For overviews of AI research areas:
AI research at CMU Specific departments and their areas
Wikipedia page the goals, techniques and applications sections may be especially helpful for a high-level overview
Predicted important AI trends (will be periodically updated)
CMU SCS video from Robotics Institute Director Matthew Johnson-Roberson discussing "What's Next" in Robotics
MIT Tech review short discussion of 4 trends
3 field expert answers short discussion of 3 trends
2021 AI Study report comprehensive report from Stanford for a big-picture perspective of the impact of AI on society
MIT EECS AI + Decision-making Research Areas we believe that MIT EECS provides an excellent description of different directions of AI research under their department's "AI + Decision-making" focus area, and we encourage students to read their overview
Courses
Online
MIT OCW course Fall 2010 but well-taught and still relevant
At CMU
AI major curriculum: fairly comprehensive list of courses in SCS that are related to AI
A primary way undergrads can get a research position at CMU is through asking to join a lab that does research you're interested in.
If you need to be paid when you start:
you can ask if the lab currently has available funds for undergraduate researchers
it's okay to communicate that you need to be compensated for your research
however, your options for labs may be more limited if the lab does not have funds
If you would like funding at some point but can start for credit or for volunteer
It's normal to have a "trial period" to try out the lab, and then ask for funding if you find that you and the lab are a good fit
Funding can come from
Your advisor's funds (government, industry, university, military, etc...)
Established CMU programs that fund undergrads directly
Some fellowships you can apply for as they come up
SURF: A summer fellowship: our recommended option for summer
Community-based practice : also for summer
HURAY: for federal work-study students only
You can ask for funding at any point, but availability depends on the lab/advisor/funds.
it's okay to communicate that you would like to be compensated for your research long-term!
If you do not need funding, you may get credit for your research.
More detailed information about how to reach out to a lab and ask about doing research can be found in the section near the bottom of this page titled "The "Hidden Curriculum" of Getting Involved in Undergraduate Research"
For SCS undergraduates
Fall, Spring, and summer undergraduate research opportunities are typically advertised by the School of Computer Science a few months before each of those semesters. These emails typically include a spreadsheet of project opportunities, along with the labs posting them. When following up with labs who posted projects of interest, it is possible you will find that these projects are paid from respective lab funds.
For all undergraduates
These pages contain undergraduate research opportunities (however, these are not necessarily AI-related opportunities).
Handshake: search "undergraduate research"
Spreadsheet of SURA projects (although SURA is tuition-free credit only)
HCII Research opportunities Spring 2025 (some paid)
Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates (DREU)
10-week, internship with stipend
no prior research experience expected!
A mentor helps you with a research project at CMU or another institution
Early application deadline: Dec 1 2024, general application deadline Feb 25 2025
Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Software Engineering
At CMU
Info sessions on Dec 17, 18th (see link above)
7K stipend + 1.4K meal allowance
Due Feb 1
list of projects here
Highly recommend if you're also interested in industry
Exploring the Limits of Intelligent Systems
In Claremont, CA
At Harvey Mudd
paid
Applications open January 29
Due Jan 21
international students eligible
Application includes essay questions
Due Feb 10th
highly recommend for students interested in robotics
In Corvallis, OR at Oregon State
paid, housing provided
run for a long time, good structure
Drivers for ML and AI practices
at UIUC (Illinois, excellent place for ML, AI, robotics)
Especially recommend if you're interested in agriculture/plants
Due Feb 17th
Human-centered computing for Social Good
structured supper research program
each project addresses a UN Sustainable Development Goal
CMU Human Computer Interaction Summer Research Experience
10-week, internship with stipend
Applications typically open in winter and are due in January for the following summer
CMU Robotics Institute Summer Scholars
11-week, internship with stipend
A mentor helps you with a research project in robotics
Applications typically open in late Fall and are due in January for the following summer
CMU Software Engineering Summer Research
10-week, internship with stipend
Applications typically due in February for the following summer
MIT Lincoln Lab Summer Research
Summer research
Apply individually to groups/projects here
8 weeks, fully funded (I don't think there is a stipend though)
Focus on real-world problem solving
CMU Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
8-10-week, paid hourly
Applications typically due in February for the following summer
Note: CMU SURF requires a research proposal with the application and a recommendation letter from the CMU faculty member who will advise your summer research. AI/ML projects will typically be Type 2 proposals.
