One way to get involved with research is through PURE. This is a program designed specifically to help get underclassmen involved with research. They even put on a small symposium at the end to allow the students to show off what they have worked on. The second common approach to getting involved with research is by simply talking with your professors. Most professors are involved with research in some way shape or form. Find a professor doing research in an area that interests you and ask them about getting involved. Worst case scenario, they say no. But it is more likely that they will be happy to have you helping out and getting involved. From what I have seen, there are more research opportunities than there are students interested in doing research. So while you might not necessarily get to work on your first choice project, you should not have too much trouble finding a research opportunity if you are persistent and don’t give up.

In addition to opportunities within the Computer Science department, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) offers a special program, Students Pushing Innovation (SPIN), that allows undergraduate students to get involved in technical projects under a mentor as well. The building is located right across from Siebel Center. NCSA holds a special open house in the Fall that allows prospective students to talk with the mentors who are seeking undergraduate students for their projects/research. After you apply, interested professors will reach out to you for an interview. One of the benefits that the SPIN program offers is that it’s a paid internship whereas Undergraduate Research might not all the time.