Research Opportunities

A note from Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Research Sandra L. Suárez

Undergraduate students have a variety of research opportunities at CLA. Conducting research teaches you how to think creatively and critically, deepens your understanding of the research topic and helps you develop analytical and problem-solving skills. Equipped with this new skill set and knowledge, you’ll clarify your career interests and strengthen your résumé for your future profession.

These opportunities afford you the chance to enrich your education through scholarly research while receiving valuable faculty mentorship. You are the next generation of independent thinkers and collaborators, problem-solvers and decision-makers. We’re here to support you, our #TempleMade thought leaders of tomorrow, as you participate in the four research opportunity paths below.

Partner With a Faculty Member

Many faculty members have ongoing research initiatives. Working with a faculty member is a great opportunity to learn about the research process and support the work of an established scholar. You should start by setting up an appointment with a faculty member to discuss their research and how you might support their work.

Some departments and programs keep a running list of faculty looking for research assistants. Check with the department chair or program director about available opportunities. Work-study positions are also available. Alternatively, faculty members may have grant money to support a research assistant. A very popular program is the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Research Awards (LAURAs). Student-faculty teams work together over the course of a semester or summer (including the summer semester) after graduation on a research project of mutual interest. Ask your favorite faculty member to mentor you for a LAURA Scholars Award. Another opportunity is the Merit Scholarship Stipends (from Honors).

Develop an Independent Project

All students will embark on an independent research project in their senior capstone project, but students with a passion for a particular topic can undertake an independent research project under faculty supervision before senior year. Many departments have an option to do this for credit. Students can also take advantage of university wide resources for undertaking independent research projects through programs such as the Creative Arts, Research and Scholarship (CARAS) and Diamond Research Scholars Awards.

If you have a faculty mentor in mind whom you’d like to conduct your study with, please contact them directly. Alternatively, you can reach out to your undergraduate department chair for guidance on which faculty mentors may be appropriate for you to work with.

Work With a University Lab or Group

Opportunities for undergraduates to experience working as part of a research group and/or lab abound. Reach out to the laboratory head or principal investigator to see what research opportunities are currently available and, in some cases, apply via their website. The Psychology Department and Neuroscience program are particularly rich with such opportunities.

Another potential opportunity is at the Institute on Disabilities. Many of these positions are work-study eligible.