Research by Undergraduates

A goal of the BU Physics Department is to ensure that all undergraduate students have an opportunity to conduct research. Research provides the hands-on experience a student needs to supplement classroom lessons. Projects are often published or form part of a larger project. We encourage our undergraduates to become involved in research as soon as possible, and to continue through graduation. It's a great way to enhance the formal educational experience and to prepare for either graduate school or for a professional career.

Programs Offered

The Boston University – Physics Research Opportunity (BU-PRO) Program is an REU program funded by the National Science Foundation and administered by the Physics Department. The program supports US citizens and permanent residents only. For more information, please click here.

The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) is managed by BU. In contrast to the REU, UROP is not restricted to the summer; research can begin at any time and may continue through graduation. Generally, the timeline is planned in conjunction with a BU professor. For more information, please click here.

The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program is funded by the National Science Foundation. A range of research projects are conducted at universities nationwide, and usually take place between June and August. The program supports US citizens and permanent residents only. For more information, please click here.

Choosing a Research Program

To choose either a UROP or a REU opportunity, first choose an area of interest and then speak with professors and advisers about research possibilities in the area. Once you have clarified your interests, you can apply via the relevant UROP and or REU website.   It is also recommended that you peruse the faculty research profiles on the BU Physics website and contact professors who do research in your interest area.

Discussing research with faculty is paramount, as most REU/UROP applications submissions require two letters of recommendation, as well as the application. These conversations will educate you about professors' research, as well as help them learn about you.

Finding a research position isn't always a straightforward process. Here are some resources and tips that might help you get involved in research if you're still wondering how to get started.

  • - Do your research. Read up on faculty research and find a group that might interest you. You can learn more about Physics faculty research on our Physics website under Directory --> Faculty, or Research --> Field.
  • - Talk with peers, PRISM mentor, Photon group, Learning Assistants, Teaching Fellows, and others for advice and how they received research experiences.
  • - Find faculty projects on the UROP website. These three pages might be useful to explore:
    • - UROP Opportunities Page - this is a main page to provide you with a background on opportunities.
    • - UROP On-Campus Research Page - this page provides research positions that have been submitted by BU faculty. *There may be other opportunities not listed, so contact a faculty member to inquire (see below for tips).
    • - UROP "Find A Mentor" Page -  find mentors who have done research with undergraduates (especially through UROP) recently or in the past.
  • - Contact a faculty member directly to see if they have an opening in their research group. Consider including the following information so the faculty member learns more about you and is more inclined to provide you with a positive response: resume; transcript; reason for wanting to work with them* (Important! Do your research to show you care); any research or educational background that might show them more about yourself.

Things to Remember

  • - Note deadlines.
  • - Consider working on a volunteer basis at first.
  • - Update the Physics Department on your research.

You are never far from help! Be sure to ask if you have a question. Applications often provide a contact person for questions; don’t hesitate to contact that person with program-specific questions. General questions may be directed to the Physics Department main office, in person at 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 255, or via phone at 617-353-2600.

Looking for outside research experience, an internship, or another opportunity as a Physics major?

BU Physics majors can search through our listings of research opportunities, internships, graduate school programs, and more. Please visit our Physics Major Opportunities page for more details and to learn about deadlines.