The University of Michigan is one of the top R1 universities in the nation, with world leading researchers in every field. In the Astronomy Department, undergraduates can have unfettered access to the cutting edge research done by faculty, research staff, and graduate students. Undergraduates at all academic levels are invited to not only learn about the advancements in the field through regular departmental seminars, colloquia and research group meetings, but to fully participate and engage in research themselves.
Astronomy undergraduates work on research projects under the direction of faculty members and become full members of their vibrant research community. Our students get to analyze proprietary data from space-based and ground-based telescopes, run simulations on supercomputers. Undergraduate research often contributes significantly to peer-reviewed publications, and indeed many students have their work published in professional journals, and presented in conferences. All Astronomy & Astrophysics majors and many minors and interdisciplinary majors engage in research for at least one semester, and more often continue doing research throughout their degree and beyond!
Undergraduate Research Symposia
Michigan Astronomy Undergraduate Research Symposia are held annually at the end of the Winter term. This is one of the biggest and most revered events in our department, in which undergrads share their research, disseminate their results to faculty, research fellows, graduate students, and peers, and gain valuable experience in science communication.
To learn more about the high-level research our undergraduates have been engaged in, we invite you to explore poster presentations from the last few years, spanning research topics from exoplanets and exomoons through star formation and galaxies to the large-scale structure of the Universe.
See below to see photos from our 2025 Research Symposia!
How to get Started?
Students usually start engaging in research with a faculty advisor in their second year, or as soon as they gain some background in Astronomy theory and analysis techniques through coursework; but many get involved earlier in their academic careers. How early you start getting involved is entirely up to you!
Start by finding out what members of our department are currently pursuing by exploring faculty and research fellows’ websites. Reach out to faculty who are leading research that spikes your interest – either in terms of subfield in Astronomy, or the tools and techniques they are using. Some faculty may advertise an open undergrad research position on their website, but don’t be discouraged if they don’t! In your inquiry, introduce yourself, describe your experience (relevant coursework, technical skills, previous research), and briefly articulate what you hope to gain from engagement in research and how you would add to the group. You may want to meet with potential advisors to talk about possible projects that meet your interests and skills.
What other Research Opportunities are there?
U-M Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) a year-long academic program that engages U-M undergraduate students in research, scholarship, and creative inquiry, under the supervision of U-M faculty or research scientists. UROP homepage.
Summer research internships for undergraduates are offered nationally and internationally. These programs allow students to work with a professional astronomer on an existing research project at a university, research institute, or national lab. The experience is a valuable supplement to work on U-M faculty research and provides exposure to other institutions and projects. Most programs pay a modest salary and cover other expenses. Students may participate more than one summer. Applications are usually due in January or February.
For more information on external research opportunities, please see:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Education for Undergraduates (REU)
The American Astronomical Society’s listing of summer programs
