How to Get Started

Get the skills you need to find an undergraduate research experience that is right for you! OUR can help you:

  • Learn more about becoming an undergraduate researcher
  • Find a faculty mentor
  • Develop an email to contact potential faculty mentors
  • Find the grants, programs, and experiences that are right for you

We provide four resources to help students get involved in research. 

Research Roadmap

The online Research Roadmap Webcourse is a non-credit, self-paced course that introduces students to research opportunities at UCF. It will give you all of the same information as a Peer Mentoring Session or a Workshop, but at your own pace. The course will provide individualized feedback to you on draft emails to faculty mentors and other preparation activities. You can obtain the Password for the Research Positions Database through Research Roadmaps.

Students who complete the first three modules during the semester in which they enroll in Research Roadmap have the opportunity to earn a Certificate of Completion.

Peer Mentoring

Meet with an experienced undergraduate researcher who will talk to you about how to get started as well as how we can support you throughout your research experiences. Peer Mentoring is available through appointment only. Some appointments are in-person, while others will be hosted via Zoom (more information is available when you schedule your appointment).

Getting Started Workshops

This workshop is led by an OUR staff member and covers how to find a faculty member to work with and the first step to get started in research. 

TO ATTEND A WORKSHOP: Click on the link attached to the workshop you would like to attend. Register using your UCF EMAIL, and you will receive an email link to the workshop.

Introduction to Research Courses

We offer two 1 credit hour courses to help current students get engaged in undergraduate research. Both courses give an overview of everything you need to know to get started but in different formats. 

  1. Summer Research Academy (SRA) – a fast-paced, 3-day event in July; ideal for students who want to begin research in the fall.
  2. Introduction to Research & Creative Scholarship Opportunities (I.N.T.R.O.) Mentoring Program– a semester-long (fall or spring semester), immersive, classroom experience. 

If you need captioning access or another accommodation in order to participate in any OUR virtual event, please contact our@ucf.edu.
At least 48 hours notice best assures that we can coordinate necessary access.