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UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
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.
Undergraduate Research at CSU
The Hughes Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (University Honors Program)
Undergraduate Research Institute (College of Natural Sciences)
Beckman Scholars Program (for an article about the program, click here )
REU Summer Research Program (Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biosciences)
Undergraduate Student Research (Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Lab)
Undergraduate Research Opportunities (Psychology Department)
McNair Scholars Program
Colorado Alliance for Minority Participation (Co-AMP) (College of Engineering)
REU Summer Research Program: Chill Radar (College of Engineering)
REU Summer Research Program: Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology (College of Engineering)
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
Department of Energy Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships
Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Sciences, National Institutes of Health
SMART (Summer Undergraduate Research Training) Baylor College of Medicine
Summer College Fellowship Program, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut
Summer Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Biology research program for minority students, Harvard School of Public Health
Life Science Summer Undergraduate Research Program, University of Minnesota
National Wildlife Federation Summer Internships and Research
Summer Training Program, University of Rochester Medical Center
Undergraduate Research Activities, Shoals Marine Laboratory (Ithaca, NY)
Summer Student Fellowship Program, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (MA)
Medical Science Training Program, University of Iowa
National Radio Astronomy Observatory summer research programs
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, Southwestern Medical Center
Summer Research Program, Kitt Peak National Observatory (Tucson, AZ)
Summer Research Opportunities Program, a consortium of Big Ten universities
Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships, American Physiological Society
Undergraduate Research Program, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Research Experiences for Undergraduates, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY
Summer Research Training Program, University of California, San Francisco
The SMALL Program (Mathematics and Statistics), Williams College, MA
Microbiology Undergraduate Research Fellowship (MURF), American Society for Microbiology
More links to undergraduate research sites
Even more links (with some duplication), as well as more information about scholarships, study abroad, graduate fellowships, internships, etc.
Still not convinced about the value of undergraduate research? Maybe
this article will convince you.
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