Undergraduate Research

Cornell’s “any person, any study” principle and high-research-activity, mean that opportunities abound for finding the research program that fits your interests. To find the right fit, do your homework and explore all options:

Learn about faculty research 

Browse the faculty directory to find research topics that interest you. You may also choose to work with faculty outside of CHE.

Consider how or where you would like to work 

Our faculty conduct a wide range of research projects from laboratory research to clinical, social and behavioral research with human participants. Do you want to work in a lab? Analyze large data sets? Work in a clinical setting or out in the field? Consider the type of of work and the environment that interests you, in addition to the research topic. Reading research papers linked to faculty bio pages will give you a sense of the settings their research involves. 

Discuss your interests and timeline with your faculty advisor or instructors of relevant courses

Your faculty advisor’s research areas may interest you, or your advisor may suggest contacts.

The right time to start research is highly individual and depends on your research interests, prior research experiences, course schedules and the expectations of the research program you wish to join.

Meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) for your major

Your DUS is a great resource for finding research opportunities or to learn about relevant coursework. They can also provide honors program information. 
 

Once you've given some thought and planning to what you would like to do, we recommend that you get started one-semester ahead of when you hope to begin your research:

Prepare a research resume

List relevant courses and grades, your career goals and any other experiences you have had on your resume. Many non-research work experiences are relevant to research projects (e.g. working with people, language skills, working with equipment, data entry and management, working as a team member). The CHE Career Explorations Center provides resume-writing support.

Contact faculty early

Once you’ve identified faculty who you would like to work with, contact them at least one semester prior to when you wish to start. 

Some professors may not have openings in their programs until later semesters. Send individual messages that explain how the faculty member’s work matches your interests and ask if they would be willing to meet with you. Read a few of their papers prior to meeting so that you are familiar with their research methods. 

Note that faculty vary in the ways that undergraduates are involved in their research program; some enthusiastically welcome first-year students and others require several courses or other experiences.
 

Be sure that you are serious about getting involved in research before applying.

Research experiences generally work best when you spend multiple semesters with the same research group. In this model, you progress from assisting others with projects to becoming more involved in the development and direction of a project, including training new team members.

Faculty want students with a strong work ethic, who are organized and willing to work both independently and as a team member. They will need you to stay involved throughout the whole semester, so time management and commitment are key criteria for being accepted into a research program.
 

If you are earning credit for research participation as an independent study course (4010), the general guidelines are 1 academic credit for every 3-4 hours of work on the project per week over the term, including time spent with your faculty research mentor.  

You must complete an independent study form to request enrollment in a 4010 course.

Your research advisor and the department offering the course may have additional requirements. You may not earn both credit and pay for the same research hours.  
 

A maximum of 12 credits across all independent study courses (4000, 4010, 4020, 4030) may count toward your 120 credits required for graduation. If you want to exceed 12 credits in these courses, you must still earn 108 other academic credits in addition to the credits in independent study courses.  If you are taking independent study research credit in another college (e.g. BIOG 4990), these credits will also count toward the maximum of 12 credit. Plan ahead to ensure you are on track with graduation requirements. 
 

Yes. To enroll in research credit in Cornell departments outside CHE, you must process any special forms required by that department’s office and college. 
 

Yes, this is possible if you research mentor is willing.   It may seem convenient and desirable because of your close relationship, shared interests and frequent contact with this faculty member.  However, another view is that it is important for you to build a relationship with a separate faculty advisor who focuses on your overall Cornell experience. 
Note that you will need more than one faculty member to write recommendations for summer internships, graduate school, or jobs. Take advantage of creating as many relationships with faculty members as you can.
 

All undergraduate research must be conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. This is necessary to ensure that all research conducted at Cornell meets federal, state and local compliance requirements. You should consult with a faculty member who works in the area of your interests to see if they are willing to supervise you in this project.  However, know that faculty members have a limited amount of time and may not be able to devote time to projects outside their own research programs. Also consider that you may learn more about research by working with a faculty member on a topic for which they truly are an expert in a cutting edge field.  
 

At the start of your research experience, you will learn how the research project and team address problems that arise and whom you should contact when you have a problem or concerns. Research takes patience and it does not always go as planned.  

First, bring your concerns to the person supervising your work in a timely way so you can make a plan to address the issue. If that is not appropriate or does not adequately address the issue, then discuss your concerns with your faculty research mentor. If you continue to have concerns about your research experience, then you should make an appointment to speak with the director of undergraduate studies in your department.   
 

Each major has their own honors program requirements. Check your major page or contact your department office or DUS. Then with understanding of the program requirements and timeline, discuss the possibility with your faculty research mentor and the director of the honors program. Some students appreciate the experience of writing a thesis in their final semester, while others learn a great deal from the research experience but do not want the responsibility of writing a thesis.