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.
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.
Databases with Multiple Opportunities
Single-Location Research Opportunities
The OUR Peer Research Ambassadors have shared their experiences and advice in the following Student Research Blog posts:
- Navigating the Summer Research Experience, Part 1: Finding and Narrowing Down Opportunities
- Navigating the Summer Research Experience, Part 2: Preparing Your Application
- Navigating the Summer Research Experience, Part 3: The Research Experience
- Off-Campus Research: My Summer REU
- New Jersey, to Connecticut, to California, and Back
Databases with Multiple Opportunities
- National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Database
- Association of American Medical Colleges Summer Undergraduate Research Programs
- The Leadership Alliance Summer Research Program
- Zintellect (programs administered by Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education)
- Federal Government Internship and Fellowship Opportunities in Science
- Catalog of Biomedical Research Internships (Compiled by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)
- Pathways to Science Summer Research Database
- Student Conservation Association
- Smithsonian Opportunities for Research and Study
- American Astronomical Society Database of Summer Opportunities
- American Society of Plant Biologists Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships
- American Psychological Association Undergraduate Research Opportunities & Internships
- RIT’s Database of Internships and REU programs for the sciences
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Journal of Young Investigators List of Summer Research Programs
In addition, students are encouraged to utilize Handshake, a database managed by the Center for Career Development which contains job and internship postings.
Single-Location Research Opportunities
The PDFs below highlight many of the established research programs and internships available to undergraduates at government and non-profit research centers. Refer to the organization or program website for detailed information on the offerings, application process, and deadlines.
External Research Opportunities – Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences (12/15/20)
External Research Opportunities – STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) 12/15/21
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.
Think tanks (also referred to as research centers or policy institutes) are organizations that conduct research to support the creation and evolution of public policy. Areas of research include domestic and foreign policy, political strategy, economics, international relations, development and industrial policy, among other topics. Many think tanks have opportunities for undergraduates to assist with their research in the summer or during the academic year. Use the think tank directories below to identify organizations researching topics that align with your interests, and contact researchers focusing on those topics to inquire about opportunities to assist with their work. You can also look for UConn alumni working at the organization who you can contact to discuss opportunities in get involved.