Unlocking Research Potential: A Guide to Undergraduate Opportunities at the University of Washington

The University of Washington (UW) stands as a top-tier research institution, brimming with opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in groundbreaking discoveries. While the sheer volume of options can seem daunting, this guide aims to provide a structured approach to navigating the landscape of undergraduate research at UW and finding the perfect fit for your academic aspirations.

The Allure of Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research is one of the most impactful experiences available to students, benefiting students during their time at the UW and well beyond graduation. Students who participate in research often report it reinforced what they are learning in the classroom; increased their ability to think critically; engendered a sense of pride and purpose in being involved in work that contributes to the public good; and built a foundation for their future careers. It allows students to consider questions and problems that matter. The experience begins with finding their passion, thinking critically about important issues, then applying those insights toward resolving real problems.

Proactive Strategies for Finding Research Opportunities

Securing a research position often requires initiative and persistence. Here are several avenues to explore:

Connecting with Faculty

Directly Approach Professors: Identify faculty members whose research aligns with your interests and contact them to inquire about potential research assistant positions or other opportunities within their labs. Professors love to talk about their research. Take advantage of opportunities to get to know professors and TAs for classes that align with your research interests. Talking to professors can be intimidating, but it can leave a memorable impression. Most professors are happy to chat with students about academic interests and upcoming opportunities. If a professor is not taking on new undergraduates, don’t take it personally. Supporting undergraduate researchers requires availability of mentorship, resources, and funding. There are many reasons a professor may not be able to bring you on that have nothing to do with your qualifications or potential.
Leverage Department Advisors: Department advisors often have knowledge of research opportunities within their respective departments.
Explore Research-Based Courses: Consider enrolling in courses that incorporate a research component, providing hands-on experience and potential connections with faculty.

Expanding Your Horizons

Think Beyond Your Discipline: Be open to research opportunities outside of your major, as interdisciplinary research is prevalent and can offer unique perspectives. Many of the opportunities are STEM-related, know that inquiry in the arts and humanities is active and thriving! You want to find the opportunity that is right for you, not just any opportunity. Also keep in mind that much of the research on campus is interdisciplinary (i.e.
Dedicate a Summer to Research: Consider dedicating a summer to immerse yourself in a research project, allowing for focused exploration and significant contributions.

Utilizing University Resources

UW Office of Undergraduate Research: Explore the resources offered by the UW Office of Undergraduate Research, including advising and workshops. Leaders in the Office of Undergraduate Research are the program’s visionaries, architects and builders.
Research Opportunities Database: Regularly check the research opportunities database maintained by the Office of Undergraduate Research, which lists several hundred undergraduate research positions. The Office of Undergraduate Research maintains a database of research opportunities located on campus and the surrounding Seattle area that are actively recruiting UW undergraduates. The database is accessible to UW students and staff with a UW NetID. If it is your first time using the database, you will need to create an Expo account using this link. New opportunities are added all year-round. The database is made up of opportunities submitted to us by research mentors, but not all mentors choose to post their opportunities. Some research mentors prefer that undergraduates meet with them to explore potential research topics together. Browse the database to learn what types of research are currently happening. You can use the filter tool to search for certain research areas or type in key words to narrow down your search.
Undergraduate Research Symposium Proceedings: Explore past year’s symposia proceedings to learn about the various projects undergraduates are involved in. The Office of Undergraduate Research hosts the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium where students have the opportunity to share their research with the general public. We keep track of annual student projects, including the project abstract and mentor/student’s name and department.

Diving Deeper: Specific Avenues for Research Engagement

The University of Washington provides various specific programs and resources to facilitate undergraduate research:

The Undergraduate Research Collective

Undergraduate Academic Affairs is delighted to announce the Undergraduate Research Collective, a new paid opportunity for undergraduates with no prior research experience to connect to research in their first and second years at the University of Washington. The Undergraduate Research Collective is a cohort-based, two-year program designed for first- and second-year students and first-year transfer students with no prior research experience. It aims to improve systems and increase access to research for early-career undergraduates. In the first year, students develop relationships with their cohort; receive advising from the Office of Undergraduate Research; participate in a weekly seminar focused on research preparation and community-building; and are matched with and develop an onboarding plan with their faculty mentor. Startup funding is key and is provided by the Mary Gates Endowment and the Ana Mari Cauce Fund for Undergraduate Research. The Mary Gates Endowment is one of the University’s largest endowments for undergraduates. The Ana Mari Cauce Fund was established by friends, colleagues and admirers of the outgoing UW president to honor and recognize her long-standing commitment to undergraduate research. According to Pierszalowski, “The Office of Undergraduate Research envisions a future where capacity and infrastructure for early career undergraduate research programming at the UW continues to grow.

