Think Like a Researcher

Think like a Researcher is designed to help undergraduate students become comfortable with the research skills and tools needed to get started with faculty-sponsored research.

Get started

Images of researchersThe University of Minnesota has amazing opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in real research and creative projects -- from a scientific lab, to conducting survey research, to researching historical documents in an Archive, to choreographing a new work. These require students take their skills to the next level. Do you want to learn more about how to get started?

Think like a Researcher is designed to help undergraduate students become comfortable with the research skills and tools needed to participate. It is designed to bring students, especially first year and second year students, from different colleges together to learn. Topics include benefits and challenges of research, finding faculty mentors, videos with advice from student researchers, examples of student projects and more. Learn about the wide variety of ways to get started with research including volunteer, getting a job, doing research for course credit, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Undergraduate Research Scholarship (URS), summer research and more. Learn more about the Office for Undergraduate Research and the University Libraries.

Register for future "Think Like a Researcher"

Think Like a Researcher is online in Canvas with a mix of videos, short activities and optional Q&A sessions. In total, it will take about 2-3 hours to complete on your own timeline. Registration is now closed for Spring 2024. Please complete the interest form if you would like to get an email about the next time we teach this mini-course. 

 Note: It is free. It will NOT be on your transcripts. It is not graded.

Help is available anytime

  • Schedule a 30 minute online meeting with a Peer Research Consultant (PRC). Make an appointment with a fellow student to demystify getting started with faculty-sponsored research. They can help you figure out how to get started with research, go over deadlines and next steps, and answer questions.
  • The Office of Undergraduate Research has drop-in hours or you can make an appointment to talk with staff or students about getting involved in research and to discuss the UROP programs in more detail.

Questions: 
If you have any questions, please contact Kate Peterson, katep@umn.edu, 612-626-3746.

Additional contacts:
Vicky Munro, Office of Undergraduate Research (munro001@umn.edu)
Kat Nelsen, Social Sciences Librarian (kgerwig@umn.edu)
Allison Langham-Pultrow, Scholarly Communication and Engineering Librarian (lang0636@umn.edu)
Meghan Lafferty, Chemistry Librarian (mlaffert@umn.edu)
Hannah Cabullo, Engineering Librarian (hcabullo@umn.edu)

Tip: Subscribe to the Undergraduate Research Newsletter

Are you interested in or involved in research on campus? The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) has a monthly email newsletter (sign up to subscribe) that features opportunities, announcements, and upcoming deadlines for the undergraduate research programs.

Last Updated: Feb 29, 2024 2:02 PM