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Colorado State University 's research programs are among the best in the nation, and there are numerous opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in research activities on the main campus, in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and at our foothills campus. CSU leads the world in such areas as infectious disease research, atmospheric science, and environmental science. CSU is home to an NIH Regional Center of Excellence in Infectious Disease, the world's largest animal cancer center, a world-renown Equine Orthopedic Research Center, among many other excellent facilities. CSU was the first university in the U.S. to receive funding for two National Science Foundation centers in one round -- one in extreme ultraviolet light and the other in atmospheric science. Faculty researchers encourage undergraduates to join their research teams in most laboratories on campus.
Participation in research is often the highlight of an undergraduate learning experience. In a research setting, you will have the opportunity to:
- develop a meaningful mentoring relationship with a faculty member
- gain laboratory experience, learn research techniques, and participate in exciting discoveries
- sharpen your critical thinking and analytical thinking skills
- help clarify your academic and career interests and goals
- improve your written and oral communication abilities
- learn how to work as a member of a team
- earn professional and academic credentials to support applications for scholarships, awards,
career employment and entry into graduate and professional schools
- participate directly in the University's central mission of scientific discovery, scholarly
activity and artistic creation
Before becoming involved in a research project with a faculty member, it is important to consider your goals, interests, time commitments, and preparation. Some questions you might want to ask yourself include:
- What do I hope to gain through my research experience?
- What are my professional interests?
- How much time can I realistically commit to working on a research project?
- Are there particular skills I need to aid me in my research project?
Whether you are ready for research depends on your willingness to take intellectual risks, to work hard, and to expect some setbacks along the way. If you are intellectually curious about a particular area, willing to work as part of a team, and eager to master new skills, you will be ready for a research experience.
The faculty and staff at CSU are committed to making research a major component of the undergraduate educational experience and have developed numerous programs that enhance research opportunities at the undergraduate level. Interested students are encouraged to follow links below to learn more about these opportunities and to visit departmental websites to learn more about faculty research.
Still not convinced about the value of undergraduate research? Maybe this article will convince you.
Undergraduate Research at CSU
An excellent
resource for students interested in undergraduate research is
the Office
for Undergraduate Research and Artistry at CSU. Dr.
Mark Brown works closely with the Honors program both as a seminar
instructor and in the coordination and administration of the
Honors Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. He helps
students establish connections with faculty and local industry
to gain the experience they need outside the classroom.
The Honors
Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (Office of Undergraduate Research and Artistry)
Celebrate Undergraduate Research
and Creativity at CSU (CURC)
Undergraduate Research Institute (College of Natural Sciences)
REU Summer Research Program (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biosciences)
McNair Scholars Program
REU Summer Research Program: Chill Radar (College of Engineering)
REU Summer Research Program: Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology (College of Engineering)
REU Summer Program
on Mind and Brain (Department of Psychology)
Summer Research Programs (non-CSU)
There are literally hundreds of programs that provide the opportunity for undergraduates to participate in research over the summer. Here are some links to help you get started:
Research Experiences for Undergraduates, National Science Foundation
Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Sciences, National Institutes of Health (new link)
SMART (Summer Undergraduate Research Training) Baylor College of Medicine
Summer Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Life Science Summer Undergraduate Research Program, University of Minnesota
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, Southwestern Medical Center
Summer Research Opportunities Program, a consortium of Big Ten universities (new link)
Summer Research Training Program, University of California, San Francisco
Microbiology Undergraduate Research Fellowship (MURF), American Society for Microbiology
The
American Physiological Society Undergraduate Summer Research
National Institutes of Health Summer Internships
Funding
resources for women:
Research Experiences for Undergraduates, National Science Foundation
Department of Energy Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships
National Radio Astronomy Observatory summer research programs
Summer Research Program, Kitt Peak National Observatory (Tucson, AZ)
Summer Research Opportunities Program, a consortium of Big Ten universities (new link)
Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships, American Physiological Society
Undergraduate Research Program, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
LPI Summer Internship Lunar and Planetary Institute Internship in Houston
NASA Planetary Biology Internship - Seniors, summer internship at a NASA facility or university
Argonne National Laboratory summer internships
National Renewable Energy Lab - summer internships; numerous sites
Funding
resources for women
Research Experiences for Undergraduates, National Science Foundation
Summer Research Opportunities Program, a consortium of Big Ten universities (new link)
The SMALL Program (Mathematics and Statistics), Williams College, MA
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) - Boston
NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program - engr, math, comp sci, science
Mickey Leland Environmental Internship - Texas (summer)
Funding resources for women: http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3women.htm
National Wildlife Federation Summer Internships and Research
Summer Student Fellowship Program, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (MA)
Research Experiences for Undergraduates, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY
Research Experiences in Tropical Studies
Mickey Leland Environmental Internship - Texas (summer)
Funding
resources for women
Social Sciences/Arts/Humanities
German Academic Exchange
German
Political Internships
Ralph Bunche Summer Institute - Duke Univ; minority political science students
Smithsonian Internships - all kinds, lots of majors
Roosevelt Archival Internship - Like FDR? This one's for you.
Mickey Leland Environmental Internship - Texas (summer)
Funding
resources for women
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