I Want to Do Research at NYU! But Where Do I Even Begin?

First, conducting your own scholarship sharpens your academic focus. It is a great way to ask a specific question that is unique to you and your field. This topic can even inspire a future thesis or graduate-level work down the line.

Research projects also provide amazing talking points during job interviews. To potential employers, your project will not only demonstrate what you are passionate about but also your capacity to ask important, pointed questions.

Lastly, research gives you the chance to work side by side with leaders in the field. This is especially true at a place like NYU. Students can receive funding and work with faculty as early as their first year, opening up new connections and mentors.

NYU has multiple avenues for securing research opportunities. There are grants and scholarships awarded for research project ideas, NYU research centers, honors tracks for certain majors, and more.

The most popular way to secure funding for your research idea is through the Deanʼs Undergraduate Research Fund—or DURF, as we like to call it. DURF grants are designed to support College of Arts and Science students who are looking to fund fieldwork, rental equipment, travel, and just about anything else needed to make the project a success.

Finding folks with similar questions to yours is another way to start research. Luckily, our Tandon School of Engineering has a resource that helps you do just that. The Research Briefs page lets you browse projects that current faculty members and students are working on, so you can reach out to the team and get involved.

NYU has campuses all over the globe, meaning your project does not need to be limited to one city or even one country. Although study away opportunities are unfortunately limited at the current moment, NYU students can take their research all over the world. You can secure extra funding depending on where you want to go and what you want to study. These awards can range from focusing on archaeology in Tel Aviv to participating in public service abroad.

Last but not least, NYU has communities of scholars that aid its students. Our Women in Science group supports women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. NYUʼs partnership with the National Society of Black Physicists gives students the chance to collaborate on data science projects with academic peers. And the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools is a great resource for those interested in education policy and curriculum development.

Long story short: NYU is here to support your scholarship projects every step of the way.