Electrical & Computer Engineering
Student Research & Experience
There are many ways you can get involved in research, and it could be a quick taste or a deeper experience, depending on your interests and schedule!
Why Research?
- Learn more about topics and areas of interest
- Gain work experience and build out your resume
- Expand your network
- Find out if a PhD is for you! (see BS → PhD pathway)
How to get Involved
- Watch our faculty’s research videos
- Talk to students working in labs about their work
- Offer to volunteer in faculty labs/complete a research project
- Visit faculty during office hours and participate in class discussions
- Send a brief email to faculty introducing yourself and see if you can meet with them
Undergraduate Opportunities
Undergrad Research
ECE 3970
Any research project with any faculty can be counted towards your technical electives during your undergrad program! Meet with a faculty member, complete the ECE 3970 credit request form!
Independent Project
ECE 3980
This is any type of special topic of interest to you. It must be overseen by a faculty member (but may not be directly involved in their research). Meet with a faculty member, complete the ECE 3980 credit request form!
Co-Op Internship
ECE 3990
Earn credit for ECE work done in a co-op or internship position (or even full-time job)! Complete the ECE 3990 credit request form. Need help finding opportunities? Go to the U’s STEM Career Fair held Fall & Spring.
Senior Capstone
Project or Thesis (incl. Honors)
A really fun part of our program! All students will plan a project to be completed during the fall and spring (or summer/fall/spring) of your senior year, perhaps even funded by UROP.
Funding ($1200/semester for up to 2 semesters, which can be any during your time at the U). Most of our faculty help students apply for these to work with them in their labs.
A faculty mentor would apply for a larger, full-time funded summer project. Once the project has been approved, students can apply for that particular project.
Travel & Small Grants allow students to travel for research conferences, to conduct research, or to acquire materials needed to complete research under the supervision of their faculty mentors. Applications are considered every month.
Paid summer research job sponsored by the National Science Foundation at a research site somewhere in the US or at the U (faculty who have an NSF project can request a supplement to support undergraduate researchers, discuss this with your faculty mentor).
Thanks to the generous donor contributions, the Office of Undergraduate Research is able to offer Undergraduate Research Scholarships to select student researchers as well as for providing opportunities to connect with prospective faculty members.
More Resources:
- Learn more about getting started in the BS → PhD Pathway
- Listen to Episode 16: Exploring Undergraduate Research of This Academic Life podcast featuring Professor Cindy Furse to learn more about undergraduate research.
- Please contact Professor Furse directly with additional questions about the undergraduate research program.
Graduate Opportunities
Master's Project
ECE 6950
Students may choose to earn credit through a small-scale project (either on-campus or through industry experience). Learn more about the Master’s Project and complete the project request form when ready.
Master's Thesis
ECE 6970
Master’s students serving as a research assistant (RA) in a faculty lab can perform research, develop, write, and defend a traditional thesis under the guidance of a faculty supervisor as part of their research group.
PhD Thesis/Dissertation
ECE 7970
PhD researchers complete independent research and contribute to the field of knowledge by publishing peer-reviewed publications and designing, communicating, and executing a scientific research plan.
Funding
A research assistant supports research projects by collecting data, conducting experiments, and performing administrative tasks under the supervision of a lead researcher. Their responsibilities can include conducting literature reviews, analyzing data, creating reports and presentations, managing lab work, and recruiting participants. This role provides hands-on experience across various fields and can be an entry-level position or a stepping stone to more advanced research or graduate studies. Students must reach out to faculty to determine the possibility of securing a funded RA position in their lab.
This Graduate School award provides supplemental funding for continuing graduate students to participate in professional development and career preparation activities. Eligible applications are awarded first-come-first-served.
The University Graduate Research Fellowship (UGRF) is a one-year, non-renewable award of $28K + tuition benefits & GSHIP. The intent of the GRF is to provide the opportunity for full-time research during the fellow’s academic year.
The simplest definition is that a fellowship is a funding award given for advanced study of an academic subject. In some ways they are similar to scholarships at the undergraduate level, but whereas most scholarships end once a student enters graduate status, students can apply for fellowships based on their research.
More Resources:
- Graduate Funding Success Workshops
- Financial & Funding Resources -> Fellowships & Research Funding