Student Research
As an R1 research university, Northeastern offers all students—undergraduate, masters, and PhD—opportunity to participate in a wide range of interdisciplinary research projects, and offers resources and support to encourage innovation. Students can work with faculty in their labs, as part of research centers, on co-op, or conduct individual research. Students can also present their research at university events, and participate in regional, national and global competitions.
View engineering faculty profiles for research focus areas and lab information.
Graduate Students
For graduate students, the College of Engineering offers hundreds of paid research assistantships and fellowships each year. Some research opportunities are posted to the Northeastern Student Employment Job Board.
View a video on the experience of PhD students working alongside faculty on lifesaving cancer research.
In addition to all of the resources available in the College and accomplished faculty with interdisciplinary research focus areas spanning five disciplines, students can take advantage of Northeastern’s university-wide research collaborations and initiatives with the PhD Network.

Undergraduate Students
Participating in undergraduate research allows students to enhance their learning experiences while still in school. Using the skills they develop, students will be more successful in their classes. Research also prepares them for an advanced degree or professional employment. Students can conduct their own individual research projects, work with a faculty member, or be part of a group project.
The College of Engineering also offers the UPLIFT Scholars program for highly talented students. Scholars work in their faculty mentor’s lab starting their first semester freshmen year, with further opportunities for research during their later years at Northeastern. Scholars also receive programming and community building opportunities through Northeastern’s Center for STEM Education.
Learn about Kathrine Graham’s experience working at the ALERT research center as a mechanical engineering student, and Natasha Mundis’ experience doing research as a civil engineering student. Some research opportunities are posted to the Northeastern Student Employment Job Board.

How to Find Undergraduate Research Opportunities
In addition to attending Northeastern’s annual Undergraduate Research Fair (called SOURCE: Showcase of Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor) available in early Fall, there are several ways to find a research opportunity that matches your interests.
When looking for a research opportunity, have available the following:
- Formal resume – Resume writing support
- Letters of recommendation from academic faculty/professors – template for recommendations
- Attend the Undergraduate Research Fair in the fall.
- Check with College of Engineering Research Centers; some Centers are also National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) sites.
- View faculty profiles to identify faculty research focus areas, and then contact individual professors in areas of interest via email or in person to find out who might need assistance.
Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships where you can search for research opportunities, connect with faculty mentors, and find fellowships and scholarships.
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) sites
- Summary of NSF REU Opportunities
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) HS-STEM Summer Internship Program
- National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program
- WebGURU site
Other opportunities will be posted on the BlackBoard Undergrad Community site.
- Visit Northeastern’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships to explore a wide variety of scholarships and fellowships.
- Honors students may apply for Honors Early Research Award.
- For student work study employment research opportunities, the process is:
- Meet a professor that has a research project you can contribute to.
- Agree on the # of hours per week.
- The professor must email ri.harris@northeastern.edu with the student’s NUID# and the # of hours per week.
- The student will be hired and receive an email confirming the arrangement.
- Please fill out this form and email it to ri.harris@northeastern.edu
- Each week the student works, they fill in their timesheet on Student Employment. As long as they fill in the agreed-upon # of hours, the timesheet will be approved. The professors should notify engineering.research@northeastern.edu if the students are not complying with the agreed-upon hours so that the hours can be renegotiated.