for this research area

Selecting Research Area

Selecting a research area is the very first step in writing your dissertation. It is important for you to choose a research area that is interesting to you professionally, as well as, personally. Experienced researchers note that “a topic in which you are only vaguely interested at the start is likely to become a topic in which you have no interest and with which you will fail to produce your best work” [1] . Ideally, your research area should relate to your future career path and have a potential to contribute to the achievement of your career objectives.

The importance of selecting a relevant research area that is appropriate for dissertation is often underestimated by many students. This decision cannot be made in haste. Ideally, you should start considering different options at the beginning of the term. However, even when there are only few weeks left before the deadline and you have not chosen a particular topic yet, there is no need to panic.

There are few areas in business studies that can offer interesting topics due to their relevance to business and dynamic nature. The following is the list of research areas and topics that can prove to be insightful in terms of assisting you to choose your own dissertation topic.

Globalization can be a relevant topic for many business and economics dissertations. Forces of globalization are nowadays greater than ever before and dissertations can address the implications of these forces on various aspects of business.

Following are few examples of research areas in globalization:

• A study of implications of COVID-19 pandemic on economic globalization
• Impacts of globalization on marketing strategies of beverage manufacturing companies: a case study of The Coca-Cola Company
• Effects of labour migration within EU on the formation of multicultural teams in UK organizations
• A study into advantages and disadvantages of various entry strategies to Chinese market
• A critical analysis of the effects of globalization on US-based businesses

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is also one of the most popular topics at present and it is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. CSR refers to additional responsibilities of business organizations towards society apart from profit maximization. There is a high level of controversy involved in CSR. This is because businesses can be socially responsible only at the expense of their primary objective of profit maximization.

Perspective researches in the area of CSR may include the following:

• The impacts of CSR programs and initiatives on brand image: a case study of McDonald’s India
• A critical analysis of argument of mandatory CSR for private sector organizations in Australia
• A study into contradictions between CSR programs and initiatives and business practices: a case study of Philip Morris Philippines
• A critical analysis into the role of CSR as an effective marketing tool
• A study into the role of workplace ethics for improving brand image

Social Media and viral marketing relate to increasing numbers of various social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube etc. Increasing levels of popularity of social media among various age groups create tremendous potential for businesses in terms of attracting new customers.

The following can be listed as potential studies in the area of social media:

• A critical analysis of the use of social media as a marketing strategy: a case study of Burger King Malaysia
• An assessment of the role of Instagram as an effective platform for viral marketing campaigns
• A study into the sustainability of TikTok as a marketing tool in the future
• An investigation into the new ways of customer relationship management in mobile marketing environment: a case study of catering industry in South Africa
• A study into integration of Twitter social networking website within integrated marketing communication strategy: a case study of Microsoft Corporation

Culture and cultural differences in organizations offer many research opportunities as well. Increasing importance of culture is directly related to intensifying forces of globalization in a way that globalization forces are fuelling the formation of cross-cultural teams in organizations.

Perspective researches in the area of culture and cultural differences in organizations may include the following:

• The impact of cross-cultural differences on organizational communication: a case study of BP plc
• A study into skills and competencies needed to manage multicultural teams in Singapore
• The role of cross-cultural differences on perception of marketing communication messages in the global marketplace: a case study of Apple Inc.
• Effects of organizational culture on achieving its aims and objectives: a case study of Virgin Atlantic
• A critical analysis into the emergence of global culture and its implications in local automobile manufacturers in Germany

Leadership and leadership in organizations has been a popular topic among researchers for many decades by now. However, the importance of this topic may be greater now than ever before. This is because rapid technological developments, forces of globalization and a set of other factors have caused markets to become highly competitive. Accordingly, leadership is important in order to enhance competitive advantages of organizations in many ways.

The following studies can be conducted in the area of leadership:

• Born or bred: revisiting The Great Man theory of leadership in the 21 st century
• A study of effectiveness of servant leadership style in public sector organizations in Hong Kong
• Creativity as the main trait for modern leaders: a critical analysis
• A study into the importance of role models in contributing to long-term growth of private sector organizations: a case study of Tata Group, India
• A critical analysis of leadership skills and competencies for E-Commerce organizations

COVID-19 pandemic and its macro and micro-economic implications can also make for a good dissertation topic. Pandemic-related crisis has been like nothing the world has seen before and it is changing international business immensely and perhaps, irreversibly as well.

