Online students

The OURS program recognizes that research experiences are critical for online student success. 

The OURS program helps ASU Online students grow academically and professionally by providing group-based research opportunities and mentorship. Research experiences are critical for students pursuing graduate-level programs, and students gain valuable technical and soft skills through participating in research that will set them apart in the competitive job market. 

Louisa working in a lab.

 

Although I am pursuing a degree in science, it was the first time I actually thought of myself as a scientist, and I know a lot of the others shared that feeling. This research experience showed me that there are many ways to contribute to this field and that every contribution is meaningful because there is always more to learn.

Louisa Brill
OURS scholarship recipient
BS in biological sciences (genetics, cell and developmental biology)

Research opportunities

The OURS Program serves ASU Online students who are pursuing degrees offered within The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Each research experience is unique — make sure to read carefully about the requirements and time commitment before applying for a position. 

All programs

Photo of green, lush country side

This course will foster interdisciplinary collaboration within a small group of ASU Online students who will participate in a mini research project regarding the conservation and evolution of traditional and Indigenous foodways, such as the well-studied varieties of the Mediterranean diet.

Description and Criteria for the Summer REU hosted by the SoMSS department

Hands on experience with modeling, computation and analyses of applied mathematics and physics problems including cancer models, weather models, environmental and geophysical fluid dynamics, numerical methods, machine learning and mathematical biology. The REU can be completely remote, if the students are local, they can meet with mentors on campus on mutual convenient times.

Logo of ACE center

The Arizona Cancer Evolution Center (ACE) is excited to recruit undergraduate students to its ACE Scholars research program for Spring 2024. The ACE Scholars program aims to recruit motivated undergraduates from a diverse set of backgrounds and skillsets to pursue research projects at the intersection of cancer biology and evolutionary theory.

The words All of Us Research Program

The All of Us Research Program is a partnership between the National Institutes of Health and the National Hispanic Medical Association. It aims to improve healthcare through research and make it more accessible to underrepresented communities. As a researcher, you would have access to Surveys, Journals, and Medical Data stored in this massive and collaborative database.

Image of the Arizona state flag added to the map of Arizona

Using mixed qualitative methods in five communities, the Arizona Youth Identity Project examines how rapidly changing economic, demographic, and political dynamics shape young adults’ political identities and political participation.

Logo of Brewer Lab

The Memory & Attention Control Laboratory will be hosting three weekly virtual laboratory experiences. The experience revolves around research being conducted in the laboratory on the topics of attention, retrospective memory, and prospective memory.

Banner that reads "it all begins with good communication" and the logo of Hugh Downs School of Communication

Online Students will be placed into one-on-one research apprenticeships in the field of communication based on topic interest and project availability. During the course of the semester students will work with a faculty mentor on tasks like project design, data collection, and quantitative or qualitative data analysis.

Image of Lizard and CT scans of Lizard skull

Join a team of researchers using CT scans of lizard skeletons to understand the evolution of locomotion, habitat use, and sensory behavior (more information can be found here). This specific research experience is part of a major NSF-funded research project about functional morphology and involves collecting and analyzing morphological data from 3D CT scans.

Steinbeck in the Archives

Students will have the opportunity to complete an in-depth research project on John Steinbeck’s works in collaboration with the Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose State University.

A person is thinking with a notebook in their hand and a writing device.

Online students will have the opportunity to work on an IES-funded (R305A180144) project titled Developing a Deeper Understanding of the Cognitive Processes that Drive Multiple Document Comprehension. In this project, our overarching goal is to discover methods of intervention to help students improve multiple document comprehension--taking the assumption that no one intervention fits all.

Image of a magenta colored car tipped over on its side on its back wheel

American cities are dealing with a public health crises of traffic safety. Record numbers of people walking and biking are killed and injured in crashes. In response, cities are investing in street improvements and making other changes to aspects of local transport systems.

Exploration in Humane Technology and Ethical Innovation

In this experience, students will engage with Dr. Elizabeth Langland and Dr. Gaymon Bennett as they develop a course on responsible A.I. The Lincoln Center has received a Google sponsored grant to work on this issue.

Black background and image of stars and galaxy

Students will learn about a key component of astronomy research: accessing observations and data analysis, particularly how to utilize open access astronomical data sets.

