Developing a Culture of Research with Undergraduate Students

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with undergraduate students on research projects at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). This collaboration has led not only to a deeper engagement with the material they learn in class (and beyond) for the students, but also to tangible research outputs, including peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. At USFQ, we’re proud to have a Minor in Research that supports and recognizes the role of undergraduate research in shaping future academics, professionals, and curious thinkers. Developing a culture of research at the undergraduate level is both deeply rewarding and highly impactful.

Based on my experience, here are some practical ideas to involve undergraduate students in research, even when time and resources are limited:

• Assign small, meaningful tasks: Start with something manageable: a literature search resulting in a table of insights, or setting up a single finite element model. These bite-sized contributions build confidence and skill.
• Encourage them to follow their curiosity: Research thrives on intrinsic motivation. When students connect their work with their interests, they engage more deeply and take ownership of the process.
• Make it hands-on whenever possible: Whether it’s fieldwork, lab experiments, or real data analysis, giving students the chance to do rather than just read about research makes it real and memorable.
• Let them collect data: Data collection is a great entry point into research. It teaches students about protocols, accuracy, planning experiments, and what raw research looks like before it’s polished.
• Integrate research skills into coursework: Teach skills like academic writing, referencing, literature reviews, and data management within courses as we do in the Minor in Research. This supports the path into deeper research involvement.
• Co-write with them: Collaboratively working on a conference paper or a journal article is an excellent way to mentor students through the academic writing process. It’s also a confidence boost for them to see their name in print.
• Celebrate milestones and share successes: Highlight students’ research on institutional platforms, invite them to present at events, and acknowledge their contributions publicly. This reinforces the value of their work.
• Mentor with transparency: Show students what research looks like behind the scenes: the dead-ends, the rewrites, the questions that lead to more questions. Knowing that research can be tedious is part of the learning process.
• Provide continuity opportunities: Offer pathways for long-term involvement through thesis projects, summer internships, or roles as research assistants. Sustained engagement leads to deeper learning. For that reason, our minor is a two-year long program.
• Build a community: Create spaces (such as a research group) where undergraduate researchers can connect, share experiences, and support one another.

Engaging undergraduates in research is not just about helping them build their CVs and improving their chances for graduate studies; it’s first and foremost about planting a seed. When students get a glimpse of what it means to ask new questions, to build knowledge, and to contribute to a broader conversation, they begin to see themselves as scholars. We can indeed sow the seed of a love for research early in the academic journey, and with care and mentorship, that seed can grow into something truly impactful.

Do you involve undergraduate students in your research projects?