Undergraduate Research Opportunities

How do I get started in Computer Science research?
Research is about pushing the boundaries of what we know, asking new questions, finding the answers, and adding to our knowledge about the world. Problem solving with students is the cornerstone of research. In order to push the boundaries of what we know, you have to know where those boundaries are. This requires preparation, including taking foundational courses in the discipline. For most Computer Science students, this means at least some of the Computer Science core courses.
Research also almost always involves a personal relationship with a supervisor or so again, you need to take courses and get to know the professors and what they do in their research. Then you can make an appointment to meet with them and discuss possibilities. The collaborative dynamic required by research between faculty and students is unlike that found in the classroom. Reach out to a faculty member and see for yourself, you might be surprised!
Another step in the right direction is to check out the “Getting Started” resources provided by The Office of Undergraduate Research.
Below are some other ways to become involved in CS research. They include:
- Take CSC200 or 200H: This course is an intensive structured introduction to the problem-solving skills needed to do research.
- Attend research group meetings: Many Computer Science research groups have regular meetings that are open to undergrads. That's another way to learn about research topics, meet people, and make a connection. Check the CS Undergrade Research webpage to see when groups meet.
- Help out however you can: Some research projects have opportunities to do less technical work as a way of getting involved. For example, you might run subjects through experiments designed by more experienced researchers. Make the connection first, then ask about the opportunities.
- Find an NSF REU: The National Science Foundation funds programs called “Research Experiences for Undergraduates” for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. An REU Site consists of a group of undergraduates who work in the research pro- grams of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Visit the NSF website to look for REU opportunities at Rochester and elsewhere
- Explore CRA's Research resources
What | When & Where | Who |
Main Department Seminar | Mondays 12:00pm Wegmans Hall 1400 |
|
Natural Language Processing | Fridays 3:00pm Wegmans 3201 | Prof. Gildea gildea@cs.rochester.edu |
RIT-UR Theory Canal | Noon, most second and fourth Wednesdays | Prof. Hemaspaandra lane.hemaspaandra “at” icloud.com |
| Weekly Group Meeting Tuesdays 9:00am Wegmans 2506
Weekly Paper Reading Session Thursdays 9:00am Wegmans 3201 | Prof. Hoque |
Weekly Group Meeting Tuesdays 2:30pm Wegmans 3201
Weekly Paper Reading Session Fridays 9:00am Wegmans 3201 | Prof. Bai | |
Systems Group | Fridays 2:00pm Wegmans 2506 | Profs. Criswell, Ding, Dwarkadas, Nargesian, Pai, Scott, Zhu; {criswell, cding, sandhya, fnargesi, sree, scott, yzhu} @cs.rochester.edu |
Commonsense Reasoning Group | Fridays 5:00pm Wegmans 2506 |
Prof. Schubert schubert@cs.rochester.edu |
Vision & Learning | Fridays 1:30-3:00pm Wegmans 3211 | Prof. Xu chenliang.xu@rochester.edu |
High Performance Computing | Contact Prof. Pai for meeting details | Prof. Pai sree@cs.rochester.edu |
VIStA (Visual Intelligence and Social Multimedia Analytics) | Fridays 10:30 – 11:30am Wegmans 3504
| Prof. Luo jluo@cs.rochester.edu |
Rochester Security Group | Contact Prof. Criswell for meeting details | Prof. Criswell |
kLab (Artificial Intelligence) | Fridays via Zoom, Contact Prof. Kanan for details | Prof. Kanan ckanan@cs.rochester.edu |
Data Intelligence Group | Contact Prof. Nargesian for meeting details | Prof. Nargesian fnargesian@rochester.edu |
Students should also see the Office of Undergraduate Research for more information.
Last Updated 24 September 2024