Academic Timeline for Research

Students can build toward an in-depth research project  throughout their Stanford careers. The lists below are not intended to be prescriptive, but instead are designed to demonstrate many ways undergraduates can pursue research at different stages .

A few students come to Stanford with clearly defined academic interests and begin research in the freshman year. It is the exception , however. It is much more common for undergraduates to begin research during the sophomore, junior or senior years. Carefully weigh the benefits of engaging in research in the first two years at Stanford against the benefits of personal and academic exploration. The potential exists for you to discover an area of study previously unknown to you prior to your arrival at Stanford.  

Some fields of study and faculty mentors require that students have advanced knowledge or skills gained through course work before engaging in research. For example, calculus, econometrics, programming, statistical analysis, are a few of the fields that require advanced knowledge. Speak with faculty or department advisors in your field to ensure that you’re prepared for this in a timely manner.

Freshman and Sophomore Year

Ways for freshmen and sophomores to engage with research include the following:

• Take one or more Introductory Seminars to investigate a topic, get to know a faculty member and learn about an academic discipline.
  • See Introductory Seminars
• Use the PWR research paper assignments as a vehicle for investigating different research options.  The paper can expand into related areas of research and might provide the foundation for a quarterly or major research grant project.
  • See Writing and Rhetoric Requirement (PWR)
• Apply for a quarterly or major undergraduate grant to expand on your PWR or independent research project idea.
  • See Student Research Grants
• Consider the research options for each major that you’re considering.
  • See Choosing Majors
• Determine the possibilities for doing an honors thesis project that involves in-depth research.
  • See Honors
• Investigate nonmajor honors and research programs. It may be possible to major in one area and do an honors thesis or a research project in another. However, you will need to plan for the requirements in advance.
  • See Interdisciplinary Honors Programs
• Get to know faculty who share your interests; visit professors and laboratories.
  • See Finding and Working with a Faculty Mentor
• Apply for and attend Sophomore College. Explore topics and find professors with which to work.
  • See Sophomore College
• Keep informed of departmental connections for off-campus research internships during the summer.
  • See Departmental Research Opportunities
• Work on a faculty-led research project.
  • See Departmental Research Opportunities
• Take a position as a research assistant for a professor during the summer and sign up for Summer Research College.
  • See Departmental Research Opportunities
  • See Summer Research College
• Investigate and apply for the Chappell Lougee Scholarship early sophomore year for your project in the humanities, arts or social sciences.
  • See Student Research Grants

Back to Top

Junior and Senior Year

Ways for juniors and seniors to engage with research include the following:

• Expand faculty contacts and continue investigating research options in your department or program.
• Continue working in the laboratory or as a research assistant. Work in different labs or with other research topics and different faculty members.
• In junior year, determine if you are eligible to do an honors thesis. If you are, apply to enter the honors program.
  • See Honors
• Integrate your research with your studies abroad or off campus.
  • See Off-Campus Opportunities
• Combine your research with public service.
  • See Public Service Research Scholars Program
  • See Public Service Research Funding
• Keep informed of departmental connections for summer research internships off campus.
  • See Departmental Research Opportunities
• Work on a faculty-led research project.
  • See Departmental Research Opportunities
• Take a position during the summer as a research assistant for a professor and sign up for Summer Research College.
  • See Departmental Research Opportunities
  • See Summer Research College
• If you are in the honors program, take seminars in your major or nonmajor honors program and apply for and attend Bing Honors College.
  • See Bing Honors College
• Apply for a quarterly or major undergraduate grant to fund a research project.
  • See Student Research Grants
• If you are presenting your research as an honors thesis or other extended piece of writing, take advantage of the editorial consultation services and classes available through the Honors Writing Program.
  • See Honors Writing Program
• Look into publication and presentation opportunities to share your research with a broader audience.
  • See Making the Most of Your Research

Back to Top