What research opportunities are available for undergraduates at the University of Chicago?

UChicago offers a lot of real undergraduate research access, including paid summer research, faculty-led lab work during the school year, and structured programs for first- and second-year students. One of the biggest entry points is the College Center for Research and Fellowships, which helps students find positions, funding, and summer opportunities across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The university’s research culture is especially strong because undergraduates can work directly with faculty at places like the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, the Biological Sciences Division, national-lab affiliated projects, and major social science institutes.

For students early in college, the most common starting point is joining a faculty project by reaching out to professors whose work matches their interests. Many students also use UChicago Careers in Research and the College Center for Research and Fellowships to identify openings and apply for grants. In STEM, students often begin as research assistants in labs, sometimes for pay, academic credit, or volunteer experience, and then take on more independent work over time.

There are also formal summer programs and fellowships that fund undergraduates to do research full time. UChicago supports summer research through college grants and department-specific funding, and students can pursue opportunities both on campus and through affiliated institutions. If you are interested in humanities or social sciences, those fields are very much included, not just lab science. Students do archival research, policy research, fieldwork, and faculty-assisted projects through centers and departments across the university.

Another important path is the undergraduate thesis or capstone, especially for students who stay involved in a field for several years. Many majors encourage original research by the junior or senior year, but students do not need to wait that long to get started.