The following are few examples for pandemic crisis-related topics:

• A study into potential implications of COVID-19 pandemic into foreign direct investment in China
• A critical assessment of effects of COVID-19 pandemic into sharing economy: a case study of AirBnb.
• The role of COVID-19 pandemic in causing shifts in working patterns: a critical analysis

Moreover, dissertations can be written in a wide range of additional areas such as customer services, supply-chain management, consumer behaviour, human resources management, catering and hospitality, strategic management etc. depending on your professional and personal interests.

[1] Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2012) “Research Methods for Business Students” 6th edition, Pearson Education Limited.

John Dudovskiy

Meetings help us connect with our peers and have insightful discussions. ASCB Photo.

Often in our scientific careers we are faced with the question of how to choose an area of research to pursue. As a graduate student picking a laboratory in which to do a PhD, a postdoctoral researcher wanting to pursue a career in science, or even as a principal investigator running a laboratory, we are sometimes required to focus or change direction to a new area of biological research. These decisions may be daunting as we have to devote a significant number of years in our chosen research field and it is important to be confident about the field before diving in with a lot of time and money.

Below are a few tips to help with picking a research area!

• Read scientific literature: Published scientific literature gives a good idea about the research field and the big unanswered questions that are left to be studied. Scientific reviews on the topic are often useful to understand the big discoveries in the field and the anticipated future studies that will provide more information. It is also important to know if the research area has sufficient unanswered questions that will be interesting to funding agencies. Try to understand if the field has long-term potential. Scientists often work on certain research areas for decades and so thinking ahead about hypothetical questions and probable answers is one key to success.
• Attend conferences/seminars: Attending both large and small meetings help us connect with our peers and have insightful discussions. Meetings also have poster sessions on various topics that may be useful to learn about the different research areas out there. Such meetings are also a good place to learn about technical details or new experimental strategies, which are often important when forging into a different field.
• Brainstorm ideas with peers: When looking for a research laboratory it is important to find something that interests you. Working on an interesting question will help you go the extra mile and aid in making significant discoveries. Talk to your peers about their experiences and the pros/cons in their research field. Peers can also help review research grants and their experience and perspectives may provide useful feedback.
• Define focused questions in the research area: Research areas can be very broad. It is easy to digress into multiple directions without focus. Before diving into the research, decide on a few hypotheses and preliminary experiments. Having more than one hypothesis will be important in case the primary hypothesis does not hold. Once experiments work and the project progresses, remember to stay focused. As part of your scientific growth, learn to think of tangential experiments that may be useful projects for other members of the laboratory.
• Ensure the research is fundable: To continue doing research it is essential to have funding. Before delving into the research define the significance of the proposed research. It is always useful if discoveries can, in the future, cure or treat diseases. Significance also helps us explain our research to non­scientists and family, so that they can relate to the research and understand what we study. Public outreach will help get more funding and aid in conducting more research.

Ultimately research has to pique your interest and stimulate answers to tough questions. Good luck choosing a research laboratory or changing scientific directions!

Comment below if you have additional suggestions!

About the Author:

Recommended articles.

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

How do I choose my research area?

Choosing your research area

Relevant and adding to that.

I am planning to pursue a PhD (currently at masters) and have many research interests. Some of my interests are more attainable and my knowledge in the domain is good enough to make contributions and publish papers and get a PhD faster than usual. However I feel that those research areas have small impact as compared to other and makes me not want to dedicate a significant amount of time to something I know will probably impact a very small slice of the pie.

Other research interests I don't know as much about, or what I know is from a class settings. Some of those interests I didn't enjoy working on in the past as part of my courses but I am still considering a PhD on them. Mostly because they can have a much larger scientific impact.

My main motivation for doing a PhD is the scientific impact that my research can have and how I can help solve problems that can have some sort of application.

Research Interests Include:

AI, Reinforcement Learning, Machine Learning with specific applications in Software Engineering and/or Social Networks, Robotics, Motion

So here are my questions:

• Is it acceptable to apply for a PhD program that I know not as much about but am willing to learn?
• How would it reflect on a PhD program application diverse research interest topics with more than a handful faculty?
• What should be my main motivation behind choosing a topic?
• What questions should I be asking to narrow down my interests?
• graduate-admissions
• research-process

• One strategy to keep in mind is to find the best advisor possible and focus your research on whatever the advisor is most able to help you with and teach you. –  littleO Commented Oct 18, 2018 at 10:08

2 Answers 2

If you have a relatively open set of research interests, I would focus much more on finding an advisor who you believe you will get along well with on a personal level. "Success" (which is admittedly an ambiguous term) in a PhD often matters much less on what you are studying specifically and much more on how engaged and dedicated you are to the research process as a whole. It is very difficult to be engaged in research on a topic you love, but with an advisor you despise.

