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 and Internship Openings

PSEO students can find open positions through the following ways:

1. Plan ahead! Start thinking about the process the semester before you wish to begin, as faculty often like to know who will be working on what projects a semester in advance.

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

3. 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.

PSEO students are encouraged to engage in undergraduate research during their time at the University. While PSEO students are ineligible for formal Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) funded programs and grants, they frequently participate in research through directed research courses or independent faculty-mentored projects.

Timeline & Planning

• Plan Ahead: Students should begin planning and identifying projects one semester before they wish to start, as faculty typically finalize project staffing a full semester in advance.

• Summer Inquiries: Incoming students inquiring about summer research prior to their first coursework should begin their search around the start of the calendar year. They may reach out to faculty directly or explore summer research programs designed specifically for high school students (e.g., programs at the Lillehei Heart Institute or Hormel Institute).

Finding & Contacting Faculty Mentors

• Department Directories: Review college and departmental faculty directory pages to locate researchers whose work matches your interests.

• Multidisciplinary Projects: Use experts.umn.edu to search for active research across all University departments and disciplines. Search by keyword for the subjects you are interested in, find the faculty member working on that project, and email them directly to ask about any research opportunities they may have for students! 

• Professors: Reach out to your current professors to see if they have any research opportunities available for students.  

• Outreach Guidance: Check out the outreach tips and email templates on the OUR website under "FAQ" before contacting potential faculty.

Resources

• Sign up for the Undergraduate Research Newsletter: PSEO students are welcome and encouraged to sign up for the Undergraduate Research Connection, OUR's monthly email newsletter highlighting research opportunities, announcements, and upcoming deadlines.

• Register for Think Like a Researcher: This Canvas course 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). 

• Reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR): OUR is an office on campus that facilitates undergraduate participation in faculty-mentored research projects. Contact them by email (ugresearch@umn.edu) or by attending peer drop-in hours or appointments!

• Check out the CBS Undergraduate Research Overview: While this information is geared toward students in the College of Biological Sciences,  there are some relevant tips for PSEO students looking for research opportunities.

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.

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.