CURRENT STUDENTS - Connect with an opportunity
There are several ways to connect with undergraduate research and artistry opportunities. Some paths may appeal to you more than others, so try those first (maybe even simultaneously!). If you are not finding a connection through one path, however, do not allow it to frustrate you. Instead, pursue another approach. If you become involved in research and artistry early in your undergraduate program, you might have more than one experience and even find those through different routes.
Connect directly with a faculty member
Many of your course instructors and department faculty have their own research or artistry pursuits. One way to find an opportunity is to connect with a faculty member directly. Sometimes professors (or graduate TAs) have opportunities available and will recruit directly from the classes they teach. Even if one of your faculty members doesn’t do this, you can approach them. It never hurts to ask. If you are enjoying certain courses, you may want to look at the professors’ webpages (on their department sites) for descriptions of their research or artistry. Also, maybe you are universally enjoying the courses your major has you taking, or maybe you declared your major with a particular interest in mind. In those cases, you can explore faculty pages to find potential matches. Our “5 steps to Undergraduate Research” describe how to connect with potential faculty mentors directly. We also recommend a similar checklist produced by the Council for Undergraduate Research.
Sign up for Research Ready and be the "first to know"
Enroll in OURA’s Research Ready Canvas Page and be the first to know about research and creative opportunities at CSU and beyond. We will post “Seminars”, “Networking”, and other opportunities to engage as they are brought to our attention.
Check OURA's list of Summer Opportunities
We have compiled a list of summer research and internship opportunities (by College). We will update this once a year in the fall. Most application deadlines for summer opportunities are from November – February, so check out our list early.
Network through your academic advisor
If you aren’t certain about approaching a faculty member directly, and looking at faculty webpages increases your uncertainty, your academic advisor may be able to help. Academic advisors can describe the main areas of work in the department and narrow your interests, and then explain which faculty members conduct work in that area. They may also keep data on what a faculty member looks for in potential undergraduate research and artistry assistants. For instance, maybe you will need certain skills or prerequisite courses. Some advisors even keep data on what professors in your department have mentored students in the past, and what professors may be currently looking for student assistants.
Academic advisors may also be able to connect you with research or artistry internships that are outside CSU. Many of these may be summer opportunities, but some outside agencies can offer opportunities during “regular terms” as well.
Participate in MURALS and find a faculty guide
Multicultural Undergraduate Research Art and Leadership Symposium (MURALS) is an undergraduate research symposium that reaches out to students in various disciplines to expose them to a variety of research opportunities. Mentoring, presenting scholarly work, networking, and learning about multicultural leadership are four main aspects of the program. MURALS also organizes the First Year Scholars Academy program. The First Year Scholars Program affords first year students the opportunity to begin exploring academic areas of interest by selecting from a list of faculty designed programs tailored to help first year students thrive in an engaged hands-on environment
Attend the Graduate Student Showcase
This is a showcase of research, entrepreneurship, and creativity – a conference for graduate students to present their work and talents, but it is also a time for undergraduates to connect with the graduate students and faculty at CSU, and learn about research and other creative opportunities on campus.
Attend CSU Demo Day
Celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship at CSU Demo Day! A premiere event that inspires and enriches the entrepreneurial community of CSU and Northern Colorado.
Faculty, staff, and students, as well as alumni, business professionals, and entrepreneurs have the opportunity to engage with researchers and local emerging companies in and around our community.
Take a "CURE"
In many fields, there are courses that have research and artistry built into the curriculum. In STEM fields, you may be working with a team of students, be given a set of equipment and distributed some preliminary background. You might then be asked to develop hypotheses, investigate existing work further, then design and conduct a unique experiment, and eventually present your results. In the liberal arts, courses may have group-based projects that result in new creative work that can be presented to audiences, or courses may require you to create work that could contribute to an individual portfolio. In all these cases, the faculty teaching the course will be your mentor(s), so you will not need to search for your own. Ask your advisor about CUREs in your major.
Network through OURA
The Office for Undergraduate Research and Artistry can help you prepare to navigate the above methods, but we also provide additional resources to students, both on-campus and off-campus.
On campus:
OURA can help you navigate the methods described above if you contact us, but we also have different structured opportunities for ongoing students. These include the TILT OURA Lab, CLA Undergraduate Research Academies, and the Mentored Research and Artistry Distinction (MRAD).
Off campus:
OURA maintains a searchable excel file for reoccurring off-campus experiences. These experiences may be hosted at other campuses, national laboratories, notional or state political offices, national parks, municipal arts organizations, etc. More opportunities are available during summer terms, but some organizations or offices have opportunities during the school year as well, where you would need to coordinate with your advisor to take planned leave, and to make sure you understand how your course sequencing will be effected. If your field is not represented on our list, reach out to your academic advisor. The CSU Career Center is also willing to help students in any discipline match with opportunities.