Are you interested in undergraduate research opportunities in the Ivan Allen College? Curious about how to get involved, or what liberal arts research looks like?
This guide to undergraduate research in Ivan Allen College answers all these questions and more.
Keep reading to discover an extensive list of research opportunities in IAC and across the Institute, as well as funding sources, conference opportunities, and advice from undergraduate researchers just like you.
Research Opportunities Across Campus
- Did you know there are 20 research centers and labs in the Ivan Allen College? Many of them hire undergraduate and graduate researchers to work on projects and even co-author published papers.
- Georgia Tech also has 10 interdisciplinary research institutes (IRIs) where faculty, students, and researchers work to solve pressing challenges. Ivan Allen College faculty are particularly active in the Energy and Sustainable Systems IRIs.
- If you are interested in working at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, use the “student” filter to find open positions on the careers page.
- For first-year students, GT 1000 is a one-credit-hour seminar about pursuing research at Georgia Tech.
- The Office of Undergraduate Education is another great resource, sharing seven tips in their step-by-step guide to get involved in research at Georgia Tech.
- PairMe is a virtual platform where faculty and researchers post open research positions for students.
- The Research Option is a multi-course research track at Georgia Tech. It is open to all undergraduate students, but specifically geared toward those planning to attend graduate school or pursue a career in research and development — find the undergraduate coordinator for your School.
- Undergraduate research ambassadors provide one-on-one support to students during their office hours, helping students explore their interests, contact faculty members, and find open research positions on campus.
- Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs) are faculty-led interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate and graduate students. You can receive academic credit or pay for working on a VIP research team.
- Members of the Science and Technology Policy Connections student organization research topics across the humanities and STEM disciplines to help legislators make more informed policy decisions.
- There are also classes that incorporate research into the curriculum at Georgia Tech. Read how these HSOC students help translate slavery data into stories and this INTA graduate honed his data visualization skills in Washington, D.C.
In addition, you can:
- Keep up with research news across campus through the research website, newsletter, and monthly bulletin (all of which can be found on the Institute Research Communications & Outreach page).
- Meet researchers across campus through the Faces of Research Q&As.
- And find more external Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) through the National Science Foundation.
Most importantly...
Don’t forget to talk to your professors! Here are the faculty members in each School in Ivan Allen College — browse through their profiles to learn more about each professor’s field of study.
- Economics faculty
- History and Sociology faculty
- International Affairs faculty
- Literature, Media, and Communication faculty
- Modern Languages faculty
- Public Policy faculty
Remember, you don’t only have to pursue research related to your major — if another course sparks your interest, reach out to the professor to see if there’s anything they’re working on that you can help out with. Experience across fields and disciplines is a great strength to develop during your time in Ivan Allen College and beyond!
Explore More Opportunities By School
Explore More Opportunities by School
Funding, Awards, and Scholarships
Prestigious Fellowship Advising from the Office of Undergraduate Education - Prestigious Fellowships Advising provides guidance for students and alumni considering applying for nationally and internationally competitive fellowship opportunities.
Presidential Undergraduate Research Award (PURA) — PURA awards fund student salaries to conduct undergraduate research with Georgia Tech faculty and offset travel expenses for undergraduates to present their research at professional conferences.
PURA Travel Award — Undergraduate students whose research has been accepted for presentation at a professional or academic conference may apply for up to $1,000 in PURA Travel Award funding.
Stamps President’s Scholars Program – Four-year full-ride scholarship that includes $12,000 enrichment funding for pillar-based international experiences, unpaid internships, unpaid research, and conferences.
Conferences and Symposiums
Conferences and symposiums are a great opportunity to present your work and network with students, faculty, and the public. There are many across the country and around the world — but these two are a great place to start for anyone beginning their research journey at Georgia Tech!
Undergraduate Research Symposium — Georgia Tech’s largest undergraduate research colloquium and a great opportunity to share your research with students and faculty from all over campus and gain valuable skills and presentation experience.
ACC Meeting of the Minds Conference — If you are an undergraduate student currently enrolled in classes on the Georgia Tech Atlanta campus, you are eligible to apply to represent Georgia Tech at the ACC Meeting of the Minds Conference. Georgia Tech will be sending five outstanding undergraduate researchers as delegates to present at this conference along with a faculty representative.
Finally, when you’re ready to present your work, these poster and presentation tips and resources can help.
