Photo collage of students climbing rocks, and students in research labs

How do  I get started?  

1.  Explore your interests and goals and find faculty in research areas that interest you. 

Research is done across all majors at UC Davis. Find areas of interest that excite you and fire up your curiosity! Give some thought to your goals for engaging in research and learn to articulate them. What are you planning after you earn your degree? 

  • Check out these searchable PDFs from our annual undergraduate research conference. This is a great way to see examples of undergraduate research taking place on campus. You can also learn about faculty who support undergraduate students in their labs and on their research projects.
  • Go to the UC Davis websites for the major of your interest and find the faculty pages. Click on a faculty person's name to learn more about their research focus and publications as well as find links to their labs or research groups. 
  • Check out some of the resources for seminar, webinars, videos and literature on our Online Resources page.
  • Ask questions. Asking questions shows you are interested.  
  • Not sure where you are going with your major? Check out: What Can I Do With This Major?
  • Attend the Undergraduate Research Center's Undergraduate Research Conference, Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference. 
  • Search and read news articles, class materials, journal articles,  UC Davis blogs and more.
  • Join mailing lists.
    • What kind of experience do you want?
    • Are you ok working on a team as part of a larger research topic or question or do you want to conduct your own original research?
    • Do you want to be part of a big team, do you want to work on a smaller project or would you prefer to work one-on-one with a faculty member or graduate student?
    • Do you want to do research related to your field of study and deepen your understanding and experience or do you want to do research outside your field of study and broaden your understanding and experience?

2.  Get advice and make a plan.

Attend an advising session:  

  • Check out the list of upcoming Discovery Café Webinars or advising session and register here. 
  • View the recordings of past Discovery Cafés and other helpful videos to learn how to form a plan and even get tips on how to email a professor in our Video Library. 

View how to get involved in research:

How to get involved UR Week (HArCSS)
How to get involved UR Week STEM
How to get involved Research Road Map

 

Check out how to get involved in research FAQs

Many undergraduates have the same questions as you may have.  

Make or update your CV/resume: 

Visit the Internship and Career Center for advice with CV and Resume writing: https://icc.ucdavis.edu/ 

Get tips on reaching out to Faculty:

3. Engage in professional development: 

You can  stay engaged by exploring online resources to help you to continue to think critically about fields of research, learn techniques and engage in professional development.  

Check out virtual learning and professional development opportunities here.

4. Stay connected:

Sign up for our mailing list:

Join the Undergraduate Research Center Listserv to stay updated on news and opportunities by sending an email as follows:
To: sympa@ucdavis.edu
Subject:  subscribe ugresearchcenter your name
Body:  [LEAVE BLANK]

Can't find the answer to your question or need more advise?  Please feel free to Email the URC staff at urc@ucdavis.edu .   

5. Find a program that fits you:

The URC offers a wide variety of programs and opportunities to get involved in research, even if you're not STEM!

 

Check out the Mentor-Mentee Program in Humanities, Arts, Cultural Studies, and Social Sciences

Are you African American, Chicano, Latino, Native American, or Pacific Islander? Check out the NSF LSAMP/CAMP Program for STEM majors. 

Interested in STEM Research? Check out the Mentorship for Undergraduate Research Participants in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MURPPS)

For more information about other programs across campus:  https://urc.ucdavis.edu/other-programs 

Find more information on programs and Fellowships, check out the menu lists at the top of the page!

Join us on social media:  click on the social media icons at the bottom footer of this page!