What are students saying about Undergraduate Research?

"So many students in engineering spend years not doing anything but taking classes that really don't seem to apply. Helping out with research gives hands-on experience with their future career and shows real-world applications of their learning while still learning.”

 - David Piazza, Civil Engineering Senior and Undergraduate Researcher

Civil engineering senior and undergraduate researcher Alex Robert Matula (center) with CE graduate students on site at the Texas Concrete Plant in Victoria, TX as part of a TxDOT-sponsored project.

Ocean engineering senior and undergraduate researcher David Piazza (left) and a CE graduate student construct synthetic wetland in the Haynes Coastal Engineering Laboratory 3D Shallow Water Basin at Texas A&M as part of a project for Dr. Jennifer Irish.

What is Undergraduate Research?

As an undergrad, you have the opportunity to prepare for future jobs or further studies by participating in world-class engineering research projects alongside faculty and graduate students through established programs like the Texas Transportation Institute. Undergraduate research connects you with faculty who can help you find career direction or assist you with applying for graduate school fellowships.

Many undergraduate research opportunities (UROs) are available for academic semesters or just for the summer. Plus, with the opportunity to receive money or academic credit, you can find the URO that fits your busy schedule and your budget.

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How will Undergraduate Research Help Me?

Participating in undergraduate research opportunities will help you:

• learn about new developments and technologies in the civil engineering field and how they will impact your future,
• get to know a faculty member and his or her graduate students,
• decide if you would like to continue your studies,
• decide if a career in research and academia is the right choice for you,
• have a competitive edge when applying for fellowships or assistantships, and
• earn either academic credit or extra money!

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Examples of Previous Research Projects

Student research activities will vary depending on the needs of the research project. Students typically work 5-15 hours per week and some will perform analytical duties, such as collecting data and preparing reports, while others perform experimental work, such as constructing test samples and conducting tests. Each URO is administered by the individual faculty member.

Previous research projects have included:

• "Laboratory Investigations of Wave Attenuation and Setup in Coastal Wetlands," with J. Irish
• "Self-Consolidating Concrete for Precast Structural Applications," with D. Trejo, M.B. Hueste
• “Seismic Fragility of RC Frame Buildings,” with P. Gardoni
• “MEMS Sensors for System Identification of RC Buildings,” with J. Bracci
• “Visualization of RC Frame Structures using AutoCad,” with J. Bracci, Undergraduate Summer Research Grant Program

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How Do I Find Research Opportunities?

Ready to research? View available research opportunities or contact the designated faculty member in your research area of interest.

• Ocean/Offshore Engineering - M.H. Kim
• Coastal Engineering - J. Kaihatu
• Geotechnical Engineering - G. Biscontin
• Construction Engineering and Management - I. Damnjanovic
• Structural Engineering - S. Hurlebaus
• Environmental Engineering - B. Boulanger
• Water Resources Engineering - F. Olivera
• Transportation Engineering - Y. Zhang
• Materials Engineering - Z Grasley

More Research Opportunities

In addition to UROs with civil engineering faculty, the department and university also offer several additional opportunities related to undergraduate research:

Undergraduate Transportation Scholars Program - http://www.civil.tamu.edu/tsp/#undergraduate

The Undergraduate Transportation Scholars Program promotes interest in transportation research among undergraduate students. In this program, selected undergraduate students from across the U.S. will spend a portion of the summer working on a research project and learning about the transportation research program at Texas A&M University and the Texas Transportation Institute.

Engineering Scholars Program - http://www.tamu.edu/esp/

ESP will help you look beyond next semester's classes to see the advanced research opportunities at Texas A&M that can lead you to an unforgettable one-on-one project with one of our professors. Each ESP student is required to take ENGR 381, a one-hour seminar, in the fall of the junior year. ENGR 381 focuses on activities and research in each engineering major at Texas A&M. Visiting authorities discuss topics such as after-graduation opportunities, whether or not to attend graduate school, how to give technical presentations, how to write abstracts and how to write resumes.

To learn more about the program or to apply, please contact the program's departmental representative, Dr. Mark Burris.

• Did You Know? Did you know that research proposals written during the fall semester of ENGR 381 can then be submitted the next spring semester for an Undergraduate Summer Research Grant? Keep reading to find out more!

Undergraduate Summer Research Grant - http://essap.tamu.edu/usrg/

Each summer the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University offers undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in ongoing research with faculty members. During the 10-week program, participants work closely with faculty members and graduate students on current research projects, attend presentation skills workshops, make a formal poster presentation of their research experience at the end of the program, and submit a written final report describing the results of their research.All participants will receive a stipend for the 10 week research experience, a housing allowance, and payment of required tuition and fees for 1 credit hour of 485 (independent study/research course).

Research Fellows Program - http://honors.tamu.edu/Honors/Community/Fellows/fellows.aspx

The University Undergraduate Research Fellows Program at Texas A&M University provides exceptional seniors with the chance to “test drive” graduate school. Each selected student, Fellow, participates in two semesters of research during his or her senior year, resulting in a symposium presentation and a senior honors thesis. Students who complete the program graduate with honors and receive the Fellows distinction at graduation and on their transcripts. Experience as a University Undergraduate Research Fellow can open doors for you at leading graduate and professional schools.

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