All UROP projects must be sponsored by a member of the BU
faculty who will serve to guide the participant in learning the research
process. Some faculty members have existing projects of which a student
can work on a particular aspect. If you have your own specific idea for
a project that doesn't seem to fit in with any particular person's research,
try to find someone working in a similar field. Your faculty mentor's assistance
will be an integral part of developing your project and application for
funding. Past UROP students frequently offer the advice that it's extremely
important to find a mentor who is a "good fit" for you. Consider how well
your research interests mesh with prospective mentors, as well as issues
such as personalities and working environment. Establish up front how often
you expect to interact directly with your mentor and if there are others
who may be of assistance as well (e.g. graduate students or postdoctoral
fellows).
Using your list of research interests, try to develop a list
of faculty mentors who might be able to work with you. Resources for finding
potential mentors include:
your department's director of undergraduate studies
administrative staff
DON'T GET TUNNEL VISION! Remember to keep
an open mind when searching for a mentor. You can look outside your major,
your department, and even your school or college. There are many faculty
whose interests lie on the boundaries between two departments, so just
because you want to do a literature project (for example), you don't have
to look solely in the English Department. Similarly, a student who wants
to do a Biology project could look in the Psychology Department, the Medical
School, Sargent College, or the College of Engineering. Any member of the
BU faculty may serve as a UROP mentor.
Frequently, the best way to make initial contact is to email
potential mentors with a short description of yourself, why you are interested
in doing research, and what your research background is. Students
who prefer face-to-face contact might approach faculty during their
office hours. Remember, a little persistence can pay off.
