SOURCE | Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

You’re invited to the 2025 Showcase of Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor (SOURCE), which will take place in person on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET in the Curry Student Center Ballroom, Pit, West Addition, and McLeod Suites. 

 At SOURCE, faculty members from across Northeastern’s colleges share the latest news about their research and creative projects with enthusiastic undergraduates in a fair-style atmosphere.  You can review photos from 2023 event to get a sense of the scale and vibe of the event. This is a great way to connect with faculty and learn more about all the ways to engage with research and creative endeavors here at Northeastern.

In the interest of making the most out of the event, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Get ready for a conversation from your end. Think about goals you have, your current interests and skills, and those 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 can I 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. One of the best things about college is the chance to nerd out with experts about the subjects you care about! This is a great connect with someone who cares about the same highly specific things that you do.
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). Even if you can’t get a position in their lab, you’ll be in their memory as a student with hustle and drive.
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.
As we approach the event, we will post an online database of attendees. Review it to learn more about the project areas and visit the researcher/creative practitioner web pages. This will help prepare you for a conversation and allow you to ask any questions you might have.
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.

Sign-Up for the Weekly URF Newsletter

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.