Maryland Student Researchers Program

The Maryland Student Researchers (MSR) program is a database of on-campus research opportunities for undergraduates. It is designed to help undergraduates find research opportunities and to help faculty members find research assistants. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of research opportunities available at the University of Maryland. Almost all professors engage in research, and individual departments' websites will provide a more comprehensive list.

To search for fall or spring semester MSR opportunities mentored by a professor or other professional University researcher, use the search box below. Opportunities are updated each August (prior to fall semester) and January (prior to spring semester).

For Faculty: Submit a Maryland Student Researchers Opportunity. Please note that you will need to enter your UMD user ID and password in order to access the form. If access is denied, close out of the page and try again. Please also note that MCUR no longer issues transcript notations for students who participate in MSR opportunities.

We recommend that you review carefully the advice provided on our Beginning Research page as you begin searching for MSR opportunities, and before you contact faculty to apply for a posted opportunity.

Search for research opportunities

• Use the MSR database below to identify research projects of interest to you. You can search by college (e.g., BSOS, CMNS, AGNR, etc.), academic fields (biology, art history, economics, etc.), or topics (e.g., Africa, women’s health, civil war, etc.). Be sure to conduct multiple searches using a variety of keywords to generate the largest number of possible projects. You can only search for one key word at a time.


• Search fields outside of, but related to your own to increase your chances of finding a good fit. For example if you are a biology major, you may find research of interest in Kinesiology, or if you are studying Chinese, you might look for projects about East Asian history, politics, or society. Projects well-suited for your interests may be listed by researchers in colleges or majors other than your own.


• If you are still struggling to find an opportunity that is of interest to you, you may consider searching your college or department's website using the resources listed here.


• Once you have found a project that interests you, read our advice on Contacting Faculty and Getting the Most out of Your Research Experience in order to learn how to optimize your chances of a successful research experience. Being well-informed and having realistic expectations will help you to have a rewarding research experience.


• E-mail the researcher whose project you wish to join. Attach copies of a cover letter (optional), resume, and unofficial transcript to the e-mail. Introduce yourself (briefly) and explain why you want to join that particular project. Your application will ALWAYS be more effective if you provide specific reasons why you are interested in that particular research project and how you believe you can contribute.

Campus College:  All AGNR ARCH ARHU BSOS BMGT CMNS EDUC ENGR SPHL INFM JOUR PLCY UGST

Filter Criteria:  By Keyword or College   By Keyword and College

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Have a great semester! If you have any questions during the semester, feel free to contact the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research at ugresearch@umd.edu