Undergraduate Research Opportunities
![]() Sifan Ye '20 tests an augmented reality program in Prof. Bai's AR/VR Lab. |
Undergraduate Research Opportunities in CS
research |ˈrēˌsərCH rəˈsərCH| noun
the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions
New Oxford American Dictionary
What is Research?
Research is about pushing the boundaries of what we know, asking new questions, finding the answers, and adding to our knowledge about the world.
How do I get started in Computer Science research?
- Learn the boundaries: In order to push the boundaries of what we know, you have to know where those boundaries are. This requires preparation, including taking foundational courses in the discipline. For most Computer Science students, this means at least some of the Computer Science Major core courses.
- Find a mentor: Research also almost always involves a personal relationship with a supervisor or so again, you need to take courses and get to know the professors and what they do in their research. Then you can make an appointment to meet with them and discuss possibilities.
- Take CSC200 or 200H: This course is an intensive structured introduction to the problem solving skills needed to do research.
- Attend research group meetings: Many Computer Science research groups have regular meetings that are open to undergrads. That's another way to learn about research topics, meet people, and make a connection.
- Help out however you can: Some research projects have opportunities to do less technical work as a way of getting involved. For example, you might run subjects through experiments designed by more experienced researchers. Make the connection first, then ask about the opportunities.
- Find an NSF REU: The National Science Foundation funds programs called “Research Experiences for Undergraduates” for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. An REU Site consists of a group of undergraduates who work in the research pro- grams of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Visit the NSF website to look for REU opportunities at Rochester and elsewhere
- Explore CRA's Research resources: https://conquer.cra.org
Students should also see the Office of Undergraduate Research for more information.
Interested undergrads are welcome to attend the following meetings of research groups in the Computer Science Dept.
What When & Where Who | ||
Main Department Seminar | Monday 12:00 PM Wegmans Hall 1400 | Prof. Hosseini |
Natural Language Processing |
| Prof. Gildea |
RIT-UR Theory Canal | 12:00 PM, second and fourth Wednesday most months | Prof. Hemaspaandra lane.hemaspaandra “at” icloud.com |
Large Group Meeting (paper reading/presentation) Friday 10:00 AM, Wegmans Hall 2506
Small Group Meetings Bai: Tuesday 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM, Wegmans Hall 408 Hoque: Tuesday 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM, Wegmans Hall 2506
| Profs. Bai and Hoque | |
Systems Group | Friday 2:00 PM | Profs. Criswell, Ding, Nargesian, Pai, Scott, Zhu {criswell, cding, fnargesi, sree, scott, yzhu} @cs.rochester.edu |
SKIL (Seminar on Knowledge, Inference, and Language) |
Wednesday 5:00 PM Contact Prof. Schubert for details |
Prof. Schubert |
Vision & Learning |
Friday 10:00 AM, Wegmans 3211
| Prof. Xu |
High Performance Computing | Contact Prof. Pai for meeting details | Prof. Pai |
VIStA (Visual Intelligence and Social Multimedia Analytics) | Wednesday 4:00 PM, Wegmans Hall 3504 | Prof. Luo |
Rochester Security Group | Contact Prof. Criswell for meeting details | Prof. Criswell |
Questions? Contact the Professor !
Last Updated 5 October 2022