In general, the 2nd year of undergraduate study is a great time to start exploring research opportunities, as you have probably completed your intro-level courses, gained some coding experience, and started to learn some astronomy.  But getting into research as late as your junior or senior year can still be worthwhile, depending on your objectives.

Although unsolicited emails or visits during faculty office hours are not out of the question, it’s often best to meet astronomy faculty in situations where they are actively looking for students.  This includes responding to the twice-yearly calls for applications to the Astronomy Research Application Portal (see below) and signing up for the 1-credit-hour Survey of Current Research seminar offered in the fall semester.

• Talking to students who are already involved in research is a great way to learn more about what it’s like to work in various research groups. 
• Attend events hosted by the astronomy graduate students and UIAS to network and learn about graduate school.
• Participate in astronomy events, such as Astrofest and Journal Club, to hear students present their research.
• Connect with peer mentors through the Lisnek LAS Hub or the Illinois Undergraduate Research Ambassadors to learn how other students found research opportunities.

Any research experience (even if it’s outside astronomy) is better than no experience, so consider opportunities in other campus science departments or at national facilities or research institutes (especially if there’s one situated near your home).

• Project announcements are circulated twice each year (fall and spring).
• The portal typically opens around Week 9 and closes at the end of Week 12.
• Astronomy majors and minors receive project announcements by email.
• Each project description includes:
  • desired qualifications
  • number of positions
  • funding options
  • project summary
• Students submit:
  • their top two project choices
  • CV
  • transcript
  • one-page research statement

In general, you can get either course credit or hourly pay for doing research, but not both at the same time.  It is typical for students to receive course credit initially (by taking one or two semesters of ASTR 390) and to receive hourly pay over the summer if they are making satisfactory progress. Details are provided in the project announcements. Once you have begun a project, additional funding options are available, such as the LAS Get Experience Scholarships and the Office of Undergraduate Research’s Research Support Grants.

• Explain why you selected the projects you ranked.
• Highlight relevant coursework, programming, research, or other experience.
• When ranking your project choices, keep in mind that a project that is less aligned with your interests can still provide an outstanding research experience.
• If you aren't selected the first time, revise your application and apply again.

ASTR 390 allows you to:

• earn 1–2 hours of course credit
• work one-on-one with an astronomy faculty member
• conduct independent research without scheduled class meetings

Enrollment process:

1. Find a faculty mentor.
2. Agree on a project and semester goals.
3. Receive permission to enroll.

ASTR 490 serves as a capstone experience for undergraduate research.

To enroll in ASTR 490:

• Students enrolling in ASTR 490 are expected to have already made substantial progress on a research project (typically through ASTR 390).
• Students enrolling in ASTR 490 must obtain permission from their faculty supervisor.

The course:

• lasts one semester
• focuses on writing the thesis
• satisfies the Advanced Composition requirement

The thesis must:

• exceed 5,000 words (excluding figures/tables/references)
• be approved by your supervisor
• be reviewed by a second reader

Astronomy and Astrophysics

• Students pursuing Highest Distinction must meet the required major GPA and complete ASTR 490 (Senior Thesis) with a strong endorsement from their research supervisor.

CS + Astronomy and Astronomy + Data Science

• Departmental distinction criteria do not require a Senior Thesis. Please refer to the Academic Catalog for distinction requirements.

*Although a Senior Thesis is not required for astronomy + data science or CS + astronomy students seeking departmental distinction, ASTR 490 can still be a valuable capstone experience for students interested in conducting independent research.

Towards the end of the spring semester, the Office of Undergraduate Research organizes a number of events, culminating in the Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), where students from across campus give presentations on their research over the course of a full day.  The URS is free of charge and a great opportunity to practice pitching your research results to a non-expert audience.

This one-day celebration of astronomy and astrophysics research at Illinois typically occurs within a week of the URS and complements the URS by offering a more astronomy-specific audience and the opportunity to connect with astronomy faculty and researchers.

Large astronomy meetings, such as the winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society, are well-suited for advanced undergraduates interested in graduate school.  Discuss possible attendance with your research advisor, and apply for campus funding to support your travel costs.

• The Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program has a call every Fall (typically announced in September) for research positions working with graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
• The Office of Undergraduate Research offers a structured yet flexible set of procedures to obtain a Distinguished Undergraduate Researcher Certificate.
• On-campus research opportunities are sometimes posted to the Undergraduate Research Blog.
• NCSA is offering a paid undergraduate research program called SPIN. 
• The U of I Research Park offers several internship opportunities.

• NSF (National Science Foundation) REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) programs. Follow this link to review Astronomy-focused REU programs. These programs typically have mid-winter deadlines. 
• There are also many organized non-REU summer programs. Astrobetter has a  community-maintained Summer Internship Advice and Opportunities post.
• The American Astronomical Society has a list of Internships and Summer Jobs.
• NASA internships are advertised for both Summer and semester positions (full or part-time). There are several ways to find a NASA internship, through the OSTEM office, as a PATHWAYS intern, or as an international intern.
• The Office of Undergraduate Research maintains a Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities Database.