What research opportunities are available for undergraduates at Washington University in St. Louis?

Washington University in St. Louis offers a lot of real research access for undergraduates, and it is one of the stronger schools for this if you want to get involved early. Undergrads can work with faculty across Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Business, and especially through WashU’s major medical and public health ecosystem. It is common for students to join labs, assist with faculty projects, do independent research for credit, and apply for summer funding.

There are also strong options in humanities and social sciences, where undergrads can do archival work, policy research, language-based projects, and faculty-led studies.

For structured support, WashU has the Office of Undergraduate Research, which helps students find faculty mentors, funding, and presentation opportunities. Many departments also offer honors research, senior thesis options, and independent study pathways.

In practice, a lot of students get involved by emailing professors, talking with them after class, or using departmental listings to find labs. Research is not limited to seniors or only to students in one school. A motivated first-year or sophomore can often start as a research assistant and take on more responsibility over time, especially after proving reliability.

Campus life around research also includes symposiums, poster presentations, and chances to publish or present work.