Research Guide and Toolkit

Elevate your academic and professional journey through research, publications, and effective communication tools. Finding research as an undergraduate—whether at Pitt or beyond—takes initiative, patience, and persistence. Here are some resources to facilitate your journey:

Leverage Your Pitt Network Research Resources

How Undergraduate Students Can Find Research Opportunities at Pitt

  1. Explore Department Websites & Faculty Pages
  • Go to your major department’s website (e.g., biology, psychology, neuroscience).
  • Browse faculty profiles and look for active research projects, labs, and publications.
  • Read recent papers to understand their focus and align your interests.
  • Make a list of 3–5 professors whose research excites you and prepare a cold email.

2. Talk to Professors and TAs

  • Build relationships with instructors. Office hours aren’t just for class questions!
  • Ask: Do you know of any labs looking for undergraduate help?” or “Are you conducting any research that might need assistance?” – Even if they’re not hiring, they might refer you to someone who is.

3. Check Out Research Programs & Fellowships

4. Pitt Resources

5. Network Like a Pro:

  • Fairs & Networking Events
  • Departmental Seminars
  • Conferences & Research Poster Sessions
  • Talk to students already in research. Ask how they got in and if their lab is looking.
  • Alumni Tool on LinkedIn

Tips for Cold Emailing Professors

Make your message clear, professional, and tailored.

  • Subject Line: Be specific
    • “Undergrad Research Inquiry- Lab Name]”
    • “Interest in Your Work on [Topic]-Pitt Student”
  • Greeting: Dear Dr. [Last Name],
  • Introduction: Full name, Year & major, Anticipated graduation date
  • Show Research Interest: Where you found their work, Specific paper/project and why it interests you
  • State Your Intentions: Availability (e.g., summer/fall research), Career goals and alignment with lab
  • Highlight Skills/Experience:
    • Relevant Coursework
    • Lab techniques, software, data analysis
    • Leadership, problem-solving, persistence
    • Teamwork
  • Request a Meeting: “Would you be available for a brief meeting to discuss potential opportunities?”
  • Attach Documents: Resume, Unofficial transcript
  • End Professionally:
    • Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
    • Sincerely,
    • [Your Full Name]

Listing Publications & Presentations on Your Resume & Where to Include Them?

  • Limited experience? → Integrate into “Relevant Experience” or “Academic Experience.”
  • Extensive or notable work? → Create dedicated sections:
    • “Publications”
    • “Presentations”

How to List Presentations (Poster or Oral）

  • Authors (full list)
  • Full title (official and complete)
  • Presentation type (oral, poster, etc.)
  • Event name & location
  • Date (Month, Year)
  • Awards or recognition (if any)

Example:

Smith, J., & Lee, A. “Renewable Energy Adoption in Urban Areas.” Oral Presentation, Undergraduate Research Day, Pennsylvania State Capitol, April 2024. (Best Presentation Award, Pitt Honors College)

How to List Publications

Follow your discipline’s citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)

Include status:

  • Published – Full citation
  • In press – Include journal name & expected publication date
  • Submitted for review – Journal & submission date
  • In preparation – Mention only if actively being developed

Example:

Doe, J., & Nguyen, M. (2024). AI-Assisted Agriculture: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Sustainable Tech. (Submitted, March 2024)

Keep learning, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to take that first step. You’ve got this—and your next big discovery might be just around the corner.