Undergraduate Research
Get Involved
Browse a list of Active Projects
Undergraduate Research Projects
Visit the URFA site
Visit the Undergraduate Research Forum & Awards web site.
A Roadmap for Undergraduate Research at Rensselaer
Orient yourself:
- Talk to your Advisor about doing research.
- Gain some basic knowledge through your classes and course projects that could be applied to a research project.
- Remember, most projects will require knowledge from different fields of study, not just your major. Plan for electives that will round-out your experience.
Get Involved:
- Join the Student Research Association: a union club for students who are interested in, or are already participating in undergraduate research here at RPI or elsewhere.
- Attend lectures and seminars. You'll hear leaders in research and industry discuss the latest theories and projects.
Look at what your classmates are doing:
- Attend the Undergraduate Research Forum and Awards. Talk with your peers about their research projects, find out who they worked with.
- Determine which research projects interest you personally.
Take classes from faculty doing research that interests you:
- Look at research opportunities in your field of interest.
- Take more courses by a faculty whose research interests you.
Begin your resume:
- Begin working on a resume that outlines the applicable courses you have taken and class projects you have done.
Network with graduate students:
- Often graduate students become mentors for undergraduates. Check faculty personal web sites and research group web sites to locate graduate students.
Apply for an Undergraduate Research Project: (second semester)
- Bring your resume and talk with a faculty member about doing a URP project.
- Get to know the graduate students who conduct research for this faculty member.
- Try a URP project for experience in the second semester.
- Undergraduate Research Projects in Engineering
- Undergraduate Research Program
- URP Deadline for Funding: 3rd Friday of the fall and spring semesters
- URP Deadline for Credit: Same as the Registrar's add course deadline
Apply for an Undergraduate Research Project:
- Apply for a URP project for credit, funding or experience.
- Consider taking projects that last for more than a semester.
Take classes from faculty doing research that interests you:
- Consider taking more classes that will assist you in your research field.
Connect with Industry:
- Make contact with any corporate sponsors and take a plant trip to help you better understand the project and network with industry contacts.
Take classes from faculty doing research that interests you:
- Consider doing a Summer URP for pay or credit.
- Continue on the same or a new URP project.
Get published:
- Submit an abstract to a conference detailing the work you have done and/or will finish this year.
Use your research experience to find employment or go to graduate school.
- Include your research project as experience while applying for employment or graduate school. Consider continuing on the research project with the faculty advisor through graduate studies at RPI
To Find Out More Go To: http://www.eng.rpi.edu.eng
ABET Objectives
While certain objectives of an undergraduate education in engineering are common to all programs, there are subtle but important differences that require some subset of objectives specific to ensuring that all graduates have specialized technical knowledge in their chosen field. In this regard, the graduates of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering's baccalaureate program will be prepared for entry-level positions as Materials Engineers or for Graduate School.
To read more about the ABET Objectives go to: http://finaladdress here
Did you know?
Rensselaer's Department of Materials Science and Engineering...
- one of the oldest materials departments in the country,
- has consistently ranked among the top 15 Departments in the United States,
- committed to the educational process, to individual mentoring, and to academic excellence,
- offers many Undergraduate & Graduate courses in an interactive, hands-on format, and
- provides opportunities for undergraduate research.
Materials Science and Engineering offers students a variety of hands-on design opportunities—even bridge design! See a sample project from Design in Materials Engineering (MTLE – 4910)