Photo of a brain. The title states "Genes Data and the Brain - Dr. Eaton"

A course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) that provides deep examination of genetics and psychobiology through primary research papers and hands on research. Covers the methodology employed to examine genes, their location in the brain, and an analysis of real world data.

Image of a cell and magnified chromosome

Have you ever wondered how the human genome is analyzed? By enrolling in BIO 439: Computing for Research (Fall Session A), you'll learn command line programming skills as applied to DNA sequences.

Image of brain scan. Brain and spinal cord is colored as bright yellow and the rest of the background is black.

The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital is one of the world’s premier research centers devoted to development and application of advanced biomedical imaging technologies.

ASU affiliated faculty members Dr. Robert Barry & Dr. Lilla Zollei will be hosting ASU Online students for spring 2023 semester.  

This image is flyer for this experience (Science and Society in Sicily) that will be held in summer 2024. The information found in this flyer is presented in the webpage for this experience.

Stage 1 of this experience will be launched in the Sicily Science and Society Study Abroad Program, where students will be taught the fundamentals of a) environmental & cultural resilience (ITA380); and b) physical processes controlling natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamic, landslides, and forest fires (GLG340 or GLG110).

This image is flyer for this experience (Science and Society in Sicily) that will be held in summer 2024. The information found in this flyer is presented in the webpage for this experience.

Stage 1 of this experience will be launched in the Sicily Science and Society Study Abroad Program, where students will be taught the fundamentals of a) environmental & cultural resilience (ITA380); and b) physical processes controlling natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamic, landslides, and forest fires (GLG340 or GLG110).

HST 495 Methods of Historical Inquiry

This hybrid, course-based undergraduate research experience will engage up to 25 online history majors in a hands-on archival project rooted in the physical holdings of historical records in the Arizona Historical Society Archives in Tempe.

Logo of ASU Interplanetary Initiative

Join us in shaping our inclusive, interplanetary future! The ASU Interplanetary Initiative is looking for students from all majors to get involved with our interdisciplinary research projects.

Introduction to Data for Urban Planners and Geographers | Application to Pedestrian Safety Research

Introduction to Data for Urban Planners and Geographers is designed to be a gateway to research for students in our online undergraduate degree programs, aimed at students in their sophomore or junior-equivalent years of undergraduate study.

Logo of Keep in School Shape Program

This research experience gives ASU Online students an introduction to the increasingly popular and interdisciplinary field of data science that applies knowledge and insights to solve problems in various application domains. Working in a small group, students will conduct Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) on authentic educational research data.

Logo of Learning Development Lab

The Learning & Development Lab seeks to recruit undergraduate ASU Online students to engage in a 15-week research opportunity examining the mechanisms of word learning and bilingualism across development.

Cartoon image of a driver's license with the word "Suspended" across it in red

This undergraduate, action research experience engages online students who take part in our Courts & Society (JUS308) – 3 credit hour course in Fall 2022 session A.

Online students in research program on campus in full personal protective equipment are waving at the camera

This is a one-credit course (BIO 495) that will provide Undergraduate Online Students the opportunity to participate in rigorous molecular biology research. At the end of this project, students will gain experience in molecular laboratory techniques like PCR and Primer design, agarose gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE gel and Immunoblotting.

O-Care - Online Community Action Research Experience

Community organizations play an important role in supporting children and families; however, they are often limited in the resources that they have to do so. This research experience is your chance to support a community organization and help make a difference for not only the organization, but for the people it serves!

Two birds are eating from the bird feeder.  There is a banner that reads Bird Buddies at the top.

Become an Online Bird Buddy at ASU!

Receive a new AI camera-equipped bird feeder (The Bird Buddy) and bird seed supplied by ASU to attract birds to your home to collect photos and videos of the feeder-visiting birds on your smartphone and appreciate their beauty and diversity.

Image of museum banners for advertisement

Online undergraduate students majoring in history or a closely related field are invited to participate in a 2-day public history workshop. The workshop will feature three site visits that include a museum, a historic home, and an archive. The workshop includes round table discussions about public history and working in the field, oral history training, and resume building.

Photo of ASU stadium with A Mountain and the Salt River in the background

All ASU Online Students taking GPH 211 (Fall session B: a 4 credit class meeting SQ as well as Science & Society CLAS requirements) are welcome to complete their science laboratory experience by joining this research project to understand how the Salt River's channel changed over millions of years.

