Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Department Opportunities
The Department of Horticultural Sciences offers undergraduates the opportunity to conduct research under the direction of faculty members in Horticulture. Students may participate in the ongoing research of the faculty member or explore research directions of their own interest, with the approval of the instructor. Students may obtain high-impact credit required for the degree programs by enrolling in HORT 491 (may be repeated twice, for up to 6 hours of credits). Students may work multiple semesters in the same lab or explore opportunities with different faculty members. Participation in undergraduate research is great preparation for graduate or professional school. To participate, students must make an appointment with the program coordinator, Tammy Neel.
University Opportunities
The University also offers opportunities for undergraduate research through the LAUNCH and Aggie Research Scholars Program for Undergraduates programs.
LAUNCH
LAUNCH is a unit of Undergraduate Studies in the Division of Academic Affairs. LAUNCH provides high-impact educational experiences and challenges students in all academic disciplines to graduate from an enriched, demanding curriculum. The programs administered by the office bring together outstanding students and faculty to build a community of knowledge-producers, life-long learners, nationally-recognized scholars, and world citizens. Through LAUNCH, motivated students have access to Honors courses, co-curricular enrichment activities, scholarly engagement, and/or research programs that can be customized to enhance each student’s personal, professional, and intellectual development.
Aggie Research Scholars Program for Undergraduates
Aggie Research Scholars Program for Undergraduates (ARP) enables undergraduate students to participate in authentic research. ARP is one of the highest-impact experiences undergraduate students can obtain and is increasingly recognized by employers and admissions committees as a valuable indicator of future success. Unlike the traditional 1-on-1 research apprenticeship, Aggie Research Scholars perform research in teams led by an experienced graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. Team Leaders benefit from recruiting diverse members with complementary talents, skills, backgrounds, and interests. Because authentic research projects can last years, underclassmen are usually recruited to replace graduating seniors. Those who develop growing interest and talent for research often continue multiple semesters, taking on greater responsibility for research and mentorship of new team members.