Getting started with Undergraduate Research

Excited about the "Social network" or "Artificial Intelligence" or curious about what a "beautiful mind" is thinking, please come and join us with various interesting, cutting-edge projects in Mathematics and Computer Sciences. Here are some steps to get you started:

1. Find research mentors: This is a very critical step. If you are excited to know more about a mathematical or a computer science topic, or have a problem that you need to solve, or simply just want to know more about an interesting area that you have just heard in the news, please try to find a faculty whose research interests closely matches with the topic you are interested in. Please check excisting projects to find out more about diverse research interests of our faculty.


2. Contact your reearch mentors: Talk to your professor before or after class and inform him/her of your area of interest. Don't worry if you don't have a class with the professor; just contact them via email, which is probably the most efficient method.


3. Finalize a proposal: You'll have the opportunity to work with your research mentor(s) to finalize the research and/or independent study proposals. If your study needs a budget, you'll also have an opportunity to go through the process of writing a research grant. Upon approval, you can use the budget to buy necessary materials for your research.


4. Working on your research: This process plays a very important role in a successful research. Persistence and time magement is the key in this process. You are looking at working about 5-10 hours a week by yourself under the supervision of your research mentor. You will likely have weekly/bi-weekly meetings with your mentors. For research in Mathematical and Computer Sciences, chances are you will need to learn some materials that have not taught in a regular course in order to conduct your research.