Off-Campus Research Opportunities

Research activities are taking place around the U.S. and around the globe in universities, non-profit organizations, private research centers, national labs, government agencies, think tanks, and private companies. Like the research taking place at UConn, these organizations and companies engage in research that spans all fields. From archival research in the Presidential Libraries to biomedical research at a community hospital, there are opportunities for undergraduates from all academic disciplines to get involved.

There is not one place to look for opportunities. You are going to have to utilize many different resources in this process, and spend time researching where the research you’re most interested in is happening. Use the resources and information provided below to begin exploring the possibilities. We recommend you also consult your faculty mentors and the Center for Career Development for additional guidance on opportunities that fit with your goals and interests.

Colleges & Universities

Colleges and Universities around the country have summer research programs and opportunities in all academic disciplines that students can take advantage of. Opportunities may be part of a larger program, such as the NSF REU program (National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates) or can be an internal program run by a college or university.

Databases and Resources:

PDFs compiled by the Office of Undergraduate Research:

Examples of Summer Opportunities:

Government

Many federal, state, and local government agencies and departments have summer research and internship programs. The resources below can help you identify opportunities within the federal government. Students are encouraged to explore state and local government options as well.

Databases and Resources:

PDFs compiled by the Office of Undergraduate Research:

Examples of Summer Opportunities:

Develop Your Own Opportunity

Not all opportunities get posted in databases or on websites, and many are not part of structured internship or research programs. This does not make them any less substantial or competitive, but can add additional steps to the process of securing them. Actively pursue unadvertised opportunities by conducting informational interviews with professionals working at organizations of interest, and inquiring directly about opportunities to get involved. Taking time to develop mentoring relationships with professionals in your area(s) of interest can lead to opportunities to assist with their work, and may open doors to positions that may not get widely advertised, if advertised at all.

The resources you can use to identify organizations and contacts vary depending on your field and area of specialization. There are general websites that have information on companies or organizations within their field, such as Idealist.org (which contains profiles of a wide variety of non-profit organizations), as well as specialized websites, such as biospace.com (an online community for life science professionals). You can use sites such as these to determine who is doing work that aligns with your interests. Professional journals and professional associations for your discipline can also help you identify individuals and companies active within the field.

Networking tools such as the UConn Career Network and LinkedIn can help you identify and connect with contacts at companies or organizations. By looking at the profiles of professionals working at companies or organizations of interest, and seeing where they worked at different points in their career, you may also be able to learn about other similar organizations you may want to target in your search for research opportunities.