Finding a Faculty Advisor for your Honors Research and Thesis

A good faculty advisor is very important to a successful research experience. You will want to find someone you can work with over the next two or more quarters. When choosing a faculty advisor, remember that the research project must be mutually acceptable to both you and the faculty member. In order to meet CHC’s thesis proposal deadline, you will need to identify your faculty advisor and your research before you begin your senior year.

Acceptable faculty advisors should hold a tenure-track position at UCI (assistant, associate, or full professor). If they are not tenure-track, and have not been previously approved (by working with an honors student before you), you will need to submit documentation about your potential faculty advisor to the CHC for approval followingthe Campuswide Honors petition process.

To identify a suitable faculty research advisor:

1. Learn about the background and current research interests of faculty you might want to work with on their departmental websites.
2. Read about UCI’s various research centers (https://research.uci.edu/centers-institutes/) and make note of the faculty involved in centers you’re interested in.
3. Look up faculty profiles on www.faculty.uci.edu by keyword or faculty name.
4. Check outthe Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) “On-campus opportunities” web page for research information specific to your school.
5. Talk to fellow CHC students about their current research or ask the Honors Advisors about specific faculty and the kinds of research honors students have done in the past.
6. Ask for a referral to a potential faculty advisor from your school honors advisor, department chairs, UROP counselors, or other faculty you know.

When meeting with potential faculty advisors:

1. Clearly explain your interest in working with them and in their particular area of research.
2. Bring a copy of your transcript and resume.
3. Prepare questions about expectations, grading, and deadlines(for example, how many hours a week will you be expected to work on your research, will you be expected/able to enroll in an independent study class, etc.).
4. Encourage your potential faculty advisor to review the Faculty FAQs about the CHC Research/Thesis document, then reach out to the Honors Director if they have any concerns.

If your research is interdisciplinary and you need more than one faculty advisor (from different departments/schools), just make sure both advisors agree to this arrangement and determine who will be your primary advisor (the person who will provide you with a grade if you’re enrolling in research units and who is responsible for reviewing and approving your final honors thesis.)

For more guidance and specific suggestions, see CHC’s Suggestions for Contacting a Prospective Faculty Mentor.