Photo of Scanning Electron Microscope

Students will conduct a literature review; and then with instructor guidance, they will each individually design, carry out, and analyze an experiment in the field of photovoltaics using a remotely-operated tabletop scanning electron microscope.

Online student working genetics research in-person during immersion experience

ASU Online students will learn molecular biology techniques (DNA extraction, primers design, PCR, restriction digestion, gel electrophoresis, transformation) as well as cell biology techniques (aseptic techniques, cell culture and passaging, cell counting, transfection, immunocytochemistry, live cell imaging).

hand drawn image of a person's head from the top down view.  There is a line drawn from the person's point of view looking straight ahead.  Another line is drawn at a slight angle from the other line to note the person's peripheral vision

Stories are the foundation of both art and science. They provide humans with a unique sense of purpose, a past connected to a future through causative events. Stories are constructed from our reimagined memories: a sequence of selected events, ordered in time with a beginning and an end.

A portion of the earth viewed from the space is shown. Different areas of the earth are marked with a point and various lines are connected to the various points.

I am soliciting applications for a student-driven research experience for online students in the School of Politics and Global Studies.

Students should indicate their interest in one (or more) of the following three themes: migration, economic globalization, or protest in autocracies; if they are interested in multiple themes, they should rank them in order of interest.

imagining sample related to astronomy research

Prior to commencing the research work, students will complete lessons on telescopes/digital imaging/image analysis tools. The goal of the research analysis is to search for stellar and brown dwarf companions to young, nearby stars.

A person is using VR technology

This course will foster small-group collaboration with other online language students to participate in a mini research project regarding technology enhanced language learning (TELL). Each research group will be responsible for determining an appropriate topic, reviewing literature, collecting data, analyzing data, and writing a proposal.

ASU Transborder Studies Logo

Dive into the complexities of cannabis use among Latino youth with the Social and Health Inequities Research Training (SHIRT) Program, housed in the School of Transborder Studies. The SHIRT program is a 15-week online initiative designed to provide a comprehensive research experience for ASU Online students.

Students are gathered around an informational booth.  The booth has a banner that reads "research study seeks participants"

The CHEL has several ongoing projects each semester that combine methods and theory from anthropology, public/global health, and sustainability.

Photo of a busy street in the evening where two lanes are packed with cars and two additional lanes are filled with motorcycles

Car-dependent cities like Los Angeles (CA), Tempe (AZ), or Paris (France) are making massive efforts to develop public transit and bicycling infrastructure. Meanwhile, car dependence grows fast in most cities around the world. This research experience explores how cities are changing the way people move around, and the effects on urban equity and livability.

Photo of the logo of Cooper Biological Education Research Lab

This is an online Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (oCURE) where students engage in a real biology education research project with the intent of publishing their findings. We build off research in my lab, which examines the relationship between biology learning environments and student anxiety and depression.

Images of protein complexes in water mediated solutions

Learn to execute and analyze molecular simulations on high performance computers and investigate whether water can act as a glue between proteins to stabilize complexes.

This research experience is ideal for ASU Online students majoring in natural sciences to gain applied computational skills. The experience will be offered in spring 2024 session B. 

Spring 2024

Photo of green, lush country side

This course will foster interdisciplinary collaboration within a small group of ASU Online students who will participate in a mini research project regarding the conservation and evolution of traditional and Indigenous foodways, such as the well-studied varieties of the Mediterranean diet.

Logo of ACE center

The Arizona Cancer Evolution Center (ACE) is excited to recruit undergraduate students to its ACE Scholars research program for Spring 2024. The ACE Scholars program aims to recruit motivated undergraduates from a diverse set of backgrounds and skillsets to pursue research projects at the intersection of cancer biology and evolutionary theory.

Image of Lizard and CT scans of Lizard skull

Join a team of researchers using CT scans of lizard skeletons to understand the evolution of locomotion, habitat use, and sensory behavior (more information can be found here). This specific research experience is part of a major NSF-funded research project about functional morphology and involves collecting and analyzing morphological data from 3D CT scans.

A person is thinking with a notebook in their hand and a writing device.

Online students will have the opportunity to work on an IES-funded (R305A180144) project titled Developing a Deeper Understanding of the Cognitive Processes that Drive Multiple Document Comprehension. In this project, our overarching goal is to discover methods of intervention to help students improve multiple document comprehension--taking the assumption that no one intervention fits all.

