About us

Student doing field research sitting on a steep, rocky slope looking down at a mountain lake and holding a notepad

Being involved in research, scholarship and creative activity outside of the classroom not only offers a unique way to explore your interests, but will prepare you for the highly competitive job market. Undergraduate students’ exposure to these opportunities is generally very limited. Having research experience will give you an edge in your career field or in your pursuit of a graduate degree—and it might help you discover new interests or future goals.

Doing research doesn’t only mean working in a lab, it can be anything from a photographic analysis of a changing landscape over time to studying salt-loving plants to improve crop production in marginal lands. Whether your interests are in the arts, sciences, journalism, education or another field, our office is here to help you expand your experience while at the University.

Read about our recent student awardee, Ruben Garcia, and his experiences through the Pack Research Experience Program.

Undergraduate research mission

The University of Nevada, Reno is a Carnegie®R1 research university. Our mission is to promote, support and publicize undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity in all disciplines through the following activities:

  1. Expand undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity opportunities
  2. Develop and maintain outreach tools
  3. Facilitate and recognize faculty involvement in undergraduate research
  4. Publicize external undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity funding opportunities to faculty and provide support in developing undergraduate grant proposals
  5. Publish Undergraduate Research in an accredited journal

Our goals for undergraduate researchers

CABNR student doing field research

Develop skills to conduct research, scholarship and creative activity

Students need more than the classroom experience to find rewarding jobs. Undergraduate research will teach you the process of developing creative ideas, formulating and executing research and presenting the outcome. These skills will enable you to adapt to new ideas and pursue them in a systematic way, plus you’ll greatly enhance your ability to communicate in written and verbal form.

Two neuroscience students: one sitting with experimental headgear on and the other standing and fitting the headgear

Develop and produce new knowledge

One of the major roles of universities is to create and investigate new ideas. Undergraduates are important members of university research teams, often involving graduate students and research associates, operating under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Undergrads strengthen these teams and often have a positive effect on the direction of the work with their fresh and unbiased look at new ideas.

Five people in an outdoors testing area looking up at an autonomous drone flying overhead

Motivate talented students and prepare them for graduate school

Many highly capable students don’t consider the option of pursing graduate degrees. The perception that graduate education is hard, costly and not rewarding is commonly overcome by involving yourself in research as an undergrad. The satisfaction that comes from solving a problem or attempting a creative endeavor can create a new perspective and potentially encourage you to attend graduate school.

A faculty and a student researcher in a lab in front of a computer screen, looking at a lab notebook in the student's hands

Create a strong sense of community

Undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity will provide a mechanism to interact more closely and frequently with faculty mentors and other researchers on campus. The improved sense of belonging and accomplishment will enrich your educational experience and provide opportunities to explore career paths.

 

AI policy

Due to the academic environment surrounding the application of artificial intelligence (AI), most especially large language models (LLMs), Undergraduate Research seeks to emphasize accuracy, transparency, accountability, authenticity, merit and academic growth in undergraduate research.

At the University of Nevada, Reno, the Student Code of Conduct, Section 1: Purpose, paragraph 2 states lessons and characteristics the institution develops in its graduates beyond their degree curriculum. Among those lessons we highlight the University’s contribution to teaching responsibility, respect and accountability. Our office holds those three values in high regard and seeks to enforce them in any student work associated with our office, including award applications, poster presentations and journal submissions.

Our policy is that undergraduate researchers must be accurate, transparent and accountable in their use of AI, because an end product reflects not only on them but also their mentor, their college and the University. AI is seen as a versatile tool with many applications, including brainstorming, planning, analyzing, generating new content and so forth. To be accurate, students must responsibly check their work, especially if any of it has been generated by AI. Individuals should consult a trusted source or expert to ensure the generated content is valid. To be transparent and accountable, undergraduate researchers must properly disclose and cite the use of AI tools.

It is fundamental to research to explore the unknown, and we support the development of, training in, and use of new research tools such as AI-based resources. We do not support plagiarism, knowingly releasing false information or concealing resources and tools used.

Be responsible with your use of any research tool, including AI. It is never wrong to attribute your tools, sources, mentors and methods. It makes the field far more thorough, rigorous and trustworthy. As a responsible researcher it is important to keep in mind the influence your work can have on the world.

Undergraduate Research’s policy on AI is its own and does not limit the policies or perspectives of the University as a whole, colleges or departments.