Undergraduate Research

About Undergraduate Research

Serving as a research assistant in a faculty research laboratory is a valuable opportunity. Research experience allows students to develop a portfolio of valuable skills, such as problem solving, interpersonal awareness, critical evaluation, and general research experience. Such experience is excellent preparation for the job market and graduate school. Research experience is absolutely crucial for students who wish to go to graduate school. In fact, the earlier you start the better—freshman and sophomores are encouraged to get involved.

Faculty Involvement

Psychology faculty members are committed to developing the intellectual talents of all students. Our commitment is reflected in the outstanding record of faculty participation in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program for first- and second-year students and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program for low-income, first-generation, or students from backgroundstraditionally underrepresented undergraduate students. Our faculty members have also been involved in the American Psychological Association’s Minority Undergraduate Students of Excellence Program which helps undergraduate students gain entry into graduate programs in psychology.

Undergraduate Research for Credit

Students may earn university credit for their research assistantships by enrolling in Psych 290: Undergraduate Research Lower Division and Psych 690: Undergraduate Research Upper Division. Psych 290 and Psych 690 are essentially research apprenticeships with a faculty mentor. Thus, joining a research laboratory is an excellent way to get to know a faculty member better.

The department takes great pride in the fact that many of our undergraduates have carried out research under the supervision of faculty that has resulted in publications in some of the best journals in the field.

Undergraduate Research Funding Opportunities

Note: Links in this section point to external sites.

Fellowships and awards are available to some undergraduate students who are involved in research at UWM. If you believe that one of these programs is a good fit, it is recommended that you speak with your faculty research mentor about the award and the application process. 

Research-based fellowships and internships, including those listed below, are also available from scientific organizations and federal funding agencies. It is a good idea to speak with your faculty research mentor about these awards if you’d like to apply.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Summer Research Internship

How to Find a Position as a Research Assistant

  1. Find a faculty member or members whose research is of most interest to you and most relevant to your career goals.
    • Think about what aspects of psychology really interest you. Read scientific articles in
      this area to learn more.
    • Check the faculty pages to learn about them and their research. Some professors have a lab webpage which describes what they do in more detail.
    • Check the Office of Undergraduate Research for additional listings of research opportunities.
  2. Apply to work in the lab(s) that interest you.
    • In general, the best way to apply is to email the faculty member and ask if they have openings.
    • Provide a BRIEF description of your background (e.g., major, year in school) and why you are interested in working in that lab. Do NOT send an email to multiple faculty at once. This way you can state specifically why you want to work in a particular lab. Do your homework before emailing! Read their papers and understand the kind of research they do.
    • Some faculty have information regarding how to apply to work in their lab on their lab web page. Check for this before emailing the faculty. If they provide an application form on their website, complete that rather than emailing them.
  3. If no opportunities are available, don’t be afraid to inquire again in a few months or to ask the faculty member if they may have spots available in future semesters.
  4. If you have further questions feel free to contact the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, Deborah E Hannula, hannula@uwm.edu.

UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.