Find Your Focus
Identifying a research topic may seem daunting at first. If you're not sure where to begin, check in with your academic adviser or department chair to learn about the research already underway in your department or college. As you try to match your academic interests with existing research opportunities, you may find the answer is standing right in front of you, in your favorite class. Many professors incorporate their research interests into classroom discussion and coursework. If you would like to learn more about a professor's research and how it might relate to your ideas for a UROP project, simply ask. You will find friends and classmates who have completed UROP projects to be valuable resources as well. You can learn more about a professor's research online. Start by browsing your professor's departmental Web site. Not only do these sites often describe faculty research interests, they frequently offer links to faculty members' personal Web pages.
UNH maintains an online list of UNH faculty members, outlining their particular expertise. By browsing these pages, you may find a professor who is an expert in your area of research interest: http://unhinfo.unh.edu/news/experts/index.htm.
If you are a student in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS), you may find the CEPS Faculty Experts Guide useful.
Science and engineering sciences also will find WebGURU to be a valuable resource. In addition, the Web sites of academic departments are a great place to find out what UNH faculty members are working on:
http://www.unh.edu/academics/departments.html
For a comprehensive list of recent award recipients and their projects, visit the Student Profiles page on this site. If you have trouble finding a subject that interests you, stop by the Center for Undergraduate Research to review abstracts of undergraduate research projects and samples of research proposals.