Getting Started

So, you are an undergraduate student interested in research. Now what? Follow the steps below to start your journey. 

Step 1: Explore Your Interests

Find an area of research that interests you. From literary analysis to biological sciences, policy implementation to visual arts, countless research opportunities exist in nearly every field imaginable. Here are some ideas to help refine your interests:

• Go to your instructors’ office hours and ask about their areas of research. You can also find biographies for every instructor and their work on your department’s website. Read those biographies and strike up a conversation!
• Attend an on-campus research symposium(opens in new window) to learn what other peers and faculty are up to.
• Check out some of the resources for seminars/webinars, videos, and literature on the Chico State Library's Research and Services(opens in new window) page.
• Learn about career opportunities(opens in new window) and development within your major through the Career Center(opens in new window). 

Step 2: Find a Research Mentor

Your instructors make for perfect research mentors. Having once been in your shoes, they are an excellent resource to guide your research. They can help you explore interests, conduct research, critique analysis, and present findings. Visit our staff page(opens in new window) and we can help you get in contact with an instructor from any department on campus. 

Step 3: Find a Research Opportunity

Chico State offers many opportunities for undergraduate students to conduct research. This page(opens in new window) lists out some of them. Talk about them with an instructor or a member of our staff!

Step 4: Share your Work

The campus community wants to see what you’ve done. Share your research at one of the many symposiums or conferences hosted on campus. Click here(opens in new window) to find a list of campus events.