Student Employment & Research

Eligibility for Student Employment

• • PSEO students are able to work in student jobs (unless they require work-study financial aid)

  • You must meet the minimum credit enrollment required of non-degree students to qualify for student employment

  • See the University of Minnesota page on Student Employment for more details

How to Search for Job Openings

PSEO students can find open positions through the following ways:

1. The University of Minnesota’s Office of Human Resources page to search for on-campus jobs. Select ‘students’ to find open positions.

2. Handshake at the University of Minnesota for off-campus jobs and internships.  Sign up, fill out your profile, discover jobs and internships, get recruited, and apply! Select 'UMN' in Search Schools and 'freshman' as the year (since there is no 'high school student' option). 

Job and Internship Resources

While PSEO students are not eligible to meet with Career and Internship Services staff, they are encouraged to use the online resources available on their website. These resources include networking tips, career fair prep, resume templates, and effective interview strategies.

Want to get started with undergraduate research? Register for "Think Like a Researcher"

Think Like a Researcher is designed to help you get started with faculty-sponsored research. It is a mini-course with videos and short activities (2-3 hours to complete on your own timeline). NOTE: Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) is not open to PSEO students.

Getting Started

Want to get started with undergraduate research? Register for "Think Like a Researcher."

Think Like a Researcher is designed to help students become comfortable with the research skills and tools needed to get started with faculty-sponsored research. It is a free mini-course online in Canvas with videos and short activities (2-3 hours to complete on your own timeline). NOTE: Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) is not open to PSEO students.

Eligibility for Student Research

• • PSEO students are able to work and volunteer in research positions (unless they require work-study financial aid).

  • You must meet the minimum credit enrollment required of non-degree students to qualify for student employment.

  • See the University of Minnesota page on Student Employment for more details.

  • PSEO students are not eligible for UROP.

How to Search for Research Positions

PSEO students don’t have access to the database of positions (UROP); however, there is a great website called experts.umn.edu that lists all of the research being done on campus. You can search by keyword for the subjects you are interested in. The faculty member working on that project will have their contact information listed there, and you can email them directly to ask about their research and any research opportunities they may have for students! You can also reach out to any of your professors to see if they have any research opportunities available.  

Check out this information on finding research opportunities. It is geared toward students in the College of Biological Sciences,  but has some relevant tips for PSEO students!

Directed Research

Directed Research (or Directed Study) means that you earn credit by working in a lab or field setting under a faculty member’s guidance. If you've found a faculty member to work with, or an instructor has suggested this option, connect with your PSEO advisor first about the process. You'll need to complete the Directed Activity Contract with the instructor.