Why do undergraduate research?

• Reinforce concepts learned in classes
• Get to know and appreciate a professor and their career
• The research group and department provide a smaller unit within the university
• Boost career prospects (graduate school, medical school, industry, teaching)
• Gain motivation and confidence
• Earn money
• Have fun (excitement of discovery, interaction with others, exposure to new ideas and methods)

How do you get started in undergraduate research?

• Identify your interests: Which STEM field or sub-discipline do you have a passion for? What sort of question intrigues you? You may be able to find a match between your interests, and those of one or more of our faculty members. Check out our research pages.
• Take the next step: look up the faculty member's website and look into the research being conducted. If you like what you see, contact the faculty member and inquire about the possibility of current or future openings in his or her lab.
• Look and listen: ask your friends, ask your teaching assistants, look at available departmental literature, read the bulletin boards, search the web 
  be inquisitive: ask professors to tell you something about their research 
  be open-minded: what matters is to do research of some kind, you are not necessarily committing your entire life to that particular project; your primary goal should be to find a lab that will provide you with a good research experience.
• Be committed: it takes time to train you; professors will be interested in research students who can devote sufficient time and who are able and willing to make a long-term commitment to a project.
• Be persistent: if your first choice is full, don't give up - go visit another research group; make and keep appointments to discuss research with a faculty member.

What opportunities are available?

• Volunteer - One way to gain research experience is simply to volunteer to work in a particular research group.
• Credit - You can register for specific classes if you are interested in receiving course credit for research. You should check with your departmental advisor about the course number for undergraduate research and how it will fit your degree plan. Note that individual professors may have specific section numbers. You may also work at the Health Sciences Center and receive credit through the Department of Biological Sciences (again, check with your advisor).
• Work-study - You may qualify for the College Work Study Program, which provides jobs for undergraduates. Work-study students are paid hourly at a rate equivalent to at least the current federal minimum wage. Details are available at the Financial Aid Office.
• Lab Assistant - Laboratories with external funding from a granting agency such as the National Science Foundation or National Institutes of Health may have money available to pay you as a research assistant. Many granting agencies will provide supplemental grants to their grantees for undergraduate research student stipends.
• Summer Research Opportunities - Be alert for posters describing summer research programs at other universities, national research centers, and biological field stations.

CISER Undergraduate Research Scholars

The Texas Tech University/Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science Education Program @ the Center for the Integration of STEM Education and Research (CISER) was established in 1992, and HHMI grant support ended in 2014. The current CISER undergraduate research scholars program provides the same support to students with a significant, long-term research experience that prepares them for post-graduate studies in science and/or medicine, or alternative studies in STEM, such as environmental law.

Read more about the CISER opportunities available.