Resources

Benefits of and approaches to undergraduate research. Link to the PDF is in the text.

Many resources are available to help students find research opportunities, prepare to be successful in research, and leverage research experiences to further their educational objectives. The following is a list of some other resources that may be useful:

• Summary of Purdue Research Programs
• Pathways to Science - A great resource for international students
• Pathways to Science – Tips on applying and associated resources
• Pathways to Science – financial support in graduate school. Fellowships and graduate programs in a wide variety of STEM disciplines
• Undergrad STEM Opportunities - Science.gov
• National and International Scholarships Office at Purdue -- Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants
• Arts & Humanities Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research
• Purdue Digital Humanities Toolbox
• SAGE Research Methods - Mostly for STEM disciplines
• Purdue Fellowship and Grant Writing Resources

Benefits of & Steps to Approach Undergraduate Research (pdf) (to the right)

Undergraduate Research Learning Contract

Undergraduate researchers can submit a completed Undergraduate Research Learning Contract after collaborating with their research mentor to the Office of Undergraduate Research. You can see the full list of questions to work with your research mentor before completing by looking at this PDF.

**This contract does not sign you up for course credit. Contact your research mentor for this process.**

Library Resources

• Purdue Libraries - General Tutorials
• Purdue Libraries - Searching with Google Scholar
• Librarians by Subject

What does research involve?

So what is involved in research? What would you be doing, exactly? It all depends on your particular field of study. Those in the liberal arts, social sciences, business and economics might begin with researching journal articles on a subject. Sometimes you may be collecting data through interviews, observations or surveys, then analyzing that data to find patterns. Those in engineering or sciences may spend the bulk of their time conducting laboratory research, experiments, equipment and lab maintenance, and preparing samples. Ultimately, it depends on the questions you are trying to answer, but rest assured, research is an exciting experience!

Short Learning Modules

Undergraduate research experiences will develop many skills graduate/professional programs and employers will seek after you graduate such as critical thinking, initiative, professionalism, and communication. The Office of Undergraduate Research has compiled a learning module collection to assist aspiring and current undergraduate researchers make their experience a positive and effective experience.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Video Series

Presented by: James Mohler, Ph.D., Purdue Research Integrity Officer

These longer videos can be useful for specific topics that come up in your research career, but they do not count as meeting the RCR discipline/field-specific training requirement alone.