Undergraduate Research Workshops

The Basics of Research at Illinois

Undergraduate research is widely recognized as one of the highest-impact experiences that a student can have during their time at university, but it can be intimidating to navigate the research landscape. Join the Office of Undergraduate Research to address any concerns you may have about research, discuss how your interests are reflected in research around campus, and create a plan to get involved! 

Getting Started in Research Workshop

During this workshop, we will discuss the various forms of undergraduate research that take place on campus, guide students to develop a plan of action to locate research opportunities on campus, and discuss ways to contact faculty research mentors. Students will leave the workshop with:

1. A better understanding of undergraduate research and how it takes place on our campus
2. Increased confidence to contact faculty research mentors
3. A list of faculty mentors to contact

Applying to the Undergraduate Research Symposium

Prepare to give a successful presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) by attending the first of our two insightful URS-themed workshops. This workshop delves into URS details, application insights, and presentation types.

Preparing to Present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium

Certificate Approved

Prepare to give a successful presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) by attending the second of our two insightful URS-themed workshops. This workshop covers crafting and delivering engaging and successful presentations. While tailored for URS preparation, this session is beneficial for any student gearing up for a presentation. Join us for a comprehensive guide to showcasing your research effectively.

Poster Presentation and Design Workshop

Certificate Approved

Are you presenting at a conference this year? Need to design a poster for your class? This workshop will give you tools for communicating your research for academic conferences and professional meetings in a concise and visually effective poster presentation. This workshop is a collaboration between the Office of Undergraduate Research, Writers Workshop, and the University Library.

Intro to Proposal Writing & Funding Your Research

Certificate Approved

During this workshop, we will discuss the fundamentals of proposal writing, guiding students to formulate successful research projects and explain their research in a concise and compelling manner that is understandable to a general audience. Students will leave the workshop with:

1. Basic knowledge about research proposals and their structure
2. Tactics and tools to write successful research statements
3. A list of resources for assistance in the writing process

This workshop is a collaboration between the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Writers Workshop.

Mentoring Up: Advocating for Yourself in Research

Certificate Approved

Looking to better express your goals and expectations with a research mentor? Feeling unsure about research or just looking for advice? Join us to discuss strategies to enhance mentor/mentee communication, combat imposter syndrome, and advocate for yourself in research.

Research to Resume Workshop

Certificate Approved

During this workshop, we will discuss strategies to successfully communicate research skills and experiences through job, graduate school, and internship application documents. Students will leave the workshop with:

1. A better understanding of how to pull marketable skills from their regular research activities
2. Practical experience marketing these skills and experiences through cover letters, resumes, and CV’s

CITL Data Analytics

Certificate Approved

The Data Analytics Workshop Series, organized by the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL), equips students with practical skills in data analysis. Learn how to use statistical software, qualitative programs, and design survey questionnaires on platforms like SPSS, R, Stata, Python, and Qualtrics. Enhance your data analysis capabilities to make data-informed decisions for your research project.

Research Bites

Come join us for coffee, tea, and cookies while we discuss various topics pertaining to your current (or future) undergraduate research journey. These drop-in sessions are more casual than our standard 1-hour workshops but are still packed with information you won’t want to miss. Topics include: 

• Discovering the Potential of Undergraduate Research 
• A Quick Overview of How to Begin your Research Journey at Illinois 
• Crafting a Successful Email to a Prospective Research Mentor 
• Finding Summer Research Opportunities

Securing Summer Research Opportunities

Certificate Approved

During this workshop, we will explore strategies to identify and apply for summer research opportunities, from finding the right programs to preparing competitive application materials. Students will leave the workshop with:

1. A clear understanding of how to locate and select summer opportunities that align with their goals
2. Practical skills for building standout applications (including drafting effective personal statements and securing strong letters of recommendation)

Savvy Researcher

Certificate Approved

Organized by the University Library, the Savvy Researcher Workshop Series teaches a wide variety of research and information management topics. Workshop topics include general research skills (including citation management, literature reviews, and much more), data discovery and management, digital humanities, geographic information systems (GIS), scholarly communication (including copyright, author’s rights, creating online profiles), sharing your research (including poster presentation and design), and lots more.