Join Us for SOURCE 2023!

July 25, 2023 | by Jonna Iacono

SOURCE, the Showcase of Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor

Thursday, October 5, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET, Curry Student Center

Calling all Huskies! Learn more about what cutting-edge research and creative endeavor look like at Northeastern. Talk one-on-one with faculty from across the colleges about their work – and learn how you can get involved in projects during your time at Northeastern.

Nearly 100 faculty from across the colleges will be in attendance!

Before you attend, here’s some advice to consider.

Take a look and see who’ll be there. We have an online database of attendees (opens in new window). Go through it and learn more about the project areas and visit the researcher/creative practitioner web pages. This will help prepare you for a conversation and help you ask any questions you might have. Cross-reference with the map to find projects you’re interested in.
Get ready for a conversation from your end. Think about goals you have , as well as your current interests and skills and those that you want to develop. How does what you have read about the various projects align with what you know about yourself and your interests? Take a minute to practice a simple declarative sentence, “My name is ____________. I study ____________. I think that this part of your work ____________ is interesting because of this intellectual reason/moral imperative/grand impact ____________. I’d love to learn more about it because of this previous experience ____________ and these skills ____________ and my long-term interest in ____________. How I can get involved?” You might not know how to fill in all of the blanks right now (that’s why you’re in school) but see how close you can get. When you know who you are, what you value, and how you can contribute — and get some practice saying it out loud– being confident becomes easier.
Remember, not every faculty member will have open positions now — but a good impression lasts a long time. You can’t go wrong being polite and courteous. Address faculty members as Professor until told otherwise (better to err on the side of formality).
Keep in mind your time! If you want to be involved in research or creative practice, a good thing to keep in mind is that faculty members will commit a lot of time to training and mentoring their undergraduates. They’re investing time, energy, and expertise in their mentees and want to know that you will make time for the projects, show up consistently, and ideally be with them for longer than a semester if possible. The learning curve of most projects is steep and it takes some time to get to the meatiest parts of the work. Be honest with yourself about the commitment you can make, be frank with your faculty mentors, and stick to your word. Communication and honesty in relationships, including the mentoring relationship, is key.
Sign Up for the URF Newsletter. The Undergraduate Research and Fellowship office runs information sessions and workshops throughout the year — and we have a weekly newsletter where we share the latest on opportunities to extend your learning. Whether you’re interested in getting started in research or finalizing your graduate school plans, we have good news to share with you.

SOURCE is a collaboration between Bouvé College of Health Sciences; College of Arts, Media and Design; College of Engineering; College of Science; College of Social Sciences and Humanities; D’Amore-McKim School of Business; and Khoury College of Computer Science. It is coordinated by Undergraduate Research and Fellowships on behalf of the Office of the Chancellor.

Please write to URF@Northeastern.edu with any questions.