Upcoming Spring Showcase & Research Events
Fulbright Day – March 20th, 3-4:30pm – Shaffer Art Building Atrium
- A resource fair designed to introduce the range of opportunities funded through the Fulbright Program, including research
- Hosted by the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) and the Office of Research
Orange Talks & Award Ceremony – March 21st, 4-6pm – Sheraton, Comstock Room
- Event featuring 5 students presenting their research in “lightning talks” and presentation of faculty mentor award
Lender Center for Social Justice Symposium & Lunch – March 22nd, 11:30-1:30pm – Sheraton, Comstock Room
- Presentation of collaborative student research focused on the social justice implications of artificial intelligence.
Poster Session & Interactive Displays – March 22nd, 2-4pm, Sheraton, Regency Ballroom
- 75+ students from all disciplines presenting research on posters and through interactive table displays
Undergraduate Research FAQs
What is research and creative engagement?
Undergraduate research work takes many forms but all follow a similar structure:
- Beginning with a sense of curiosity in the exploration of a topic of interest
- An understanding of the current landscape of a scholarly, professional or creative field of study.
- Designing of a study or project using the methods and tools of a discpline to present evidence that responds to a question or theme.
- All undergraduate research students are supported by a faculty mentor in their field.
- Student research and creative projects may be produced by students at all levels in classes, labs, recitals, as part of a distinction or thesis program, or independently.
Why should I participate in undergraduate research?
Participating in undergraduate research allows you to:
- Apply your knowledge to real-world problems and issues
- Develop a strong faculty mentor relationship
- Improve your problem-solving and creative thinking skills
- Explore potential career areas
- Develop skills you can use on the job market or in grad school
- Explore a topic you find fascinating and participate in the creation of new knowledge
How does undergraduate research work at Syracuse University?
- Students are guided by a faculty mentor (typically a tenured or tenure-track professor) or research staff member.
- In humanities, communications/journalism, business/management, social sciences, arts: students work as part of a research team or one-on-one with a professor to either assist with an ongoing project or design an independent project.
- In STEM fields: students work as part of a lab team, led by a professor (or Primary Investigator, “PI”): students assist with ongoing projects and may take leadership on part of the lab’s work.
- Students may also work off-campus, with a community organization, another university, or do research as part of the study abroad experience.
What are some examples of undergraduate research?
- Miguel Guzman, ’24 – lab research on bioactive protein-cholesterol-based nanoparticles
- Sophie Clinton, ’24 – conducted social science research while abroad in Santiago, Chile
- Ngai Lan Tam ’23 – created an exhibition with structural design, film and performance
- Fátima Bings Martínez ’24 – worked as a research assistant for a literary journal
- Ruchatneet Printup ’23 – directed a film set in his Native community
How do I find a research topic or area of interest?
Jot down a few notes in response to these prompts:
- Readings or lectures from a class that sparked your interest and made you want to learn more or share with a friend
- Problems or issues that you’d like to contribute to solving or improving
- Gaps in your education
- Skills that you’re interested in developing
- Passions, hobbies, and personal interests
- Goals or outcomes that could build your portfolio and be shared with a future employer or graduate school
Connect with others
- Talk to your professors during their office hours about how they first discovered their research interests
- Get inspired at a student research presentation event on campus: the SOURCE Fall Expo, Spring Showcase, or Summer Symposium, or a school/college event
- Go to lectures and talks on campus and ask questions
- Chat with fellow students doing research (you could start with SOURCE Student Research Mentors) about how they found their focus
- If you have a specific post-graduate goal (career, graduate study, etc.), speak with career and academic advisors about the skills you should be building
The Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Engagement (The SOURCE)
New Location: 208 Bowne Hall
315-443-2091 / ugresearch@syr.edu
Please join us for our events – calendar is here
Undergraduate Research FAQs
What is research and creative engagement?
Undergraduate research work takes many forms but all follow a similar structure:
- Beginning with a sense of curiosity in the exploration of a topic of interest
- An understanding of the current landscape of a scholarly, professional or creative field of study.
- Designing of a study or project using the methods and tools of a discpline to present evidence that responds to a question or theme.
- All undergraduate research students are supported by a faculty mentor in their field.
- Student research and creative projects may be produced by students at all levels in classes, labs, recitals, as part of a distinction or thesis program, or independently.
Why should I participate in undergraduate research?
Participating in undergraduate research allows you to:
- Apply your knowledge to real-world problems and issues
- Develop a strong faculty mentor relationship
- Improve your problem-solving and creative thinking skills
- Explore potential career areas
- Develop skills you can use on the job market or in grad school
- Explore a topic you find fascinating and participate in the creation of new knowledge
How does undergraduate research work at Syracuse University?
- Students are guided by a faculty mentor (typically a tenured or tenure-track professor) or research staff member.
- In humanities, communications/journalism, business/management, social sciences, arts: students work as part of a research team or one-on-one with a professor to either assist with an ongoing project or design an independent project.
- In STEM fields: students work as part of a lab team, led by a professor (or Primary Investigator, “PI”): students assist with ongoing projects and may take leadership on part of the lab’s work.
- Students may also work off-campus, with a community organization, another university, or do research as part of the study abroad experience.
What are some examples of undergraduate research?
- Miguel Guzman, ’24 – lab research on bioactive protein-cholesterol-based nanoparticles
- Sophie Clinton, ’24 – conducted social science research while abroad in Santiago, Chile
- Ngai Lan Tam ’23 – created an exhibition with structural design, film and performance
- Fátima Bings Martínez ’24 – worked as a research assistant for a literary journal
- Ruchatneet Printup ’23 – directed a film set in his Native community
How do I find a research topic or area of interest?
Jot down a few notes in response to these prompts:
- Readings or lectures from a class that sparked your interest and made you want to learn more or share with a friend
- Problems or issues that you’d like to contribute to solving or improving
- Gaps in your education
- Skills that you’re interested in developing
- Passions, hobbies, and personal interests
- Goals or outcomes that could build your portfolio and be shared with a future employer or graduate school
Connect with others
- Talk to your professors during their office hours about how they first discovered their research interests
- Get inspired at a student research presentation event on campus: the SOURCE Fall Expo, Spring Showcase, or Summer Symposium, or a school/college event
- Go to lectures and talks on campus and ask questions
- Chat with fellow students doing research (you could start with SOURCE Student Research Mentors) about how they found their focus
- If you have a specific post-graduate goal (career, graduate study, etc.), speak with career and academic advisors about the skills you should be building
The Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Engagement (The SOURCE)
New Location: 208 Bowne Hall
315-443-2091 / ugresearch@syr.edu