Research
Experiential learning through research opportunities will introduce you to a field of study and to the rewards of scholarly research. You may have the chance to work closely with a faculty member on their own research area and learn what it means to be at a premiere, cutting-edge research institution.
Research opportunities from the Office of Undergraduate Research
FIRE provides first-year UMD students with an inclusive faculty-mentored research experience that drives accelerated career readiness and opportunity.
Fearless research drives fearless career readiness: students develop communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, and teamwork traits that employers are seeking.
FIRE operates 16 different research streams enabling more than 600 new University of Maryland students each year to thrive in a variety of environments.
Learn more about the FIRE program and its many benefits for participating students.
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Joining the FIRE Program - By Invitation with UMD Letter of Admission.
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Freshmen Connection - If you are a part of Freshmen Connection, you have a different opportunity to join FIRE. When scheduling your fall semester, enroll in a section of FIRE Semester 1 dedicated to Freshmen Connection students.
Immersive Research Internship Experience (IRIE) is A faculty-mentored research internship experience that helps you develop broad research and professional capacities. It is a summer research internship and professional development opportunity built for a wide range of University of Maryland (UMD) students.
This opportunity is available to all UMD undergraduates.
The Office of Undergraduate Research Immersive Research Internship Experience is operated in collaboration with our well-established undergraduate research program, the First-Year Innovation & Research Experience (FIRE).
How does it relate to FIRE
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The FIRE program originally designed this program for FIRE students.
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This program includes the opportunity to participate in many FIRE streams and receive mentorship from FIRE faculty leaders.
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This program is open and available to FIRE students.
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This program remains designed and led by FIRE leadership and faculty leaders.
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The course connected to this program is FIRE199: Research Internship.
How is it different from and/or more than FIRE?
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This program is available to all UMD undergraduate students - not just FIRE students.
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We are also working to include research opportunities with faculty members across campus. This will allow the program to have FIRE and beyond-FIRE research destinations for participating students.
The Office of Undergraduate Student Research's Student-Proposed Innovation & Research Experience (SPIRE) provides opportunities for University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) undergraduates to work closely with faculty mentors on summer research projects while actively engaging with the broader community of SPIRE researchers.
SPIRE is designed for students with experience with undergraduate research or students who have already secured an undergraduate research mentor.
Who should apply to SPIRE?
- SPIRE is designed for students who:
- Have a plan for a self-designed summer research project.
- Have secured the agreement of a UMD faculty member to advise them on their project.
- Engage in research or creative endeavors in any and all academic and artistic fields.
Learn more and checkout additional eligibility requirements!
There are many paths to finding research opportunities on campus. See the shortlist below for ideas on how you can get started.
- Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) to find a list of some of the research opportunities available on campus.
- The OUR has a listing in ELMS of hundreds of PAID summer research opportunities in life and physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and behavioral/social sciences. Request access to ELMS resource site.
- OUR also provides a robust map of how to get involved in research on and off campus. Check out OUR's complete list of services.
- Visit the First-Year Innovation Research Experience (FIRE) website to learn more about this inclusive faculty-mentored research experience and gain academic credit.
- Check out your college or department websites or contact your academic advisor for more information. Many colleges and departments have established research programs and offer academic credit.
- Speak to your professors, sometimes they have openings or know of one of their colleagues that is looking for student help.
- You can express your interest by contacting other faculty members (email, call, or stop by their office!) who are doing the research you want to do.
- Ask friends who are doing research on campus. Faculty members like getting referrals from students already working in their lab.
- Unlike more traditional job opportunities, many research opportunities on campus are not posted online with official applications. In fact, some faculty even wait for you to find them and personally introduce yourself. To assist you in connecting with faculty in professional ways, OUR has a helpful guide for faculty outreach.
- Some colleges and departments have established research programs and offer academic credit. Learn more about on-campus opportunities, or contact your academic advisor.