I would not be too worried about getting trapped in a certain research field long term. You doctoral work is a relatively short portion of your research career as a whole. I have already changed my research focus twice in my career (MS was one topic, PhD was another, full-time employment is yet another). And I still have three plus decades of research to go (so my research career is still young). I did what work my advisor was interested in, put my own flavor into it, then changed my focus as necessary in my employment.

As for your research making an impact, understand that very, very, very few doctoral researchers make a ground breaking impact as a PhD student. Most PhD researchers go their whole career in fact and only impact "a very small slice of the pie." That is how research is modernly. You can make an impact in any of the research fields you listed. Don't sell yourself short of course, but also be aware that most people with PhDs do not in and of themselves change the world.

Essentially, your supervisor pays for your PhD from their limited funding. So you need to publish quality papers as soon as you can. They are not interested in your interests generally but their own.

You have to find out what drives you and then search for the right supervisor/research group. There is no established algorithm for finding your inner voice. I would say that you are not interested in a PhD program at this point for the right reasons; and since I don't know the first thing about you, I could be totally wrong. It would be better to go work in the industry of your choice to help focus your thoughts.

You need more time.

• 2 Actually, whether your supervisor pays for your PhD or not depends a lot on place and on field. He or she may have absolutely nothing to do with your funding in some fields at large US universities. But you will need to work within the interests of your supervisor nearly everywhere and in nearly every situation. Only a few can manage otherwise. –  Buffy Commented Oct 23, 2018 at 15:00

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged phd graduate-admissions research-process ..

• Featured on Meta
• Bringing clarity to status tag usage on meta sites
• We've made changes to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy - July 2024
• Announcing a change to the data-dump process

Hot Network Questions

• Do cities usually form at the mouth of rivers or closer to the headwaters?
• Does my AC vent air from the room to outside?
• Short story in which the protagonist shrinks to the size of his model train set and is run over by one of his trains
• How would I make an agent noun out of the word "autodice -es f" or "autodicia"
• Are there any virtues in virtue ethics that cannot be plausibly grounded in more fundamental utilitarian principles?
• Are chord inversions determined solely by the lowest note, even in a broken chord?
• Sticker on caption phone says that using the captions can be illegal. Why?
• Can a "sharp turn" on a trace with an SMD resistor also present a risk of reflection?
• Is there racial discrimination at Tbilisi airport?
• Implement service registry servers with load balancing strategies
• Op Amp Feedback Resistors
• Why do combinatorists care about Kazhdan–Lusztig polynomials?
• When testing for normally distributed data, should I consider all variables before running shapiro.test?
• how replicate this effect with geometry nodes
• Fitting 10 pieces of pizza in a box
• In the US, can I buy iPhone and Android phones and claim them as expense?
• What sort of impact did the discovery that water could be broken down (via electrolysis) into gas have?
• How do I do calculations with a sliding window while being memory-efficient?
• Land possession by the children of Abraham
• How to extract code into library allowing changes without workflow overhead
• Version of Dracula (Bram Stoker)
• Miracle Miracle Octad Generator Generator
• Jacobi two square's theorem last step to conclusion
• Is the Shroud of Turin about 2000 years old?

Selecting a Research Topic: Overview

• Refine your topic
• Background information & facts
• Writing help

Here are some resources to refer to when selecting a topic and preparing to write a paper:

• MIT Writing and Communication Center "Providing free professional advice about all types of writing and speaking to all members of the MIT community."
• Search Our Collections Find books about writing. Search by subject for: english language grammar; report writing handbooks; technical writing handbooks
• Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation Online version of the book that provides examples and tips on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and other writing rules.
• Select a topic

Choosing an interesting research topic is your first challenge. Here are some tips:

• Choose a topic that you are interested in! The research process is more relevant if you care about your topic.
• If your topic is too broad, you will find too much information and not be able to focus.
• Background reading can help you choose and limit the scope of your topic. 
• Review the guidelines on topic selection outlined in your assignment.  Ask your professor or TA for suggestions.
• Refer to lecture notes and required texts to refresh your knowledge of the course and assignment.
• Talk about research ideas with a friend.  S/he may be able to help focus your topic by discussing issues that didn't occur to you at first.
• WHY did you choose the topic?  What interests you about it?  Do you have an opinion about the issues involved?
• WHO are the information providers on this topic?  Who might publish information about it?  Who is affected by the topic?  Do you know of organizations or institutions affiliated with the topic?
• WHAT are the major questions for this topic?  Is there a debate about the topic?  Are there a range of issues and viewpoints to consider?
• WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national or international level?  Are there specific places affected by the topic?
• WHEN is/was your topic important?  Is it a current event or an historical issue?  Do you want to compare your topic by time periods?

