Research Experience

When considering research as an experiential learning option, it’s important to be realistic regarding the number of hours that can be worked and the rigor of the research activities. While most students start off by being volunteers in labs, doing basic research tasks, they can progress to more advanced opportunities depending upon their research goals and performance. If they’re interested in pursuing graduate school, additional strategies can be explored, such as trying to be published before graduation or working with a specific researcher. There’s also the opportunity to earn credit at the undergraduate level, which requires some additional planning.

The school has a website page that delves into the various research areas and labs, so students should start there. It can be helpful to attend research talks, department seminars, and poster presentations within SCI, as well as at Pitt in general. At the university level, there’s events like the Research & Creative Expression Fair, as well as other speaker series throughout the year. The University Library System also provides students with access to numerous papers and scholarly journals, which students can review to explore interests.  

For students interested in research, the University of Pittsburgh is one of the best places to be a student. There are world renowned faculty researchers in each school that are making a large impact on society. While it can be daunting to reach out to them, it can be incredibly beneficial, as students have learned more about their own interests, joined projects, and have even been published before completing their undergrad degrees. Start with SCI by exploring faculty research areas and open projects and then depending upon research interests, expand into other schools/centers at Pitt and even at other universities, government agencies, private R&D settings, etc. 

Inquiring about research on campus, especially within SCI, is a great place to start. Students will frequently initiate the process by speaking with their professors after class/during office hours or sending them an email inquiring about opportunities. Sometimes they’ll expand their search into other schools/centers at the university, especially if their research interests are interdisciplinary. While some work might start out with basic data entry or be unpaid, it’s important to take each job seriously. SCI maintains a list of faculty currently accepting undergraduate research assistance, which is updated on a regular basis.  

At the undergraduate level, SCI has structured research programs, such as the Network of Undergraduate Researchers (NOUR) and the Seed Scholar Grants Program. There are fellowships offered through the Honors College, like the Breckenridge Fellows or the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship. Students can also search for opportunities outside of the university, which usually take place during the summer semester. Many of them come with funding, which is an important part of conducting research. There's also opportunities to present research at conferences, with SCI offering a conference support program that can help fund those experiences. 

Research experiences can provide an opportunity to showcase the work in papers, conferences, and poster presentations. It can also provide clues as to the type of work a student might enjoy doing after graduation, which could include pursuing graduate school. Pitt’s Career Center has Career Consultants that can assist with career planning, as well as ensure that the experiences are translatable to employers in resumes and interviews.