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Prospective Undergraduate Researchers

Before pursuing an undergraduate research opportunity, the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) recommends students consider the following:

  • Time commitment
  • Personal research interest(s)
  • Academic preparation

Balancing research activities with academics and extracurricular activities can be difficult. In order to have the most rewarding experience possible, students should carefully plan their schedule to accommodate for the time commitment necessary to participate in research and fulfill the expectations of their faculty mentors.

Prior to committing to a research program or project, students should examine what research truly interests them. The OUE recommends examining Research Explorer and the work that is being conducted within UT Dallas research centers.

Students should also prepare themselves academically before conducting research in particular areas. For example, students who are interested in computer science research may enroll in courses that introduce programming fundamentals and C++. After students have organized their schedule to accommodate research activities and identified their area of interest, the next step is to find a faculty research mentor. Prospective undergraduate researchers are encouraged to attend the annual Undergraduate Research Match Day event to explore available research positions. If a student is unable to obtain a research position as a result of Match Day, they may email ugresearch@utdallas.edu for further assistance.