Research Questions
Yes! There are over 350+ IU research centers and institutes in all areas of study.
- Research allows you to explore different disciplines within and outside of your major program of study.
- Studies show students who participate in research earn better grades, are more likely to graduate, and are better equipped for graduate school or careers.
- Gain mentors.
- Stretch learning outside of the classroom and into practical spaces.
- Bolster your resume for job and graduate school applications.
- Possibly earn academic year and summer credit.
- Contact the IU Undergraduate Research Office at uroffice@indiana.edu and subscribe to their Newsletter.
- Visit the IU Undergraduate Research Website which contains student spotlights of their stories in research and relevant resources and events.
Apply for Scholarships and Research Programs like:
- Advanced Summer Research Scholarships: Students in any field can apply for this summer research funding opportunity to work through a well-developed research plan with a preidentified faculty member.
- CEWiT Emerging Scholars Research Experiences for Undergraduate Woman: A 2-semester, credit-bearing research program pairing first- and second-year women with faculty researchers.
- Center for Research on Race and Ethnicity in Society (CRRES) Undergraduate Research Program in Social Sciences and Humanities: A 2-semester research opportunity allowing students to work alongside a faculty mentor and gain valuable research experience.
- Engaged Learning Travel Scholarship: Scholarship for students traveling to a conference to present their work or to offset travel costs associated with undergraduate research and creative activity (up to $800).
- GradGrants Center: Supports IU graduate students to help identify and secure grants, fellowships and awards from external sources.
- Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Summer Research Experience: A faculty-mentored, paid summer research program with the goal of increasing the number of underrepresented minority students graduating from IU with STEM degrees.
- Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering: A website dedicated to engaging our Luddy students in research activities on campus with projects related to their major interests.
- STEM Summer Research Program: A summer-long residential program that allows for traditionally underrepresented students to work with a research mentor and earn a stipend and housing over the summer.
- Sustainability Scholars: An academic-year long research program where students are assigned a faculty member and work to craft and execute a research plan (students enroll in a 2-credit hour Sustainability Scholars course in the Spring semester).
STEP 1: CONSIDER WHAT INTERESTS YOU
Examine your interests and explore the Luddy Faculty Research Directory to see what topics are currently being researched right here at Luddy.
STEP 2: GAIN SKILLS
Try to gain a foundational set of practical skills such as data analysis and coding courses, statistics, or even a research methodology or ethics course.
STEP 3: ASK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES
Approach instructors, associate instructors, and undergraduate instructors in classes that you are enjoying and ask them about any opportunities they know of to get involved. Attending office hours is a great way to build a relationship with these stakeholders.
STEP 4: EXPLORE LABS
Explore the different research labs at the Luddy School by attending research colloquiums (talks) or doing online research through the website that includes different Luddy research centers and labs.
STEP 5: PREPARE MATERIALS
Craft a strong resume or curriculum vitae that can accompany an email to different labs or instructors. When sending your emails:
DO:
- Identify yourself.
- Use your IU email.
- Address the person you are emailing.
- Explain why you are interested and qualified.
- Research the faculty member and their projects.
- Make it easy to set up a meeting by including dates and times you are available.
- Include a relevant subject heading such as “Seeking Research Opportunity”
DON’T:
- Send generic emails to multiple professors at once. You need to make a personalized email to one professor at a time.
- Forget to proofread.
- Give up! If you need help, contact Career Services.
Example Email Template
Dear Dr. Professor,
My name is Jane Matics and I am a student in your Monday/Wednesday section of Animal Computer Interactions. I am reaching out because I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in your class and want learn more about this topic. I noticed you are the head of the Animal Computer Interactions lab on campus and I was hoping to set up a time to meet with you to learn more about the work you do there and if there is anyway for me to get involved in your research projects. I have experience in statistical analysis and visualization from taking various data visualization courses here at IU. I have attached my resume that displays this and my other experience.I am hoping that this skillset may be useful and am hoping to discuss this more with you if we get a chance to meet.
