Research can feel intimidating when you’re just starting out — especially if you’ve never worked in a lab before. The good news: you don’t need prior research experience to get involved. Everyone starts somewhere, and this page provides resources to guide you through getting started.
Below, you’ll find resources to help you:
- Understand what research looks like
- Find labs that interest you
- Prepare strong application materials
- Contact faculty confidently
- Get ready for interviews
- Explore funding options
Take it one step at a time — you’ve got this.
Understanding Undergrad Research Programs
Finding the right research opportunity isn’t always straightforward. This article offers a great overview of how to choose a program, apply, and make the most of the experience once you’re there:
Ten simple rules for students navigating summer research experiences for undergraduates (REU) programs: From application to program completion (PDF) Manzanares M, Peña C, Kobak KC, Stratton MB (2023). PLoS Comput Biol 19(11): e1011573.
Finding a lab that interests you
There are many ways to discover labs doing work you find exciting. You might:
- Explore research topics online
- Look for news stories about Stanford labs
- Talk with professors or TAs
- Browse faculty directories
These resources can help you get started:
- Wu Tsai Neuro Faculty Directory
- VPUE’s Directory of Departments With Summer Research for Undergraduates
When exploring labs, consider:
- What topics genuinely interest you?
- Does the lab take undergraduates?
- What does their research environment seem like?
Action steps:
- Make a list of 3–8 labs whose work interests you
- Skim each lab’s website and recent publications
- Identify what excites you about each one
Creating a resume
You do not need prior research experience to create a strong resume! Focus on experiences that show you are:
- Responsible
- Curious
- Organized
- Patient
- Eager to learn
- Able to follow through on commitments
Think broadly — your resume can include:
- Part-time jobs
- Family care responsibilities
- Volunteer work
- Class projects or leadership in student orgs
- Creative or technical hobbies
Explore templates from Stanford Career Education (CareerEd) or download these files:
Resume Template (Word Doc) 4 Easy Steps to Writing your Resume (Word Doc)
For one-on-one help, CareerEd offers individual appointments with trained career coaches.
Reaching out to labs
Reaching out to a lab can feel nerve-wracking, but remember: faculty expect undergraduates to have little or no experience. Your curiosity and motivation matter most. At the worst, you may be told they don't have any openings at the moment or perhaps get no response at all, but at best, it could be your first interaction with an amazing lab and research opportunity!
If you’re unsure where to start, use our guidelines:
Write an Introductory Email (PDF)
Tips for emailing faculty:
- Keep your message short (faculty are very busy and get many emails to sift through!)
- Personalize it — mention why their research interests you
- Attach your resume
- Email only labs you’re genuinely excited about!
- Send to 3–5 labs at a time (not 30!)
If you don’t hear back within a week, it’s fine to send one polite follow-up to let them know you're still interested in meeting to discuss research opportunities with them. If there’s still no reply, it usually just means the lab is too busy — not a reflection on you. The good news is, there are plenty of labs out there—Stanford has about 500 faculty doing neuroscience-related work!
Preparing for an interview
Nervous about an upcoming interview with a lab? It can help to change your mindset! If a lab member is making time to meet with you, that's a great sign—it's a signal that the lab values teaching and supporting young scientists.
Labs that want to work with undergrads know that you are coming to them without much or any research experience. Instead of sweating over memorizing the details of their science, prioritize considering all the other things that a lab will need or might want from you as an undergraduate researcher—reliability, a growth mindset, trustworthiness, etc. What do you know that you can bring to the lab? How might you demonstrate that? Check out our guidelines for more advice on how to prepare:
Finding funding for your research
There are several ways undergraduates can be supported while doing research:
- Work for academic credit
- Use Federal Work Study funds
- Be paid directly by the lab
- Apply for summer research funding or fellowships
You are encouraged to discuss funding opportunities as part of your interview, or in follow-up conversations.
Students interested in neuroscience may want to explore:
Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Opportunity (NeURO) Fellowship
Bioengineering REU
Biology SURP (B-SURP)
Bio-X USRP
Electrical Engineering REU
Psych-Summer Research Program
SSRP/Amgen Scholars
Symbolic Systems Summer Internship Program
Or, check out the many other departments that have funding available, or apply for an individual grant.
Final Tips
- Start early and keep track of deadlines!
- It’s normal not to hear back from some labs—don't be discouraged if you don't get a response
- You do not need to know what you want to study in grad school yet
- The best first lab experience teaches you how research works, not just what the research is
And remember: you belong here. Curiosity, enthusiasm, and persistence matter so much more than experience.