How easy is it for Cornell undergraduates to get involved in research?

Cornell is generally a very good place for undergraduates who want research, and it is realistic to get involved early if you are proactive. The university has a strong research culture across sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, agriculture, and labor studies, and undergrads do join labs and faculty projects as early as first year. It is not automatic, though, because access depends on your initiative, the department, and whether a professor has space or funding.

At Cornell, a lot of research happens through direct faculty outreach, department websites, and formal programs. In STEM especially, many students email professors whose work interests them, attend office hours, or take a class first and then ask about joining a lab.

For first-years, getting into a lab can be easier in some fields than others. Biology, chemistry, and engineering labs can be competitive, but Cornell’s size also means there are many labs overall. In humanities and social sciences, research often looks more like independent projects, faculty assistant roles, archival work, or honors thesis preparation, and those opportunities can open up once professors know you.