Logo of ASU Interplanetary Initiative

Join us in shaping our inclusive, interplanetary future! The ASU Interplanetary Initiative is looking for students from all majors to get involved with our interdisciplinary research projects.

Introduction to Data for Urban Planners and Geographers | Application to Pedestrian Safety Research

Introduction to Data for Urban Planners and Geographers is designed to be a gateway to research for students in our online undergraduate degree programs, aimed at students in their sophomore or junior-equivalent years of undergraduate study.

Logo of Keep in School Shape Program

This research experience gives ASU Online students an introduction to the increasingly popular and interdisciplinary field of data science that applies knowledge and insights to solve problems in various application domains. Working in a small group, students will conduct Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) on authentic educational research data.

Logo of Learning Development Lab

The Learning & Development Lab seeks to recruit undergraduate ASU Online students to engage in a 15-week research opportunity examining the mechanisms of word learning and bilingualism across development.

Two birds are eating from the bird feeder.  There is a banner that reads Bird Buddies at the top.

Become an Online Bird Buddy at ASU!

Receive a new AI camera-equipped bird feeder (The Bird Buddy) and bird seed supplied by ASU to attract birds to your home to collect photos and videos of the feeder-visiting birds on your smartphone and appreciate their beauty and diversity.

Photo of Scanning Electron Microscope

Students will conduct a literature review; and then with instructor guidance, they will each individually design, carry out, and analyze an experiment in the field of photovoltaics using a remotely-operated tabletop scanning electron microscope.

hand drawn image of a person's head from the top down view.  There is a line drawn from the person's point of view looking straight ahead.  Another line is drawn at a slight angle from the other line to note the person's peripheral vision

Stories are the foundation of both art and science. They provide humans with a unique sense of purpose, a past connected to a future through causative events. Stories are constructed from our reimagined memories: a sequence of selected events, ordered in time with a beginning and an end.

A portion of the earth viewed from the space is shown. Different areas of the earth are marked with a point and various lines are connected to the various points.

I am soliciting applications for a student-driven research experience for online students in the School of Politics and Global Studies.

Students should indicate their interest in one (or more) of the following three themes: migration, economic globalization, or protest in autocracies; if they are interested in multiple themes, they should rank them in order of interest.

ASU Transborder Studies Logo

Dive into the complexities of cannabis use among Latino youth with the Social and Health Inequities Research Training (SHIRT) Program, housed in the School of Transborder Studies. The SHIRT program is a 15-week online initiative designed to provide a comprehensive research experience for ASU Online students.

Students are gathered around an informational booth.  The booth has a banner that reads "research study seeks participants"

The CHEL has several ongoing projects each semester that combine methods and theory from anthropology, public/global health, and sustainability.

Images of protein complexes in water mediated solutions

Learn to execute and analyze molecular simulations on high performance computers and investigate whether water can act as a glue between proteins to stabilize complexes.

This research experience is ideal for ASU Online students majoring in natural sciences to gain applied computational skills. The experience will be offered in spring 2024 session B. 

Summer 2024

This image is flyer for this experience (Science and Society in Sicily) that will be held in summer 2024. The information found in this flyer is presented in the webpage for this experience.

Stage 1 of this experience will be launched in the Sicily Science and Society Study Abroad Program, where students will be taught the fundamentals of a) environmental & cultural resilience (ITA380); and b) physical processes controlling natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamic, landslides, and forest fires (GLG340 or GLG110).

Online students in research program on campus in full personal protective equipment are waving at the camera

This is a one-credit course (BIO 495) that will provide Undergraduate Online Students the opportunity to participate in rigorous molecular biology research. At the end of this project, students will gain experience in molecular laboratory techniques like PCR and Primer design, agarose gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE gel and Immunoblotting.

Photo of a busy street in the evening where two lanes are packed with cars and two additional lanes are filled with motorcycles

Car-dependent cities like Los Angeles (CA), Tempe (AZ), or Paris (France) are making massive efforts to develop public transit and bicycling infrastructure. Meanwhile, car dependence grows fast in most cities around the world. This research experience explores how cities are changing the way people move around, and the effects on urban equity and livability.

OURS program scholarship

The OURS program provides scholarships to ASU Online students enrolled in degree programs through The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and are currently participating in research. Preference is given to students with high financial need and are participating in research at ASU. Visit scholarships.asu.edu to apply.

