How to get involved in research as an undergrad student

Doing research as an undergraduate student is not only great for your CV, but it hones your critical thinking and problem-solving skills too. If you’re interested in applying to graduate school, having research experience can give you an edge.  

As an undergraduate biochemistry student at Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, I worked on exciting research projects with institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and universities in the United States.  

Here’s my advice on how to get involved in research as an undergraduate student. 

Find a topic you’re interested in 

The first thing I did was think about a topic within biochemistry that I’d be interested in researching. For me, that was computational biology and bioengineering. I was interested in exploring how can we accelerate drugs development research in biology using computational power, and I wanted to study the evolutionary relationships that can positively impact society. 

Do some online research around the topics you like and find the institutions where research is already happening in that area. Make a list of the academics leading the research projects you’re interested in.  

I found two different ways to get involved in research opportunities while studying at university. The first is applying to a research internship programme and the second is by emailing professors directly. Both methods have pros and cons. 

Preparing to apply for internships 

Once you’ve found a list of internships you’re interested in, I’d recommend gaining some further background knowledge on the subject you want to research.  

When applying for my research internship at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, I read research papers, watched YouTube videos and learned the basic terminology of the field. It gave me a good idea of whether I’d really like DNA nanotechnology and it helped me to draft a better application.   

When applying to internships, you will be required to submit documents including your academic record, a letter of recommendation, a written statement of purpose and some identification.  

The statement of purpose, which explains why you’re interested in taking part in the research, what you can contribute to the project and how you will benefit from being involved, is the most important part. You can ask a professor you know well to read through it before submitting, and get a letter of recommendation.  

All internships will have a deadline, so make sure you make a note of the date and apply in good time.  

Preparing to reach out via email 

When preparing to email academics, make sure you read through their research thoroughly, so you can show that you know exactly what the professor is currently working on and how you might be able to help. You can do this by finding the academic on the university’s website, or on ResearchGate where you’ll find more detailed research papers and journals.  

Even when emailing academics directly, it’s worth speaking to one of your own professors to see if they have any recommendations or feedback on how to catch their attention. Always make sure that you only email professors if you are genuinely interested in their research.  

When I’ve emailed professors for research opportunities, I write my emails as follows: 

• Introduce myself (name, subject, university) 

• Provide my previous experience and/or relevant skill set (like coding) 

• Describe my interests and how I can contribute to their research 

• Ask for a time to chat 

You’ll not always get a reply to your emails or your internship applications, but don’t get disheartened. Keep trying and something will come up.  

What it’s like to be involved in research as an undergraduate 

Being an undergraduate student in a research group might be intimidating at first, given that you will usually work with people who are more experienced than you, but you settle in quick and it’s a great learning opportunity. 

In my experience, a project starts with reading. I’m usually provided with research papers to read so I can get familiarised with the project. There will also be regular meetings with the lead investigator and the rest of the team to discuss progress and important tasks over the coming days.  

I might work individually on a project or with other members of the team, where I’ll be assigned tasks based on my skillset and we’ll bring our learning together. If I’m working individually, there is sometimes a chance to conceptualise my own project and work on it.  

There is always a learning curve because in research, I’m working on an idea that has never been worked on before. Being able to implement what I’ve learned on my course is a great feeling.   

How to bring research into your degree 

If you do not find an internship or project to work on, an alternative is to speak to the professors at your own university to see how you could get involved in research as part of your degree.  

It could be that a professor has a project you could get involved in, or they could recommend modules and classes that would introduce you to research methods. They might know a doctoral research student that could use the help.  

There are lots of ways to reach out and get involved in research as an undergraduate. It will sharpen your critical thinking and problem-solving skills and prepare you for a career in research, if that’s what you choose. Good luck!