Undergraduate Research Opportunities at Columbia University
Columbia University offers a wide array of research opportunities for undergraduate students across various disciplines. These programs provide invaluable hands-on experience, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge research, fostering the next generation of scholars and innovators.
The Importance of Undergraduate Research
Research plays a crucial role in expanding the boundaries of knowledge. While coursework provides a foundation of established facts and theories, research allows students to explore the unknown, discover new insights, and contribute to their chosen fields. Engaging in research empowers undergraduates to experience the joy of discovery and invention, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the pursuit of knowledge. Learning how to conduct research is a necessary step for those who intend to go on to graduate study.
Many of Columbia’s faculty members are happy to take on undergraduate researchers. If you’ve identified a faculty member whose interests align with yours, you could attend their classes, read their research publications, attend their symposia and lectures, and frequent their office hours to engage with them and to find out if you’d be a good fit.
Finding Research Opportunities
The EVPR’s Office provides a web portal where Columbia undergraduates can find research opportunities and mentors from across the entire university. Columbia faculty can post projects seeking undergraduate researchers. This platform serves as a central hub for connecting students with research projects that align with their interests and academic goals.
One might broadly understand research as the study of a particular topic of interest and its subject matter, materials, and sources to establish facts, come to new conclusions, or otherwise contribute to an area of study. A common misconception among undergraduates is that research requires advanced knowledge beyond the scope of an undergraduate major, but this is untrue.
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Setting Up Alerts
To stay informed about new opportunities, students can set up alerts based on their preferences. After opening an opportunity listing, there's an option to set up alerts on the right-hand side of the page. Students can enter their preferred department, eligibility year (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior), opportunity term (Spring/Fall/Summer), or discipline (e.g. Engineering).
Featured Programs and Opportunities
Columbia University offers a diverse range of research programs and internships tailored to undergraduate students:
- Amgen Scholars Program: Through the generous support of the Amgen Foundation, Columbia University offer a summer research program to a select group of motivated undergraduate students who will benefit from the opportunity of hands-on laboratory research. This fellowship aims to teach the next generation of scientists the tricks of the trade to performing cutting-edge research. This involves key elements of the research itself, including hands-on experience in premier labs, weekly meetings within the laboratories, informal discussion with accomplished scientists at all levels of training and exposure to diverse areas of research through attendance at the ASP Symposium, research lectures and peer oral presentations. In addition, numerous activities, such as peer research introductions, journal club and elevator pitches foster development of the tools to explain the research undertaken to individuals outside the laboratory, culminating in an oral presentation to peers and an original research article based on the students’ work. Each fellow will identify a primary mentor and build a complete mentorship team, which will work together to develop a focus of research interest, with the plan to eventually transition to an independent investigative career in addiction sciences. Fellows prepare a review of existing literature, and design and conduct an independent pilot project. Fellows will present original research at meetings and develop grant proposals for submission. The New York State Psychiatric Institute is one of the largest recipients of NIH and NIDA funded research projects. The Division also has resources to establish collaborative relationships across the entire university community, and has close existing relationships with Departments of Biostatistics, Neuroscience, Epidemiology and Psychology.
- Columbia University and Amazon Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program: Participate in a unique industry-academic collaboration to foster career exploration at the frontiers of engineering research. This 10-week program in New York City will allow you an opportunity to engage in cutting edge research on campus at Columbia University and be mentored by STEM faculty and professionals representing multiple career paths from academia and industry. At the end of the program, fellows will participate in a research symposium and present their work.
- What You'll Do: Gain hands on lab experience, work on cutting edge research, expand your professional network, learn from industry professionals, explore NYC!
- What's Included: Housing, Dining, Basic health services, $600 weekly stipend, Travel reimbursement.
- Participating Institution(s): (Click an institution to see all programs it hosts or sponsors)
- Program Materials: This Program can be Described by:
- Academic Disciplines: Biomedical Engineering Chemical & Nuclear Engineering Chemistry Civil & Environmental Engineering Computer & Electrical Engineering Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Physics Sensor Science & Engineering
- Keywords: Engineering Research
- Center for Integration of Modern Optoelectronic Materials on Demand REU: The IMOD Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program supports undergraduate students (2yr and 4yr institutions) to participate in nine- to te … read more
- Funded Post-Baccalaureate Research/Academic Opportunity (Bridge to the Ph.D. Program): The Bridge to the Ph.D. Program in STEM aims to enhance the participation of students from underrepresented groups in STEM Ph.D. programs. The Bridge … colleges … read more
- Nevis Labs Experimental High-Energy Physics REU: We will be operating a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site at Nevis Labs. The REU program is supported by the National Science Foundatio … read more
- Paid Rosetta Commons Research Experience for Undergraduates: Interns in this geographically-distributed REU program have the opportunity to participate in research using the Rosetta Commons software. The Rosetta … read more
- Research Program for Undergraduates in Materials Research: Our materials research program encompasses two research thrusts around the theme of building higher dimensional materials from lower dimensional struc … read more
- Summer Opportunities: Intern Programs for Undergraduates: Applicants should have an interest in conducting research in the Earth, Ocean, Atmospheric, and Environmental Sciences. Two previous college-level cou … read more
- Summer Research Program (SRP) for Undergraduates at the Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics: The Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics at Columbia University is an interdisciplinary institute located on the Morningside Heights Campus, and focus … read more
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP): Evolutionary primatology is a discipline that draws its theory, methods, and empirical data from many areas within the biological sciences, anthropolo … read more
Columbia also offers opportunities for post-baccalaureate students, graduate students, postdocs, and early career researchers. These include programs such as the DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program, the Earth Institute Postdoctoral Research Program in Sustainable Development, and the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Post Doctoral Program.
Safety Training
All students participating in research are required to complete applicable safety training. At a minimum, “Laboratory Safety, Chemical Hygiene and Hazardous Waste Management Training” is required for all laboratory personnel. It is the responsibility of the host Principal Investigator/ Mentor/ Sponsor to ensure that all students participating in research have completed necessary training. Before beginning any laboratory research activities, please consult with your Principal Investigator/Mentor/Sponsor to ensure that you understand how to obtain medical treatment in the event of an emergency.
Posting Opportunities
To post an opportunity, navigate to Columbia's TalentLink posting portal and log in with your UNI and UNI password. We welcome projects and programs hosted on Morningside Campus, CUIMC, Barnard, or Teachers College.
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Academic Level
For most summer research programs, your academic level is your upcoming status as of the fall.
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