Click here to learn all about undergraduate research opportunities at Texas A&M. 

You should not be timid when seeking out research opportunities.  Some common misconceptions are that research is only for students in science, students planning to go to graduate school, or students with the highest GPRs. Any student with curiosity, motivation, & enthusiasm can participate in undergraduate research.

Joining a lab: 

What research are YOU interested in?
 It's important to realize that nobody is going to hand an undergraduate research project to you.  You need to actively seek one out.  To get started in undergraduate research you must first identify a faculty member who can serve as your research advisor.

Next, you need to determine what you are interested in.  Think about the activities you participate in and the classes you've enjoyed. Think about what types of research you'd like to do and, just as importantly, what you don't want to do.  Talk to your friends who are involved in research or join a student organization that brings in research faculty speakers.  After you have developed an idea of where you'd like to go with research, talk to faculty who's research interests you! Talk to them after class, make an appointment to meet during office hours, or simply email them telling them you're interested in the research they are doing and wanted to learn more about working in their labs! Also note that you should contact faculty at the beginning of the semester before you plan on getting involved in their lab. Click here to learn about how to get involved in undergraduate research at A&M.
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​Get involved! 
  • Click here for links to some the TAMU psychology faculty's labs!
  • Click here to download the PSYC 485 or PSYC 491 research forms.  By enrolling in these courses you receive course credit & documentation on your transcript that you participated in undergraduate research. You can enroll in 0, 1, 2, or 3 hours of research course credit. For every 1 hour of course credit you are expected to spend 3 hours in the lab!  
Areas in TAMU Psychology: 
Primary themes of research at TAMU Psychology: 

Why do undergraduate research at A&M?

1. Gain increased knowledge of your field.
  • Research requires you to develop a deeper understanding of the questions, resources, methods, & applications of your discipline than you gain from coursework.
  • Research allows you to develop your own questions, helping you identify your future career or passion.
2. Apply your knowledge and understanding from the classroom.
  • Research is often at the forefront of discovery and innovation. Being involved with research means you are contributing to your field in a direct and meaningful way.
  • By applying what you learn in the classroom to your research, &vice versa, you gain a greater depth of understanding of your discipline.
3. Develop hands-on experience and soft skills.
  • Research enables you to learn by doing. You can ask your own questions & explore your own approaches.
  • Research allows you to develop communication, problem solving, teamwork, creative, time management, & other valuable skills in your field. These skills will benefit you throughout your life.
4. Build relationships and grow your professional network.
  • Research helps make lasting connections with those around you, including faculty, graduate students, & other undergraduates.
  • Working with a team teaches ethics, communication skills, & is a great way to develop your professional network (which will come in handy after graduation).
5. Graduate school preview.
  • Undergraduate research allows you to work closely with faculty & graduate student mentors. Seeing what they do provides you a view of life as a graduate student or professional in your field.
6. Become more competitive.
  • Undergraduate research strengthens your resume, making you more competitive academically and professionally. The experience you gain doing research as an undergraduate may help you find jobs, apply to graduate or professional school, and will make you more productive in the classroom.
  • Research experiences can often be a distinguishing characteristic on your resume and a great talking point during an interview.
7. Refine your career goals.
  • Often college students do not know what they want to do. Undergraduate research allows you to see what work your field is like, for better or for worse!
  • Exploring different approaches to research can help you target your interests, which can help later on when looking for the right job to apply for.

LAUNCH: Undergraduate Research 

LAUNCH (Learning communities, Academic excellence, Undergraduate research opportunities, National fellowships, Capstones, & Honors programs) 
Through LAUNCH, motivated students have access to Honors courses, co-curricular enrichment activities, & research programs that can be customized to enhance each student's personal, professional, and intellectuxnal development. Undergraduate Research Scholars, Student Research Week, Undergraduate Research Ambassadors, Explorations.... all of these programs are supported by LAUNCH. Click here to learn more!

Undergraduate Research Scholars (UGRS) 

UGRS gives you the opportunity to write a senior thesis for publication & presentation. You also get a $300 research grant and priority registration! Click here to learn more about UGRS! 
  • To apply you must have completed 60 hours (24 at A&M), have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and involved in or planning a undergraduate research project. Application deadline in September. Click here for more information. 
  • Previous undergraduate research theses are available for you to peruse at the Texas A&M Digital Repository.

Student Research Week (SRW) 

 Click here for more information about SRW!
Volunteering is a great opportunity to get an idea of what A&M student research is like!  You will be able to see hundreds of posters describing undergraduate research projects and meet the students who did the work. ​
  • FREE SHIRTS! 2-hour shifts! Super easy & fun! 

Explorations 

Texas A&M's undergraduate student journal. Explorations is not only a great place to try to publish your undergraduate research but it's also a way to see what your fellow Aggie undergrad's are doing with their research. The journal is written for a general audience, so all the articles are easy and fun to read! You can access all the previous editions online here.Click here for more information about explorations! 

​Undergraduate Research Ambassadors

Undergraduate Research Ambassadors represent LAUNCH: Undergraduate Research at research, recruiting, & outreach events.  Ambassadors participate in activities such as the Undergraduate Research Expo, Getting Started in Research & Mentoring Undergraduate Researchers workshops, give presentations to students organizations, & meet with administrators, faculty, & prospective students. New Ambassadors are chosen each spring from applications solicited from across campus.

How to Apply:
The application includes submission of a resume, a description of your research experience, & a statement of the benefits of undergraduate research. All applications require a letter of support from a faculty research mentor. If you are interested in applying, please review the eligibility requirements here. 
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Interested in speaking to an Undergraduate Research Ambassador or requesting a presentation?
Email us at ugr@tamu.edu.