CMU Small Undergraduate Research Grants
~$500 grant for undergraduates pursuing any form of research in any discipline (can be working alone, in a lab, in a studio, etc). Grants can be up to $1000 for group research.
Applications for summer and fall SURG fundings are typically due in March for the following summer. Applications for Spring SURG funding will typically be due in mid-Fall.
Note: You must include a budget to estimate the project cost in the application.
Other ways to find structured summer research programs:
Institution for Broadening Participation's Pathways to Science
Github page from Andrew Jong
List of NSF-funded REU projects (only for US citizens, permanent residents, and US nationals, unfortunately)
CMU Summer Undergrad Research Apprenticeship
Summer 2024 Deadline: May 20, 2024
In-person and remote
Tuition-free, elective credit (up to 12 units)
When looking for CMU summer undergraduate AI research opportunities, a great place to start is the SCS website with a list of the 7 SCS departments. In addition to reading general SCS news about research at CMU, going through these department websites will give you an understanding of current AI research being conducted. We also recommend checking out CMU's Machine Learning Blog, run by PhD students in SCS, which regularly highlights AI research being conducted.
When reading a specific lab's website, the following aspects are good to note:
What is the lab's overall research vision? There are usually a set of directions unifying each lab, even if members work on different projects.
What has the lab recently published? This can give you a sense of the lab's current project priorities.
How large is the lab? The number of PhD students in a lab may influence the structure of undergraduate research mentoring.
How many undergraduates are currently working in the lab? If the website has an "alumni" page, how many undergraduates worked in this lab in the past and where did they go afterwards? If there are current undergraduates in the lab, it is also worth reaching out to ask them about their experiences.
Does the lab have a specific policy or preference for undergraduate students reaching out about opportunities? Some professors, PhD students, and labs have pages on the website with specific information about how to contact them to get in touch about research opportunities. If they have these directions (e.g., a lab Google Form for applications), then follow the lab-specific directions instead of cold-emailing the group.
Research is a collaborative process. Although you can do a research project with your classmates, friends, or by yourself, a lab gives you resources and community. Most commonly, these connections start with expressing interest in doing research with a professor, student, or lab. Then, you meet to discuss details such as the research topic, determining an appropriate project, and how to be compensated for the work you do.
Here are some ways of expressing interest in doing research with a lab: (roughly ordered by how common we think they are)
Sending an email to a lab member (detailed info below)
Asking your professor about research after class or during office hours
Engaging with a lab on Twitter this can also be great for learning more!
commenting on posts
follows
retweets
Attending research events (talks, panels, poster sessions) and talking to people with common interests
Here are several good resources with tips and examples for how to email professors about research opportunities:
In the sample template below, please note the following:
If you have genuinely been following the lab's research for a while, there is no harm in stating that in the email and briefly referencing the names of specific papers and PhD students' work.
Make sure to check the website of the professor/lab before writing your email. Some professors will state how they want to be contacted (e.g., having a lab website list of undergraduate opportunities, google form for applicants, a specific tag they want people to include in email subjects).
Subject: Potential Undergraduate Research in [lab name]
Dear Prof. ___
I am [first-year/sophomore/junior...] [your major] student at CMU. I am interested in your lab's research, and I am writing to inquire about undergraduate research opportunities in [lab name] in [Fall/Spring/Summer semester]. I am interested in conducting research in [concise list of topics that you are interested in that align with the lab's focus, such as "machine learning theory, assistive robotics, vision-language models, computational genomics, etc"]. [1-2 sentences about your relevant prior research experience or prior relevant coursework, if applicable].
Would there be any possible undergraduate research opportunities with your group in [semester]? I have attached my resume to this email, and I am happy to provide any additional information as needed.
Thank you,
[name]