Click on a researcher to learn more about his or her undergraduate research experience. Visit the student success page for stories from all Undergraduate Studies programs.
Don’t be afraid of setbacks because there is no such thing as failure, only redirection. Genuine passion and active curiosity will get you extremely far!
It has been the most incredible experience to be able to do research, present it, and win awards for it.
For people thinking about research, I would just say go ahead and try it. You may be surprised how much you enjoy it, as that was the case for me.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and be proactive. It’s harder to go out there and change the world if we stay in our comfort zone.
I really encourage students to try out different research projects to find ones that interest them the most and then stick to those projects, as the more you persevere, the more you learn and enjoy.
To those thinking about research, I would tell them to not be afraid and to just go for any opportunity they are considering because it will surprise them how natural and welcoming research can be. It is not a competition, but rather a supportive and patient community ready to welcome any contributions from passionate minds.
Research something you are passionate about. Don’t research something that you’re not interested in because you want to build your resume or you want to publish a paper. Passion really shows in research.
My advice for students would be to not be shy, and take the leap! You only have 4 years in undergrad – if you want to do research, email every professor who has a lab for an opportunity to tour their lab, shadow undergraduate researchers in the lab, and even get yourself a research position!
There’s no one right way to pursue research. There are so many different ways that you can get involved, be that with a professor, a program on campus, or independently. Research is very flexible and there are so many great resources at UT that will help you find what pathway fits you best!
