Students here in the College of Engineering are encouraged to participate in the Undergraduate Research Program. There are a huge number of advantages associated with the program:

• The opportunity to work on a project whose impact could be worldwide and can lead to patents and/or grants;
• The opportunity to interact with some of the most informed and learned professors in the world;
• The opportunity to work with other students on such important projects.

And beyond all of this, you can even receive class credit or a financial stipend during your work!

If you are interested, the first step is to identify a faculty member who is currently working on a project that might interest you. From there, contact him/her and receive more information on that project. If you are still interested, then you can begin your Undergraduate Research experience.

Question and Answer

What is URP?
Undergraduate Research Program (URP) provides real-world, hands-on research experience for students like you. Through this unique program, you have the opportunity to work directly with a faculty member on a bonafide research project.

Why should I do URP?
In addition to gaining research experience as an undergraduate, other benefits of participating in the program could include:

• Applying knowledge gained in the classroom to actual problems and research situations;
• Networking with faculty beyond just the classroom;
• Establishing support groups consisting of faculty and other students;
• Gaining critical leadership and team building skills for future employment;
• Making industry connections that could lead to a co-op or future employment opportunity;
• Gaining experience in performing "real-world" projects;
• Differentiating yourself from your peers with "hands-on"
• research experience desired by employers and graduate schools;
• Obtaining knowledge of conducting research that could be applicable to graduate studies;
• Getting established with a faculty advisor on a project that could provide funding for multiple semesters and possibly through graduate studies;
• Getting published as an undergraduate;
• Improving your critical thinking skills;
• Receiving course credit in a more dynamic way;
• Supplementing your income;
• Having fun while learning;

• As a Freshman: Gain some basic knowledge through your classes and course projects that could be applied to a research project. Most projects will require knowledge from different fields of study, not just your major. Investigate the research being conducted by the faculty teaching your classes. Determine which research projects interest you personally.
• As a Sophomore: Begin to look at research opportunities in your field of interest. Take more courses by a faculty whose research interests you. Begin working on a resume that outlines the applicable courses you have taken and class projects you have done. Talk with a faculty member about doing a URP project and begin familiarizing yourself with their work. Get to know the graduate students who conduct research for this faculty member. Try a URP project for experience in the second semester.
• As a Junior: Apply for a URP project for credit, funding or experience. Consider taking projects that last for more than a semester. Consider taking more classes that will assist in your research field. Make contact with any corporate sponsors and take a plant trip to help you better understand the project and network with industry contacts.
• As a Senior: Continue on the same or a new URP project. Submit an abstract to a conference detailing the work you have done and/or will finish this year. Include your research project as experience while applying for employment or graduate school. Consider continuing on the research project with the faculty advisor through graduate studies at VU.

Do I have to be an upperclassman to do research?
No. The URP is open to all undergraduate students. Some projects may require that you have completed certain classes or labs, though. Think about this suggested timetable for participating in undergraduate research.

Can I work on a project outside of my major?
Absolutely. You will find that many research projects, especially larger ones, will need students from different backgrounds and with different skills. For example, an engineering product development project may need someone with knowledge of psychology and human factors to research human interaction with the product.