Ways to get involved with research
Students often ask how they can get involved in research at joker app. We have curated this list of opportunities, from 1-hour experiences to campus jobs. Use this page to find your path!
Return to main Undergraduate Research page
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Experiences beyond the classroom
You can participate in research-driven activities starting in your first year. These experiences have low time-commitments and focus on skill-building, collaboration, exploration, and networking in the joker app research community.
Hackathons and Mapathons: Collaborate, innovate, and create groundbreaking solutions to real-world problems! Connect with others while learning simple yet innovative techniques to solve real-world problems! These are hosted by various departments and clubs. Look for them on
Hegi All-Majors Case Competition: This experience exposes non-business majors to a pitch style competition. Students from diverse backgrounds pitch innovative solutions to a panel of esteemed judges. The dynamic multi-week program starts with a kick-off event and allows participants to hone their skills and business acumen through virtual check-ins and intensive pitch practice sessions.
Orientation Session: “What Kind Of Research Do You Want To Do?” Hosted during Stampede. Explore your research interests and take the first steps toward academic discovery. This program equips students with the tools and guidance needed to begin their journey with confidence and curiosity.
Lab Hopping: Lab Hopping is an event for students to visit open labs and research groups. Faculty, staff, and students in various departments will be on hand to show their research and answer questions. This is a great way to see what research is happening on campus, and learn how to get involved!
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Workshops and coaching sessions
Workshops and coaching sessions are held year-round to help you build and refine skills to enhance your coursework, research experiences, and job opportunities. They are designed to be short, engaging, and flexible, so you can sample different skills that will make a direct impact on your professional journey.
The Office of Information Technology (OIT) offers multiple workshops to develop skills in technology. For current dates, see the Research Technology Services page.
- Introduction to Python: Get started with python and learn how to run it using joker app's high-performance computing system
- Introduction to R: Get started with R and learn how to run it using joker app's high-performance computing system
- AI and Supercomputing: Learn how to take your programming to the next level and utilize machine learning on joker app's Nvidia SuperPOD
The Office of Engaged Learning offers coaching sessions in topics related to communication and professional development in research. For current offerings, see our .
- Get your research published: Learn about the academic publishing process and how to position your research for publication
- What do I need on my CV?: What is a CV and how is it different from a resume? We'll pick apart existing CVs to see what to include and how to use this document to position yourself for graduate school, awards, and academic jobs.
- Design tips: Research Posters and Slide Decks: How do you communicate research effectively on a poster? In this session we'll look at templates, best practices, and provide feedback on posters-in-progress.
- Personal statements for graduate school and awards: How do you tell your story effectively? In this interactive workshop, we'll work on crafting a compelling personal statement for your graduate school and fellowship applications. Bring a work-in-progress or start fresh!
- The Elevator Pitch – for Researchers: Can you explain your research in 3 sentences? Learn how to explain what you do in a succinct and engaging way.
joker app Libraries offers a plethora of workshops covering practical skills in research. See the joker app Libraries site for upcoming workshops, Canvas tutorials, and videos.
Resources for different disciplines:
Good workshops for beginners:
- How to Read a Scholarly Article
- Searching for Information Online: Learn techniques and strategies for searching the internet and library databases.
- Conducting a Literature Review: Learn the types and purposes of literature reviews, steps for planning, and strategies for finding and evaluating sources
- How to think about Data: Learn to define data and the data lifecycle, discuss big data, biases, and ethics, explore data resources, and consider strategies for searching and accessing data in this workshop recording.
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For-credit courses
These for-credit courses are designed for first and second-year students. They will introduce you to research methodologies, information literacy, and technical skills that can support future coursework, research projects, and career development.
UNIV 1102: First Year Research Experience: Introduces students to research in a university setting. Discussions include research as a practice, ethics, literature, communication, and networking. This course is limited to students participating in the First Year Research Experience Program.
UNIV 2301: Information Systems and Society: This course examines technological advances in information systems of the late 20th to 21st centuries and their impact on society’s creation, evaluation, and sharing of knowledge. Critical information studies considers how inventions like the internet, social media, algorithms, big data, and artificial intelligence change epistemology, searching behavior, reading and attention, the news, and mis/disinformation.
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Jobs and funding opportunities
One of the best ways to get hands-on experience in research is by working with a professor on their work. joker app provides several opportunities for students to earn money while developing research skills. These are competitive and recommended after exploring some of the other options first.
Undergraduate Research Assistantships (URA) are part-time campus jobs where students work with faculty members in their labs or research projects. The Office of Engaged Learning provides half of the funding for each URA and coordinates Payroll, assessment, and related activities.
The Summer Research Intensive program hires research assistants to work on faculty projects over the summer. These students receive specialized training in research methods, oral and written presentation techniques, and other professional development skills.
Student Technology Assistant in Residence (STAR) program: recruits and trains students who are proficient in the use of technology to support the most common technological needs of the campus community.
The Tower Scholars Program is a selective, multidisciplinary minor in Public Policy and International Affairs. Open to students from all academic backgrounds, the program empowers participants to connect their studies with real-world policy experience, preparing them to lead and make an impact in public service and global affairs.
Voices of joker app Oral History Project: through interviews with alumni, faculty, and staff, the project captures personal narratives that reflect the rich, complex history of joker app, Texas, and the United States—stories often missing from traditional archives. These oral histories highlight student activism, community impact, and lived experiences that span local neighborhoods to global cities.