Research and Innovation

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research offers students opportunities to apply knowledge in meaningful, real-world contexts, to solve problems, and to explore novel issues. Students participating in undergraduate research develop deeper relationships with faculty and graduate student mentors and gain experience to stand out to graduate schools and potential employers.

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) facilitates student participation in quality undergraduate research experiences across all disciplines. UROP creates initiatives to aid students in finding research positions with Georgia Tech's world-class faculty. Undergraduate students can participate in part-time or full-time research for course credit or pay.

Additional opportunities include the President's Undergraduate Research Awards (PURA) Travel and Salary Awards, the Research Option, the annual Undergraduate Research Spring Symposium, and various professional development workshops. Students may also reach out to the Undergraduate Research Ambassadors regarding UROP programs or for assistance in finding research opportunities at Georgia Tech. For more information, visit the UROP web page.

The Research Option

The Research Option offers students the opportunity to write a final paper or thesis as the culmination of an in-depth, long-term research experience. While the exact requirements for a Research Option vary by the academic unit, students typically take the following steps:

  1. Complete at least 9 units of undergraduate research.  At least 6 of those required hours should be on the same project. This research must be conducted under the mentorship of an approved GT or GTRI research faculty member. 
    1. Hours should be completed over at least 2, preferably 3, terms.
    2. Research hours may be completed for either pay or credit (specific option plans differ by school).
      1. Research hours for credit should be registered in the faculty mentor’s school, with the course number 2699 or 4699.
      2. For research for-pay to count towards the Research Option, you must register for an audit-only class (2698 or 4698 in most but not all academic units).
  2. Take the sequence of 2 1-credit research writing courses:
    1. LMC 4701 (typically taken during the first or second term of research in order to help students complete their required proposal), and
    2. LMC 4702 (taken during the term in which the thesis is completed).
  3. Write a research proposal and submit a signed copy by two faculty readers (one being the primary faculty mentor) to the UROP office. All proposals must be approved and submitted, at the latest, before the student takes LMC 4702 and their final term of research.
  4. Write an undergraduate thesis or report of research with similar rigor upon completion of LMC 4702 or prior to graduation. This must be uploaded to the Georgia Tech online thesis database by the first reading day of finals in the student’s graduation semester.  
  5. Submit the Certification Form for their participating school to UROP prior to graduation. The forms may be found here.  This form must be signed by two faculty readers (one being the primary faculty mentor), the RO coordinator for the participating school, and the student.

For more information on specific plans and a list of participating schools, visit the Research Option web page.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Georgia Tech strongly encourages students to explore research and innovation through hands-on, experiential opportunities. The Student Innovation program supports this mission by connecting students with peers, faculty, alumni, and external partners across Georgia Tech’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Through strategic collaboration with campus and community partners, the program delivers a coordinated suite of programs and experiences, including campus-wide events, startup and innovation competitions, prototype funding and travel awards, coaching and mentorship, targeted classroom engagement, incoming student programming, and curriculum development.

The Student Innovation program helps students translate bold ideas and research into real-world applications, emphasizing the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in addressing societal challenges. The program also advises student-led organizations that strengthen and expand Georgia Tech’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating accessible entry points for students at every stage of their innovation journey.

assists students in finding practical applications for their work and promotes the importance of moving research and innovation into society to solve the world's problems. The program personnel also advises several student organizations focused on enhancing the entrepreneurship ecosystem that currently exists at Georgia Tech. 

A signature initiative of Student Innovation is the InVenture Prize, a faculty-led innovation competition for undergraduate students and recent BS graduates of Georgia Tech. As one of the largest collegiate innovation competitions in the nation, the InVenture Prize empowers students to apply their technical and creative skills, develop prototypes, and receive individualized mentorship, coaching, and financial support to advance their ideas.

Together with complementary programs, these efforts create a scalable pathway that equips students with the skills, confidence, and networks needed to transform ideas into impact.