How to get started!

We are so excited you are interested in getting involved in research and inquiry!  Here are a few ways to get you started:

1. Come visit us in the office!  We are located in GS 212.  Any of our staff members would be happy to guide you!
2. Review these documents for additional guidance:
• Steps to getting started in research and creative activities
• How to contact possible faculty mentors
• How to write an email for professors
• How to conduct research
  • THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD: HOW DO WE FIGURE OUT WHICH QUESTIONS TO ASK? Gail Patricelli, UC Davis.
3. Join the Undergraduate Research & Inquiry Listserv
   • This listserv sends out periodic emails to interested students about upcoming undergraduate research and inquiry opportunities. If you would like to subscribe to this list, simply click Join the Listserv above!
4. Attend an OURI Workshop!   Topics Include:
   • How to get Started in Research
   • Research Ethics
   • Preparing for graduate school
   • Creating an oral or poster presentation
   • Writing a Manuscript
   • and more!
5. Join the  Council for Scholarship and Inquiry , registered student organization at FAU.
6. Make an appointment with a  peer mentor , all are active researchers. Or share your research experience and become a mentor!
7. Check out the OURI Flight Plans for students interested in getting involved in research and OURI activities.  

Get Prepared!

There are a variety of course based opportunities in the different colleges. Some key ones are listed below:

FAU Opportunities

• Honors in the Major:  Look for Honors programs within your discipline. Take research enriched courses and enhance your research and inquiry skills. 
• Direct Independent Research (DIR):  Register for a DIR within your major. Students will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members and also receive college credit.
• Research Intensive Courses:  OURI supports faculty interested in integrating research into the curriculum through RI Designation. All courses that have an intensive research component will have RI in the title of the course. 
• Other College Specific Opportunities:  Consult with a faculty member and review the department website to learn more about additional opportunities. There may be additional internships, fellowships, and other opportunities available.
• MPFI Scholars Honors Program:  The FAU Max Planck Honors Program will serve a select number of highly qualified students. National merit scholars will have preferred admission into the program. The program will offer exclusive electives, specifically unique to the MPFI’s faculty and research infrastructure. The honors in the major program will be offered across three degrees in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science: B.S. in biological sciences; B.A. in psychology; and B.S. in neuroscience and behavior; and as tracks in four concentrations of the Wilkes Honors College: Biology, Biological Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Psychology.
• Review the opportunities on the SparX/Research Hub website though the Division of Research

Summer Curricular Based Internship Opportunities

• Semester by the Sea
  
  • Spend a “Semester by the Sea” (SBTS) at FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, Florida on the shores of the Indian River Lagoon, one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America. 

Benefits of Participating in Undergraduate Research: Resources

The Benefits of Undergraduate Research: The Student’s Perspective- Penn State