Research at UD

• Gain a strong foundation in research methodologies, ethics, using AI as a tool, and scholarly literature while gaining credits toward UD’s general education requirements.
• Learn directly from UD faculty and build your network through hands-on research rotation.
• Build research and professional skills that will support your future career or post-graduate educational goals.
• Join a community of like-minded peers and contribute to projects that make a real-world impact.

Participating in undergraduate research equips you with a unique skill set that prepares you for success in an ever-changing workforce:

• Real-world experience: Research deepens understanding of classroom concepts by applying knowledge to challenging, real-world problems, builds resilience and adaptability, and develops critical thinking skills – building transferable skills for the workforce.
  
  
• Professional identity: Engaging in research provides firsthand experiences that help clarify your career path and goals, grows foundational knowledge in a subject and allows you to have a real-world impact.
  
  
• Personal growth: Through the process and rigor of research, you gain self-confidence and independence, develop a sense of belonging in your field of study and become a lifelong learner.

During the spring semester of your first year, you'll take a 3-credit course that meets graduation requirements. The course will introduce you to the fundamentals of research, including:

• Impact of research across human history
• Qualitative vs. quantitative approaches
• Information literacy
• Understanding and evaluating scholarly literature
• Research ethics
• General research methodologies
• Interdisciplinary nature of research
• Expectations for student researchers and mentors
• Responsible use of AI in research

During the fall semester of your second year, you'll take a 3-credit course that meets graduation requirements and includes two, 6-week research rotations. The research rotations help you complete another graduation requirement: engaging in a high-impact experiential learning opportunity.

Each rotation will introduce you to an ongoing research project, allowing you to explore different disciplines and methodologies.. You'll meet weekly with program coordinators to talk about research ethics, research articles, professional expectations and more. And at the end of each rotation, you'll share what you learned.

After completing FYRE, you'll receive a FYRE badge and credit toward a graduation research chord. You'll also continue to be supported in your research journey. Program staff are part of your Flight Crew — helping you identify and apply for various research opportunities, including:

• Honors thesis project or Berry Summer Thesis Institute
• Research projects with UD faculty or UDRI researchers 
• Enrollment in discipline-specific research minors
• Junior research experience
• Summer undergraduate research opportunities (e.g., fellowships, internships, REUs)
• Conference presentations and publication opportunities