Research guide

How to find undergraduate research opportunities

Build a shortlist of research labs, check current opportunities, and prepare a thoughtful first conversation with a potential mentor.

By Find Research Labs · Updated October 4, 2026

Start with a question you want to explore

Write down a question, a method you want to learn, and the time you can realistically commit. You do not need a finished research proposal to start exploring. A concrete interest gives you a better starting point than a list of prestigious institutions.

For example, an interest in technology and accessibility can lead to several different directions: designing an interface, studying how people use it, or building the underlying system. Search those directions separately and compare what each group actually does.

Build a small, evidence-based shortlist

Browse labs by university or research area. Open the official faculty or lab page linked from each profile and review a recent publication or project description. Record what interested you and what remains unclear.

MIT's UROP office recommends using several routes to find a project, including conversations with researchers, department websites, and advertised opportunities. A directory can help with discovery, but your own university's research office can explain local programs and eligibility.

Which research question caught your attention?
Which project or publication supports that interest?
Who leads the group, and how should you contact them?
Is recruiting confirmed, unconfirmed, or tied to a specific opening?

Separate a lab listing from an open position

A public profile describes research activity. It does not establish that a group is recruiting undergraduates. On Find Research Labs, unclaimed profiles show availability as unconfirmed. Check the official source and use the stated application route when an opening is available.

Keep a simple shortlist with a source URL, the date you checked it, and your next step. This makes it easier to avoid duplicate messages and revisit information that may have changed.

Prepare for the first conversation

Describe your interests and relevant experience honestly, including coursework or a personal project when you have not done research before. Ask what a new researcher would contribute, who would supervise them, and what preparation would help.

Before committing, clarify the schedule, location, funding or credit arrangement, and the approval process at your institution. Record the answers beside each lab so you can compare practical fit as well as scientific interest.