How Can You Do Undergraduate Research At UK?

Interested in participating in undergraduate research? Look no further! This quick guide will give you some tips. Before you know it, you'll be working on your own research project! DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is strictly for entertainment purpose. The opinions in no way reflect the opinions of the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences. Laughing, giggling, smiling, chuckling and snickering are highly encouraged.

1. Attend an undergraduate research info session.

The Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence hosts information sessions regularly throughout the semester. Look at their website for more information on when you can attend! Each session is only 30 minutes and will give you tons of helpful tips on how to get started.

2. Find a faculty member you want to do research with.

Alright, so you're in college now. Most of the time, faculty members will not approach you asking for help. Find a professor that you like (either that you have taken classes with or just research their bio on the department website) and email them, asking if they are looking for someone to help with research. All professors at UK must do research. So, all of your professors are likely working on a project right now. Undergraduates rarely go out of their way to ask professors if they can help with research, so your professor will probably be glad you asked!

Try to look at their biographies on the department website to see specifically what kind of research they do. If it's not interesting to you, find someone else. Find maybe three separate professors and email them personally, to see if you can get involved with research. You should have some luck with one of them! Remember to be professional and courteous.

3. Earn class credit for your research!

If you work one on one with a faculty member, you will be able to earn class credit for the research. In the College of Arts & Sciences, you can typically earn 3 credit hours each semester for a research project, if you work on the research for so many hours per week. You can do this twice, for 6 total credit hours of research. That's like taking 2 classes!

4. Get paid for your research?

If your professor works in a lab, you may be able to get paid for research. Even if they don't, you may be able to find scholarships or grants for your research. Make sure to ask your professor how you can apply for departmental scholarships.

5. Publishing, conferences, and more!

After you complete your research, ask your professor for help publishing it or presenting it at a conference. There are so many opportunities for undergraduates to present their work. Start researching them and contact the Chellgren Center for more help! You might even be able to enter for an award for your research.

Does this really work? How do you know? A personal anecdote.

So, I thought I would give a personal anecdote to help illustrate how awesome research is at the University of Kentucky. I started doing research with a Political Science professor my sophomore year at UK. I followed these steps! I went to an information session from the Chellgren Center and then reached out to my favorite Political Science professor. He rarely was asked by undergraduates for help with research, and he knew that I excelled in his class, so he was glad to work with me. He helped me carry out my own independent research study, over the course of three semesters. I got 6 credit hours for the research and ended up taking a senior thesis class, to finish up the research. It was great! I wrote my thesis on the research and ended up presenting it at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Memphis, TN last April (2017). My personal research was on state-level legislation and roll-call votes.

Learn from my story! Anything is possible when you seek an opportunity out. I learned so much from my research and am very grateful for the experience.