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Research Resources
Guides & tools to get you started
While URS builds out its own guides, here are trusted resources to help you start now. Each links out to a helpful guide.
URS Resources
Internal guides and tutorials created specifically for URS members.
Types of Reviews Tutorial 2026-27 A comprehensive guide explaining the difference between literature reviews and systematic reviews, including how to define your research question using PICO. URS Research Guide Additional internal guidance and best practices for conducting research through URS. Canvas Course on Lit Reviews Enroll in the USF Canvas course on literature reviews.
URS Posters
Browse past research posters presented by URS members for inspiration on layout and content.
Getting Started
How to Start a Research Project USF's official first-steps guide, including the Fundamentals of Academic Research course and how to approach a mentor. Find Research Opportunities USF's hub for REUs, opportunities by college, and funding. Undergraduate Research Portal USF's official tool that matches students to labs and projects. Research Opportunities by College A categorized list of USF research opportunities with faculty contacts for each - see the full list below. HIPUR Workshops Calendar HIPUR hosts frequent educational research workshops and coordinates the yearly USF Undergraduate Research Conferences. Reach them at ugs-hipur@usf.edu or in-person in LIB 210. Office of National Scholars (ONS) ONS advises and mentors students through the competitive scholarship application process and connects students to research opportunities.
Building Your Project
How to Read a Research Paper An interactive NIH guide that explains each section of a scientific paper and teaches students how to interpret research findings. Literature Review Guide USF Libraries' walkthrough for searching, organizing, and writing a literature review. PICO Tutorial How to turn a broad idea into a focused, searchable research question. Systematic Review Guide USF Health Libraries' full 7-step process, with a realistic timeline. Rayyan Guide Quick-start for the free tool used to screen and sort articles during reviews. Organizing Your Research Paper USF-created video and transcript covering how to research and narrow a topic, organize your citation process, and begin the research process. Zotero Citation Manager Learn how to collect, organize, annotate, and cite research articles using Zotero, a free citation management tool.
Sharing Your Work
Abstract Most conferences require an abstract before they'll accept a poster. Learn how to write a clear, concise abstract that summarizes your research and prepares you for conference submissions. Poster Presentation Tips USF Libraries' toolkit for designing and presenting a research poster (USF's 48"×36" standard).
Poster Templates
Check the conference rules for poster size and orientation - these details change for each event.
Poster Templates & Design Guide USF Libraries' guide to poster templates and layout. Graduate Student Research Symposium - Poster Requirements Size and orientation requirements for the USF Graduate Student Research Symposium. UGRC Poster Templates Poster templates for the USF Undergraduate Research Conference.
Professional Development
Research Ethics Understand the ethical principles of research, including plagiarism, data integrity, authorship, and responsible research practices. See also the Elsevier publishing ethics guide. AI in Research Learn how Generative AI can support brainstorming, editing, coding, and literature discovery, while understanding its limitations, citation considerations, and ethical use. Contacting Faculty - Finding a Faculty Mentor Learn how to identify faculty whose research matches your interests and prepare to begin your undergraduate research journey. How to Write a Professional Email Tips for writing a clear, professional email when reaching out to faculty.
Departments & Labs on Campus
Browse research opportunities by college. Most department pages list faculty, their labs, and how to reach them - go to Department → Faculty/People/Research tab.
Arts - School of Art and Art History Department research page. Arts - School of Architecture and Community Design Department research page. Arts - School of Music Department research page. Arts - School of Theatre and Dance Department research page. Arts & Sciences - School of Humanities Navigate: Department → faculty/people/research tab. Arts & Sciences - School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Navigate: Department → faculty/people/research tab. Arts & Sciences - School of Social Science Navigate: Department → faculty/people/research tab. Spotlight: Anthropology - Dr. Christopher Kiahtipes kiahtipes@usf.edu Behavioral & Community Sciences - Child & Family Studies Department research page. Behavioral & Community Sciences - Communication Sciences & Disorders Department research page. Spotlight: The Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research - Dr. Joseph Walton Contact lab supervisor: jmrahman@usf.edu Behavioral & Community Sciences - Criminology Department research page. Behavioral & Community Sciences - Mental Health Law & Policy Department research page. Behavioral & Community Sciences - School of Aging Studies Department research page. Behavioral & Community Sciences - School of Social Work Department research page. Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI) Department research page. Education - Center for Migrant Education Department research page. Education - David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching Department research page. Education - Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education Department research page. Education - Institute for School-Community Partnerships Integrated Services, and Child Mental Health and Educational Policy. Education - The School Mental Health Collaborative (SMHC) Department research page. Engineering - Chemical, Biological & Materials Engineering Department research page. Engineering - Civil & Environmental Engineering Department research page. Engineering - Computer Science & Engineering Department research page. Engineering - Electrical Engineering Department research page. Engineering - Industrial & Management Systems Engineering Department research page. Engineering - Mechanical Engineering Department research page. Engineering - Biomedical Engineering Department research page. Global Sustainability - Biofuels and Bioproducts Development Research and initiatives page. Global Sustainability - Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems Faculty and staff page. Global Sustainability - Clean Energy, Policy and Innovation Research and initiatives page. Marine Science Predominantly at the St. Petersburg campus - link to over 10 labs. Medicine (Morsani College of Medicine) Navigate: Institutes → Labs → Researchers. Moffitt Cancer Center - Open Research Positions for Undergraduates Current openings for undergraduate research trainees. Moffitt Cancer Center - SPARK Program Summer Undergraduate Research Program to Advance Research Knowledge. Moffitt Cancer Center - Researcher Page Browse Moffitt researchers and their labs. Public Health Alphabetized list of researchers with links to their research profiles and contact info. Pharmacy - Biswal Lab biswal@usf.edu Pharmacy - Cao Lab ccao@usf.edu Pharmacy - Jinwal Lab jinwalu@usf.edu Pharmacy - Kindy Lab kindym@usf.edu Pharmacy - Zhou Lab qzhou1@health.usf.edu
Ready to Start?
Turn research into experience
URS connects you with mentors, funding, and the community to make your research idea real.