I am generally available Mondays and Wednesdays between 8am and noon, and Tuesdays and Thursdays between 2pm and 6pm. Please let me know if you would be willing to meet during any of these times. I am also happy to meet at your convenience.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,
Jane Matics, ACI Undergraduate Student
Presenting and Sharing Research Experiences
How Do I List Research On My Resume?
Try following the template below, replacing the information with your relevant experiences.
Indiana University, Department of Computer Science, Bloomington, IN January 2023-May 2023
Graduate Research Assistant under Dr. Professor, Associate Professor, Center for Machine Learning
- Led a research team of 10, consisting of graduate and undergraduate students, through the development, execution, and presentation of an NSF-sponsored study on the accuracy of the university’s proprietary artificial intelligence, ChatHoosier.
- Designed an experiment involving focus groups with over 150 participants and individual interviews with 60 participants.
- Authored a report of the study that was featured in the January 2024 edition of Learning the Machine and presented at the annual Machine Learning Conference.
Indiana University, Department of Informatics, Bloomington, IN January 2023-May 2023
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Professor Doctor, Assistant Professor, ProHealth Lab
- Co-authored a NIH grant investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the emotional health and maturity of preadolescents.
- Created an Institutional Research Board application that adhered to the necessary procedures for working with a protected population.
- Presented personal research updates at biweekly meetings of a 10-member research group of undergraduate and graduate students specializing in statistics, software engineering, and ethics.
- Conducted literature reviews and analyzed trends in relevant scientific journals to contribute to a paper published in the January 2024 edition of Adventure in Informatics.
How Do I Write Resume Bullet Points?
Key Considerations:
- Describe the research itself and its impact.
- Describe your specific contributions.
- Describe the outcomes of the project.
- Use strong action verbs.
Action Verb Examples
- Designed
- Developed
- Identified
- Predicted
- Implemented
- Organized
- Created theories and ideas
- Identified problems
- Evaluated resources
- Gathered
- Defined goals
- Extracted Information
- Created spreadsheets/databases/etc.
- Developed evaluations
- Calculated results
- Constructed Qualtrics/Forms survey
- Expressed/interpreted results and findings
- Maintained
- Authored grant applications
- Scheduled, conducted, and analyzed interviews
- Led foucus groups
- Documented data using
- Performed
More Research Questions
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Know your research in depth, and always try to explain your specific role in a collaborative team with concrete examples of what you contributed.
LEVERAGE “TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF”
Example script: “Hello, my name is Jane Matics and I am a third-year student at Indiana University Bloomington. I am currently studying Computer Science with a minor in Artificial Intelligence. I am fascinated by the future of Artificial Intelligence within the context of healthcare which is why I have joined Dr. Professor’s research lab where we study how AI can be leveraged in creating patient action plans for individuals with dementia. I have learned a lot from this experience such as critical thinking, working on a team, and machine learning. I am excited to bring these skills to your internship.”
TAILOR YOUR DESCRIPTIONS
Try to tailor your description of your research to the interviewers’ interests (e.g., If you are interviewing for a data analysis position, you may focus more on the technical aspects of your work. Alternatively, if you are applying for a position that is in the healthcare field and you have research experience in this area, you may discuss more of your experience and relationship with the topic matter).
HIGHLIGHT TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS
Think about the different transferrable skills of research: working with others, being on a time, handling conflict, taking and applying feedback, critical thinking, problem solving skills, oral and written communication skills, scheduling and organization
DO:
- Tell a story.
- Think of it as a mystery:
- What got you interested in the topic?
- How did you come up with your specific questions?
- What didn’t people know before you started?
- What was your goal? Did it change throughout the process?
- What obstacles were in your way to finding the answers?
- What have you learned from your research about your findings and yourself?
DON'T:
- Have cluttered slides with contrasting colors.
- Read each bullet point word-for-word.
- Read from a prepared script.
- Look behind you
- Submit to the IU Journal of Undergraduate Research, a student-run research journal that accepts submissions on a rolling basis throughout the academic year.
- Attend or apply to present at the IU Undergraduate Research Conference. Each year, the Indiana University Undergraduate Research Conference (IUURC) brings together student researchers from across IU’s campuses.