Semester awarded Application posted Application deadline
Spring 2024 Sept. 9, 2023 CLOSED
Summer 2024 Feb. 15, 2024 April 1, 2024
Fall 2024 May 13, 2024 July 12, 2024

OURS program frequently asked questions

Can I participate in OURS research experiences as an on-campus student?

No. The OURS Program serves students who are enrolled in ASU Online degree programs within The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Online students have difficulty finding research opportunities that are available remotely because the majority of them do not live in the state of Arizona. 

There are many other research programs at ASU that primarily serve on-campus students. such as SOLUR, FURI, the Humanities Lab and the Luminosity Lab. On-campus students can view available research opportunities on the Office of the University Provost’s UResearch webpage

Where can I find the research experiences through the OURS Program?

Available experiences are found under the Research Opportunities section of this webpage. The requirements and time commitment for each experience will vary. Please read the descriptions for each experience carefully before applying.

Can I get course credit for participating in a research experience?

Some OURS research experiences are credit-bearing courses. Once accepted into the experience, you should speak with your academic advisor to discuss how these credits will apply towards your degree. 

For research experiences that are not offered as courses, you may still be eligible to get course credit, but these details must be established among you, your faculty mentor and the academic unit. 

Would I be able to receive Barrett Honors credits for participating in one of the OURS research opportunities?

Yes, you are able to receive Barrett Honors credits for your participation. Please check with your Barrett Honors advisor to make sure that you are receiving the proper credits.

When should I participate in undergraduate research?

Unless a particular research experience has a certain eligibility requirement, we recommend that students get involved in research as soon as they can in their academic career. Participating in undergraduate research not only helps you in building important skills but it also provides you with an opportunity to figure out what you like, or dislike, about a particular field.

How do I decide which experience is right for me?

Choose experiences that align with your personal interests and curiosities. Look at the available research opportunities, and determine one to three experiences that interest you. 

Do not apply to or pick too many opportunities just because they are available on the OURS website. Research takes time, and if you pursue too many projects at once, you will not be able to complete the required tasks to be a successful researcher. 

Is there a cost associated with participating?

If you are participating in a research experience that is offered as a course, you will have to pay tuition and fees for the assigned credit hours. If you are participating in an experience that has an on-campus component, you will have to account for potential travel and lodging expenses.

How much time should I dedicate towards research?

Time commitments will vary widely by research experience, but undergraduate student researchers spend 5-20 hours per week on research. It is better to dedicate large blocks of time towards research rather than short periods of time throughout the week.

If you have a heavy course load in a given semester, participating in research could be stressful. Consider the time commitment as you would an extracurricular activity before applying to an experience.

Can I participate in research opportunities remotely?

The majority of OURS program research experiences are available to ASU Online students remotely. However, research is discipline specific, and some of the opportunities will require online students to come to campus for a short, concentrated period of time. 

Can I participate in research opportunities on campus?

Depending on the discipline, there are opportunities available to ASU Online students that include an on-campus component. We understand that our online students generally have other professional and family-related commitments outside of ASU. We typically schedule the in-person components where the students will be required to come to campus for a short, concentrated period of time (3-7 consecutive days). Students who wish to participate in research opportunities that include an in-person component will have to fund their own expenses for travel and lodging unless specified.

Can I participate in research opportunities outside of the OURS program as an online student?

Yes, you certainly can. We always encourage students to find their own research opportunities by connecting with ASU faculty and research centers. 

What if I get accepted in a research experience, but I need to opt out?

We know that life happens, and sometimes things do not go as planned. Speak with your faculty or staff research mentor about the challenges you are facing. Transparent communication is key in building relationships with your research mentors. If the research experience you are participating in is related to course credits, you may need to also speak with your academic advisor. 

Other information on undergraduate research

 

Foundation of Undergraduate Research course

“Foundation of Undergraduate Research” is a course for natural sciences students designed to mentor students who are looking to do undergraduate research in the hard sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, etc.). It is ideal for freshmen and sophomore-level students who would like more guidance in finding research opportunities. It is listed as a 194 course with the prefix associated with your major (ex. BIO, CHM, PHY, SES).

Watch the course teaser.

 

UResearch

If you are an on-campus undergraduate student, UResearch lists opportunities to work with faculty, graduate students and other undergraduates to transform your knowledge into actual practice — whether it is developing alternative energy from sunlight, next-generation nanoelectronics or creating your own entrepreneurial experience to launch a business.

Learn more.