Discover undergraduate research opportunities through Handshake
Participating in undergraduate research is a powerful way to enhance your academic journey, build career-relevant skills and work closely with faculty mentors and research teams. Whether you're exploring your interests, preparing for graduate school, or gaining hands-on experience in your field, UC Davis offers a variety of research opportunities across all disciplines — and many of them are posted right on Handshake.
What is Handshake?
Handshake is UC Davis’s centralized online platform for students to search and apply for jobs, internships and research opportunities. Faculty and research programs across campus utilize Handshake to post undergraduate research positions — including lab assistant roles, fieldwork opportunities, internships and creative project collaborations. Compensation can look different for each student engaging in undergraduate research. It can include, but is not limited to volunteer roles, transcript notation, unit credits, honors thesis, etc.
Handshake is updated regularly, so check back often and set up job alerts based on your academic interests.
Finding research opportunities on Handshake
Here’s how to use Handshake effectively to discover undergraduate research roles:
1. Log in to Handshake.
Go to ucdavis.joinhandshake.com and sign in using your UC Davis credentials.
2. Search keywords.
Try using keywords like
- Undergraduate research
- Lab assistant
- Fieldwork
- Research intern
- Creative projects
3. Filter your results.
Use filters, start with one or two, such as
- Job Type: part-time, internship or on-campus
- Employer: UC Davis
- Major: Select relevant majors for targeted results
4. Save your searches.
Turn on notifications to receive updates when new opportunities matching your criteria are posted.
Featured research opportunities
Below is a live feed of current undergraduate research opportunities pulled directly from Handshake. This RSS feed is curated by the Undergraduate Research Center and highlights open positions for students.
Need help getting started?
If you're unsure how to begin your undergraduate research journey, explore other research-related resources for students or connect with a peer advisor. We’re here to support you every step of the way.