• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Ingenium Blog

College of Engineering Twitter hashtag #NewZachry Instagram hashtag #NewZachry College of Engineering Facebook
Texas A&M College of Engineering

Ingenium

  • Blog
    • Internship experience
    • Academic activities
    • Study Abroad experience
    • Entrepreneurial activities
    • Future Students
    • Graduate Students
    • Student life
  • About
  • Video
  • Contact

So You Want to Do Research

Getting involved in research has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at Texas A&M University. The process of getting started can be daunting, so here are some tips on how to find a lab and jump in!

You are here: Home / Undergraduate research / So You Want to Do Research

December 20, 2023 By: Jessica Williams

Interested in Undergraduate Research?

The College of Engineering offers many opportunities for undergraduate students to get involved in research!

Undergraduate Research
Jessica Williams Feature Oct1

Getting involved in research has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at Texas A&M University. The process of getting started can be daunting, so here are some tips on how to find a lab and jump in!

1. Reach Out Intentionally

Getting to know professors and finding a place to start can feel overwhelming. You can browse faculty by research area on most department web pages. Reading papers that interest you is also a good way to connect the dots. I was fortunate to do my research with a professor I took a class with because I looked up his work and thought it was interesting.

If you email a professor you don’t know, be professional. Use their title, ask a couple of questions about their work, mention a paper you found interesting and talk about how you could contribute. Attach your resume and ask if they would be willing to meet and see if working together is a good fit. You may not receive a response as professors can be busy; don’t take it personally.

2. Find a Mentor

Most research groups have a variety of graduates, undergraduates and maybe even postdocs. In many cases, you won’t work directly with a professor on a project but with a graduate student.

If you have the option to choose your project, spend some time talking to different people in the lab and seeing what their work looks like on a daily basis. Communication is key. As you grow in the lab, you will become a subject matter expert and direct your own research more. Developing self-advocacy will help you no matter where you go.

Jessica Williams smiling while working in a lab

3. Jump In!

Starting can be the hardest part, as it takes a lot of time to understand the existing problem and approach. Ask a lot of questions. Research is at the edge of knowledge, and there is so much specificity to learn.

Don’t be afraid to leave your lab and go somewhere else if you don’t feel it’s a good fit. It is better to learn what you don’t like earlier than later, and it gives you a breadth of skills and knowledge you can take to your next experience.

Research is a great opportunity to develop skills and see if a career as a researcher is right for you. I hope these tips will help you get started!

Jessica Williams

About Jessica Williams

Computer science and Mathamatics, Class of 2024

I am from Pearland, Texas and love solving problems. When not working on embedded systems or algorithms, I am building relationships between student and local government to address issues like housing and voting rights. I also enjoy board games, musicals and playing the trumpet.

If you found this blog post interesting, you may consider reading “Finding Your Place in Research: A Guide to Navigating Research Labs” and “The Pursuit.”

Topics: Undergraduate research

Primary Sidebar

Related Posts

  • Group of people working in a lab Cherry picking your research advisor and project | September 21, 2022
  • Texas A&M University student Prakhar Sarkar smiling while sitting in front of a computer Finding the Perfect Research Lab | February 23, 2022
  • Hands working on an electric engineering prototype Undergraduate Research Experience | August 11, 2021

College of Engineering Twitter College of Engineering Instagram College of Engineering Facebook

Footer

Ingenium, written by students for students, a blog of the Texas A&M University College of Engineering

Learn More

College of Engineering

Texas A&M University

Engineering Resources

Options for Study

Student Life

Admissions & Aid

Study Abroad

Texas A&M College of Engineering

Copyright © 2025 · Texas A&M University College of Engineering · All Rights Reserved

State of Texas • Texas Homeland Security • Open Records • Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline • Statewide Search • Texas CREWS • Site Links & Policies • Environmental Health, Safety & Security • Employment