Office of
Undergraduate
Research

Thanks for visiting Northwestern University’s Office of Undergraduate Research!

Finding a Lab Support Group

If you need more involved support with the finding a lab process, then look no further than our Finding a Lab Support Group! The Finding a Lab Support Group aims to provide you with a supportive community of students all currently navigating their own lab search process. Learn more and sign up! Register by April 2, 2024.

Summer Housing Workshops

Summer Housing is a new type of workshop meant to inform students of how they can approach their summer housing search. When it comes to the question of “securing summer housing,” the workshop focuses on identifying housing factors like transportation, cost, NU dorms, subletting and more! Register here!

Apply for the Expo & Arts Fest!

Start planning your poster or presentation for the 2024 Undergraduate Research Expo & Creative Arts Festival! We are accepting submissions for Oral Presentations, Poster Presentations, and the Creative Arts Festival through Sunday, April 21st. Your project and/or presentation does not need to be complete before you apply.

Finding a Research Mentor

Our weekly Finding a Research Mentor Workshops (FARM) are appropriate for any student interested in getting started in research. Research mentors are essential for all research journeys – whether you are exploring how research occurs in certain fields, searching for available opportunities, or seeking expert advice on your own project. Click here to find the scheduled dates and register!

Sign Up for the OUR Weekly Newsletter!

Be the first to know about Undergraduate Research news, grants, workshops, and more through our weekly newsletter! We’ll also share research tips, weekly memes, and community events. Sign up here!

From getting started to presenting your work

We help students with all aspects of the research process! Meet with an advisor to develop a plan that best matches your goals and interests.

Get Started

Developing Your Interests

If you’re brand new to the concept of undergraduate research and are not sure where to begin, the best thing to do is work through the sections of our “Getting Started” tab. The resources here can be complemented by our Finding a Research Mentor Workshop! You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do, but it helps to start thinking about what could interest you.

Advising

The Office of Undergraduate Research operates on an advising based model. We never expect any student to know how to navigate this process or how to begin writing a grant. We help every student develop goals and a plan that is unique to them. There is no right or wrong way to get started in undergraduate research, and everyone’s path looks different!

Funding

Northwestern University provides a substantial number of funding opportunities to undergraduates interested in pursuing research across all fields of study! We overview funding opportunities available through the Office of Undergraduate Research (available during both the summer and academic year), but there are additional opportunities through schools and departments, too.

About

The Office of Undergraduate Research awards funding to hundreds of students each year; a majority of these students are engaged in independent research and creative projects where they learn project management skills that will support their post-college aspirations.