Undergraduate research

Enhance your KU undergraduate education with research. Learn how to start your own project, secure funding, meet a mentor and discover research opportunities with the Center for Undergraduate Research.

Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

Two students kneel in the grass collecting flowers
A student welds on the ground
Students practice a flamenco dance outside for a rehearsal

Cassandra Osei

"I think doing research becomes easier once you realize that faculty don’t bite: they really want to help you be successful and enjoy working with students."


Cassandra Osei
History and Latin American & Caribbean Studies double major

The value of student research

Former Vice Chancellor for Research Simon Atkinson explores the value and impact of undergraduate research experiences for students and the university in his welcome video for KU’s 2021 Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Do cool things

Taylor Axtell studies infant interactions to understand how human attention develops over time. Mario Balcázar is exploring and developing new radar technologies. KU’s research ecosystem supports students seeking answers.

A student laughs while cutting up magazines for an art show

Learn from experts

Your professors are leaders in their fields. You can be sure what you’re learning in the classroom is cutting-edge knowledge in the subject because your teachers are the scholars and researchers who are creating that knowledge.

Two student researchers and an expert work in a lab

Inspire with curiosity

One reason research is conducted in educational settings is that students have a positive influence on research. They ask questions no one else has asked and drive discovery in new directions.

Two students collect research items from a river bed

Navigate a diverse world

Research universities attract scholars and students from around the world, creating a diverse international community. This environment better prepares students to succeed in an increasingly global economy.

A group of people gather around a table in Tanzania and talk

Prepare for any career

Undergraduate research experiences nurture the transferable skills that employers want in the workforce: critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, creativity, ability to work in teams and more.

Students build a structure outside

Experiential learning at KU

Enroll in first-year, career + service-learning courses.
Explore opportunities