EECS Undergraduate Research
Why Engage in Undergraduate Research?
Research allows you to pursue your interests, to learn something new, to hone your problem-solving skills and to challenge yourself in new ways. Working on a faculty-initiated research project gives you the opportunity work closely with a mentor.a faculty member or other experienced researcher. With a self-initiated research project, you leave Berkeley with a product that represents the distillation of your interests and studies, and possibly, a real contribution to knowledge.
How to Get Started
Investigate
- Decide what research area(s) interest you. Read through our EECS Research page to see the full listing of areas, labs, centers, and projects in the Department. Visit EECS/ERL Research Summaries to see past and current research projects.
- Take note of what classes you enjoy more than others. This may help you decide where you would like to do research. Most students begin research after completing an upper division series.
- Browse research postings on the Undergraduate Research Clearinghouse, ResearchMatch, and URAP to see what research positions are available. Familiarize yourself with the types of positions and criteria for an offer.
Attend
- Weekly EECS colloquia showcase research presentations during the academic year on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. in the Hewlett-Packard Auditorium, 306 Soda Hall. These informal seminars may highlight faculty projects, and often, the faculty who are presenting are those looking for new students to assist with research.
- Connect with graduate students by attending research meetings and poster sessions. Not only can you discover more about research projects you might like to pursue, but you can get advice on how to get involved with and contribute to a research project.
- Check our website and the weekly EECS Undergraduate Announcements for workshops about getting involved with and succeeding in research.
Approach
You should make appointments with faculty whose work you are interested in, or stop by during their posted office hours. Bring your updated resume, summarizing your academic career to date.You can also bring a Bear Facts transcript.Explain your familiarity with the research and show enthusiasm. If at first the answer is no, try again. Many faculty are unable to accept new undergraduates in their group during a certain semester, but they may be able to the following semester. You might anticipate needing to ask twice before you receive a positive response.
Review our full publication: How to Get Started with Undergraduate Research.
How to Apply
In addition to approaching faculty directly, Berkeley students can apply for research opportunities through various web applications.
Department
Undergraduate Research Clearinghouse:
log in with your CalNet ID to review faculty postings for undergraduate research in the EECS Department.
ResearchMatch: web-based system developed to help match EECS undergrads to research opportunities with position listing.
Campus
Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP): designed to involve Berkeley undergraduates more deeply in the research life of the University. Faculty and undergraduates from all of the schools and colleges at the University of California at Berkeley are welcome to participate.
Office of Undergraduate Research: listing of research opportunities and programs across campus
College of Engineering
College of Engineering Research Website: listing of research opportunities at UC Berkeley, other institutions, and nationally.
Fall 2013 Research Workshop Series
Undergraduate Research Part 1: Why do Undergraduate Research
Thursday, September 12
4-5pm, 380 Soda
Undergraduate Research Part 2: How to get Started in Undergraduate Research
Wednesday, October 2
4-5pm, Wozniak Lounge
Undergraduate Research Part 3: Approaching Faculty for Research Opportunities
Tuesday, October 22
4-5pm, HP Auditorium/306 Soda
Undergraduate Research Part 4: Presenting and Communicating your Research
Thursday, November 14
3-4pm, 380 Soda
How To Get started in undergraduate research: Workshop A:
Workshop | 9 Durant Hall (*except Wednesday, August 28, 2013)
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 2:00-3:00 pm
Tuesday, July 9, 2013 4:00-5:00pm
Monday, July 22, 2013 3:30-4:30pm
Thursday, August 8, 2013 5:00-6:00pm
Thursday, August 22, 2013 5:00-6:00pm
Wednesday, August 28, 2013 10:00-11:00am; 2:00-3:00pm (*2040 Valley Life Sciences Building)
Thursday, August 29, 2013 2:00-3:00pm
Friday, August 30, 2013 4:00-5:00pm
Writing a Research Proposal: Workshop B:
Workshop | TBA
How to get Started in Math/Science/Engineering/Psych Undergraduate Research:
Workshop A: Finding a lab, finding funding, getting units
Workshop | TBD
Engineering/SRC Poster Session
TBA
Poster Tips
- How to Make a Research Poster: General Advice
- PDF: How to Make a Research Poster by Cornell University
Academic Year Research Programs
- SRC Undergraduate Research Program: For Berkeley undergraduates interested in SRC research.
U.C. Berkeley Summer Research Programs
- SUPERB: Information Technology for Sustainability (ITS)
-
Amgen Scholars Program
An Undergraduate Summer Research Program in Science and Biotechnology -
COINS Undergraduate Research Program
Center of Integrated Nanomechanical Systems -
E3S Summer Research Program at UC Berkeley
Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science -
TRUST Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Team for Research in Ubiquitous Secure Technology
National Undergraduate Summer Research Programs
- NSF Computer Science REU
- NSF Engineering REU
- NSF CyberInfrastructure
- Computing Research Association (CRA) Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates
- http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/Undergrads.asp
Email questions or comments to Dahlia Case (dahliacase@eecs) or Tiffany Reardon (treardon@berkeley)
| Center for Student Affairs |