Departmental Research Opportunities

Department Faculty Pages: The department faculty pages can be a bit overwhelming with the amount of faculty listed, so this option is a great way to narrow down the faculty list. Plus, you already know that all of the mentors in the past symposia proceedings worked with undergraduates and supported them in presenting their work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
SEFS (School of Environmental and Forest Sciences): All SEFS undergraduate students can become involved in faculty research during their time at the UW, either with SEFS faculty or faculty in the many other departments on campus doing environmental science or engineering research. If you wish to earn credit for your research and you are working with SEFS faculty, you register for either BSE 499 or ESRM 499, using the Undergraduate Research Registration Form on the Student Forms, Policies and Procedures page. Both faculty member and student should be clear about which section the student should register for and for how many credits. Students are representing the UW and SEFS during their research work and are expected to behave professionally and practice good field and lab safety.

External Opportunities

REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) Summer Programs: Students interested in summer research programs across the country should explore the National Science Foundation’s list of programs and the American Mathematical Society’s list of programs.
Internships and Co-op Opportunities: Students interested in internships or co-op opportunities may find the list compiled by the American Mathematical Society useful.
UW Career & Internship Center: The UW Career & Internship Center offers a range of internship-related resources, from webinars on finding an internship to a database of opportunities. An internship may also help clarify whether a potential career is right for you. As an intern for a nonprofit, government agency, health care provider, or other organization, you will experience firsthand how theory translates to practice.
UW Bothell Research Opportunities: Find high-impact and experiential learning opportunities curated for UW Bothell students. This directory is growing and includes opportunities for research, merit awards and scholarships, creative projects, study abroad, and more.

Practical Tips for Securing a Research Position

Tailor Your Approach: Go through the process of learning as much as you can about them to get a sense of whether the mentor would be a great fit for you.
Subscribe to Listservs: Do now: Subscribe to the Office of Undergraduate Research Listserv to learn about research, scholarship, and summer opportunities as they arise. Academic departments and students clubs also maintain lists of undergraduate research opportunities across different disciplines. If you are looking to do research outside of your major field of study or are not yet in a major, contact advising staff in your department of interest to see if they can add you to the list.
Respond to Posted Positions: The benefit of responding to posted research positions or programs is that you know undergraduate openings are available. Read the instructions carefully. There may be an application form to fill out. While there are likely other interested students competing for limited spots, don’t let this discourage you from applying. Many people successfully land research positions through this route. Just keep in mind that you may not get the first position you solicit.
Leverage Connections with TAs: Most of your TAs are also researchers. You can ask TAs about their research groups and knowledge of any undergraduate openings. This can be especially beneficial if a TA knows you and your work well.
Seek Guidance: Talk to our advisors for help in improving your application. Many students are not successful in their first attempts to find a research position.

Showcasing Research and Creative Projects

Husky Cache: A hub where research and creative works enhancing the student journey can be collected and shared. Our goal is to foster a community of student researchers and promote the dissemination of knowledge. On the Husky Cache, you can find past projects from the UW Bothell student community.
Publishing and Presenting: Publish your research or creative project in journals, library databases, and more. Present at local conferences.

Examples of Undergraduate Research

Biology: In the UW Department of Biology, Ava Kloss-Schmidt had the opportunity to study plants in the field, in the lab, and in the UW Greenhouse. She was part of a research team that spent the summer surveying plants in alpine settings, and during the academic year she worked in a faculty lab, studying an immune receptor in the legume plant family.
Chemistry: In this short video, undergraduate Victoria Pang talks about working as a researcher in a UW chemistry lab.
Humanities: Writing Mrs. Darby Sherwood developed a play, Mrs.
Astronomy: Using a powerful research telescope, Max Frissell identified a never-before-seen active comet.

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