Interested in undergraduate research? There are many opportunities to participate in research at the University of Illinois - but they can be hard to find. Like a lot of other things, a little bit of initiative makes a big difference. 

The Office of Undergraduate Research (https://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/) is a great place to start. They keep a blog that lists up to date undergraduate research opportunities (at https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/6204), suggest how to get started (https://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/students/get-started.html) and provide funding grants (http://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/students/funding.html).

Most undergraduate research isn't waiting around and posted as something that you can apply to - very often undergraduate research comes about because a student is brave enough to step forward and ask a professor if they can contribute. Talk to a professor who you think might be a good undergraduate research mentor. They could be in any field and from any department. Maybe they have an interesting research page, or it could be you attended a department seminar where you heard about their work, or perhaps you took a class from them. To maximize your chances, do some research about the researcher before you get in contact. Check out their webpage, or read some of their recent work. Write a short and polite letter in which you suggest how you can help them, and be prepared to be flexible. Even a willing professor probably has their own idea of what would be the best project, and it could be that they point you towards another faculty member. Being patient and open to new possibilities is often the way students become part of the great Illinois research tradition!