For overviews of AI research areas:
AI research at CMU Specific departments and their areas
Wikipedia page for a high-level overview
Predicted important AI trends
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
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 structure
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
When looking for CMU 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 the landscape of work here. We also recommend checking out the Machine Learning Blog, run by PhD students in SCS, which regularly highlights AI research being conducted at CMU.
When reading a specific lab's website, the following aspects are good to consider:
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 and the kinds of problems they are actively working on.
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? In addition, 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 before joining.
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, determine 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:
Sending an email to a lab member (professor, PhD student, or other researcher)
Asking your professor about research after class or during office hours
Applying to advertised undergraduate research projects (e.g., Tom Cortina's SCS list of opportunities distributed to undergraduates each semester)
Attending research events (talks, panels, poster sessions) and talking to people with common interests to learn about their work and open opportunities
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. You do not need to already be an expert or have prior experience in a professor's research area before reaching out. It is completely normal to have no prior experience before reaching out. If you have read a paper or followed a project, mentioning these can help make the connection more concrete.
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).
Example email:
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 experience / prior 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 for your time,
[name]
Undergraduate research arrangements vary across labs and projects. Some research positions are paid directly from lab or faculty funding, some are supported through university fellowships or grant programs, and some may be completed for academic credit. It is appropriate to ask about compensation opportunities when discussing a potential research position.
Before beginning a research position, clarify:
the expected time commitment
who will mentor and work with you
the scope of the project
whether the position is paid, for academic credit, or another arrangement
if paid, where the funding comes from and how long it is expected to last
If the lab cannot currently provide funding, there are also university fellowship programs that fund undergraduate research independently. Established CMU programs that fund undergrads directly:
SURF: CMU's summer undergraduate research fellowship ($4500 for 8-10 weeks of full-time summer research)
HURAY: for federal work-study students only, ($12/hour up to 112 research hours per semester)
Funding availability varies across labs and projects, and it is okay to ask about compensation at any stage of a research conversation. Academic credit is a separate option that may be available for some research arrangements; check your department’s policies and discuss the arrangement with your research mentor and academic advisor.
Undergraduate research opportunities in SCS labs are periodically advertised to SCS undergraduates before the fall, spring, and summer semesters. These announcements typically include project listings from faculty and labs across SCS. Project structure, mentoring arrangements, and compensation vary, so check the individual listing or ask the research mentor for details.
Structured summer research programs can be a good way to gain research experience with dedicated mentorship, a defined project, and a cohort of other students. Program details, eligibility requirements, funding, and deadlines change from year to year, so always check the official program website for current information.
Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates (DREU)
10-week, internship with stipend
A mentor helps you with a research project at CMU or another institution
Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Software Engineering
Structured summer program at CMU
Projects span software engineering and related computing areas
Highly recommend if you're also interested in industry
Exploring the Limits of Intelligent Systems
Summer research program at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA
Focuses on research related to intelligent and computational systems
Structured summer research program at MIT
Participants with with faculty and research groups across fields
Structured summer research program at Oregon State University
Highly recommend for students interested in robotics
Drivers for ML and AI practices
Structured summer research program at UIUC
Especially recommend if you're interested in AI for sustainability
Human-centered computing for Social Good
Structured supper research program at the University of Minnesota
Each project addresses a UN Sustainable Development Goal
CMU Human Computer Interaction Summer Research Experience
Structured summer research program at CMU's Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII)
Applications typically open in winter and are due in January for the following summer
CMU Robotics Institute Summer Scholars
Structured summer research program at CMU's Robotics Institute (RI)
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
MIT Lincoln Lab Summer Research
Summer research program at MIT Lincoln Labs
Apply individually to groups/projects
These programs can help support research that you conduct with a CMU faculty mentor. Unlike structured summer programs, you may need to identify a research project and advisor before applying.
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)