Rising participation in the annual Undergraduate and Creative Activity Conference proves it: At UA, undergrads don’t just consume knowledge. They help produce it. Here’s what you need to know about undergraduate research.
1. Undergrad research makes an impact.
The American Association of American Colleges and Universities has identified undergraduate research as one of the top ten high impact practices in undergraduate education. Participating in research projects allows undergraduate students to put curiosity into action while building critical thinking, research and communication skills that strongly position them for career or graduate school.
2. The Office for Undergraduate Research is your research career center.
Finding a research project is a little like finding a job. You have to apply, and faculty have to pick you. But help is available: Whether it’s support in crafting emails, preparing a resume or coaching on contacting faculty, the Office for Undergraduate Research can assist you in finding the right research project.
3. You don’t need to have a lot of research experience or skill to start.
In fact, faculty members who run research projects are often open to students who show an interest, and are willing to teach them what they need to know. Even if a research project is outside of your major or minor, don’t rule it out before you speak to the supervising faculty member. You might discover a new mentor and a new interest at the same time.
4. New programs are launching.
Recently, the Office for Undergraduate Research added three new programs. An undergraduate research travel grant program helps offset the cost of travel for students selected to present at a conference. Another grant program helps make student-led research projects possible, even when research mentors are from a different college. Finally, the Research Apprenticeship Program fast-tracks undergraduate students with previous research experience into research opportunities at UA.
5. Research fulfills experiential education requirements.
Still not convinced? Research courses like COURSE can also help fulfill Built by Bama’s new experiential learning requirements that are taking effect for freshmen in fall 2026. And remember: Since UA is a Research 1 institution, research happens in all disciplines and departments, not just math, science or engineering.