Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Undergraduate researchers presenting poster

 

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 
Group Meetings

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  

Seminar Series 

Prof. Hemaspaandra 

lane.hemaspaandra “at” icloud.com 

 

ROC Human-Computer Interaction  

Weekly Group Meeting 

Tuesdays  9:00am 

Wegmans 2506 

Zoom Link 

 

Weekly Paper Reading Session 

Thursdays 9:00am

Wegmans 3201 

Zoom Link 

Prof. Hoque  

mehoque@cs.rochester.edu 

ROC Human-Computer Interaction  

Weekly Group Meeting 

Tuesdays 2:30pm

Wegmans 3201 

 

Weekly Paper Reading Session 

Fridays 9:00am

Wegmans 3201 

Prof. Bai 

zbai@cs.rochester.edu

Systems Group 

Fridays 2:00pm

Wegmans 2506 

Zoom Link 

Seminar Schedule  

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  

criswell@cs.rochester.edu 

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