://www.unc.edu/depts/our/
    Email: our@unc.edu
    Facebook
    Twitter: @unc_ugrad_rsch
    Blog: http://ourblog.web.unc.edu/

 

 


 

 

WHAT IS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH?   divider image  TOP 10 QUESTIONS   divider image   GETTING STARTED

 

 

 

 

Register for IDST194, Modes of Inquiry, and learn about research in all disciplines