Getting Started in Research

Undergraduate students have the unique opportunity to engage in a diverse array of research and scholarly activities with award-winning faculty. Engaging in research not only deepens academic understanding but also cultivates critical career competencies—such as problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and analytical thinking—that are highly valued by today’s employers. The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is here to help you find research connections and activities that will engage and challenge you and prepare you for a bright future.

Getting Started in Research Workshops

Fall 2025 Workshops

The Office of Undergraduate Research offers weekly "Getting Started in Research" workshops as an interactive session designed to help students explore research opportunities across disciplines. Participants will identify their research interests, learn how to find and reach out to potential faculty mentors, and begin developing a roadmap for their research journey. Click on the section title for a copy of this flier to share with your students or to display in your building. Click on "Fall 2025 Workshops" to register for a workshop through EABNavigate.

Becoming part of Carolina's research community

The best way to take advantage of the cutting-edge research, academic opportunities, and high-quality resources available to you at the University of South Carolina is through a faculty-mentored research experience. We have gathered the steps and resources you need to get connected below. Reach out to the OUR with questions or to schedule an appointment with a member of our team.

Write down several areas or topics of research that interest you.

They can be related to your major, something you read about in a class, or a topic completely unrelated to your academic program. Click this box to see the "What Are Your Research Interests" worksheet for thought prompts for this process. At a school of such a high level of research activity, there is Discovery for EVERY Discipline!

Find USC faculty conducting research related to your topics of interest. Then prioritize them based on your level of interest.

Talk to current or previous professors, your advisor or friends for suggestions. This box is linked to the OUR Faculty Research Database to streamline your search.

Email faculty to schedule a meeting to introduce yourself and learn more about their research.

Use your most professional writing style, state the purpose of your email, and let them know why you are interested in their research. Ask for an appointment to talk in more detail. Click here for more tips on impressive emails.

Be prepared for your initial meeting.

Be ready to describe your interest in their research and ask questions about their work. Share any connections you have to the subject matter or methods used in their research, Have an idea of how much time you are able to commit and what your schedule might be.

These steps are outlined in more detail in our "Want to Get Involved in Research" worksheet. All of the worksheets linked on this page plus a helpful Getting Started video are available in the Getting Started in Research Toolkit.

When you have matched with a faculty mentor:

Record your research activity

Record your undergraduate research experience and enter your project(s) in the OUR Research Registry. This is required every semester for research to appear on your "My USC Experience" transcript.

Apply for funding

Check out Undergraduate Research Grants offered through the OUR. We want to support you through every step of your research experience! Generally you apply for funding the semester before you plan on using it.

Share your work

Be thinking about how you can showcase your research. Talk with your mentor, or check out the "Share Your Work" page on the OUR website.

Look in to earning academic credit for your research

Conducting research for academic credit is a great way to learn how to do research specific to your field of interest and build relationships with faculty. There are a variety of opportunities, including research methods courses and independent studies. Check with your Advisor or Faculty Mentor about getting academic credit for your research.

If you need help at any step of this process, we are here for you!

In addition to the information on this page, the Getting Started Toolkit will be helpful to you. In the toolkit you will find a short video with information helpful in this stage of securing a research opportunity. Please take a few moments to watch the video for answers to some of your questions.

The OUR is available via email and offers in-person or virtual individualized Research Consultations to help you navigate your USC research experience. Please review the materials available on this page, and if you still have further questions feel free to email us at our@sc.edu. We would be happy to answer your question or schedule a meeting.

Undergraduate Research