Get Started
Undergraduate research at UB is about curiosity, discovery, and learning by doing. You don’t need prior experience—just an interest in exploring questions and ideas that matter to you.
When to Start Research
You can begin research as early as your first year at UB. Many students start early to explore interests, while others join projects later after discovering a passion through coursework.
There’s no single path. What matters is finding the right opportunity for where you are now.
Attend an Info Session
Sign up for an Information Session and take the first step toward discovery.
Choosing the Right Research Project
Most research begins with an interest—not a fully formed plan.
A good place to start is by asking yourself:
- What topics or classes have captured my interest?
- What problems do I care about or want to better understand?
- What skills do I want to develop?
From there, you can:
- Explore faculty research areas and ongoing projects.
- Talk with instructors, advisors or research staff.
- Attend research events, info sessions or poster fairs.
- Start small with a project designed for students new to research.
Your first project doesn’t have to perfectly match your long-term goals. Many students refine their interests through research, not before it.
Time and Effort
Research fits into your academic life in different ways. Some projects involve a few hours a week during the semester, while others take place over the summer or for a defined period of time.
Clear communication with your mentor and realistic expectations help you balance research with classes, work and other commitments.
Research Ethics and Responsibility
All research – whether in a lab, archive, community setting or studio – comes with ethical responsibilities.
You’ll learn to:
- Respect people, communities and data.
- Follow ethical guidelines and university policies.
- Understand issues like consent, confidentiality and integrity.
- Reflect on the broader impact of research on society.
Ethical research builds trust and strengthens the impact of your work.
Starting Small: Learning by Doing
Many students begin with starter projects – early-stage research experiences that focus on learning the research process and gaining early insight, instead of aiming for a final product or breakthrough.
These experiences emphasize:
- Doing: Engaging in hands-on research.
- Reflecting: Contemplating about what you’re learning and why it matters.
- Thinking: Connecting experiences to questions, theory or context.
- Applying: Using insights to inform next steps.
This Do-Reflect-Think-Apply approach helps you build confidence, skills and clarity – one step at a time.