Table of contents

• Broaden your topic
• Information Navigator home
• Sources for facts - general
• Sources for facts - specific subjects

Start here for help

Ask Us Ask a question, make an appointment, give feedback, or visit us.

• Next: Refine your topic >>
• Last Updated: Jul 30, 2021 2:50 PM
• URL: https://libguides.mit.edu/select-topic

Explore our many areas of focus

From conducting fundamental research to influencing product development, our research teams have the opportunity to impact technology used by billions of people every day.

Our approach

Our teams aspire to make discoveries that impact everyone, and core to our approach is sharing our research and tools to fuel progress in the field. Our researchers publish regularly in academic journals, release projects as open source, and apply research to Google products.

Research Themes

Algorithms & optimization, computing paradigms, responsible human-centric technology, science & societal impact, ai/ml foundations.

Exploring theory and application of AI and ML in language, speech, translation, visual processing, ranking and prediction.

Machine Intelligence

Machine Perception

Machine Translation

Natural Language Processing

Speech Processing

Employing new algorithmic ideas and optimizing internal systems to refine the world’s foremost search engine.

Algorithms and Theory

Data Management

Data Mining and Modeling

Information Retrieval and the Web

Developing technology across the entire systems stack, and exploring complex computing challenges.

Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing

Hardware and Architecture

Mobile Systems

Quantum Computing

Security, Privacy and Abuse Prevention

Software Engineering

Software Systems

Shaping new fields of technology in ways that foreground human experience.

Human-Computer Interaction and Visualization

Responsible AI

Using computational power and techniques to solve large-scale 
problems across fields.

Climate and Sustainability

Economics and Electronic Commerce

Education Innovation

General Science

Health & Bioscience

Meet the teams driving innovation

Our teams advance the state of the art through research, systems engineering, and collaboration across Google.

Research Areas

Main navigation.

The world is being transformed by data and data-driven analysis is rapidly becoming an integral part of science and society. Stanford Data Science is a collaborative effort across many departments in all seven schools. We strive to unite existing data science research initiatives and create interdisciplinary collaborations, connecting the data science and related methodologists with disciplines that are being transformed by data science and computation.

Our work supports research in a variety of fields where incredible advances are being made through the facilitation of meaningful collaborations between domain researchers, with deep expertise in societal and fundamental research challenges, and methods researchers that are developing next-generation computational tools and techniques, including:

Data Science for Wildland Fire Research

In recent years, wildfire has gone from an infrequent and distant news item to a centerstage isssue spanning many consecutive weeks for urban and suburban communities. Frequent wildfires are changing everyday lives for California in numerous ways -- from public safety power shutoffs to hazardous air quality -- that seemed inconceivable as recently as 2015. Moreover, elevated wildfire risk in the western United States (and similar climates globally) is here to stay into the foreseeable future. There is a plethora of problems that need solutions in the wildland fire arena; many of them are well suited to a data-driven approach.

Seminar Series

Data Science for Physics

Astrophysicists and particle physicists at Stanford and at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory are deeply engaged in studying the Universe at both the largest and smallest scales, with state-of-the-art instrumentation at telescopes and accelerator facilities

Data Science for Economics

Many of the most pressing questions in empirical economics concern causal questions, such as the impact, both short and long run, of educational choices on labor market outcomes, and of economic policies on distributions of outcomes. This makes them conceptually quite different from the predictive type of questions that many of the recently developed methods in machine learning are primarily designed for.

Data Science for Education

Educational data spans K-12 school and district records, digital archives of instructional materials and gradebooks, as well as student responses on course surveys. Data science of actual classroom interaction is also of increasing interest and reality.

Data Science for Human Health

It is clear that data science will be a driving force in transitioning the world’s healthcare systems from reactive “sick-based” care to proactive, preventive care.

Data Science for Humanity

Our modern era is characterized by massive amounts of data documenting the behaviors of individuals, groups, organizations, cultures, and indeed entire societies. This wealth of data on modern humanity is accompanied by massive digitization of historical data, both textual and numeric, in the form of historic newspapers, literary and linguistic corpora, economic data, censuses, and other government data, gathered and preserved over centuries, and newly digitized, acquired, and provisioned by libraries, scholars, and commercial entities.

Data Science for Linguistics

The impact of data science on linguistics has been profound. All areas of the field depend on having a rich picture of the true range of variation, within dialects, across dialects, and among different languages. The subfield of corpus linguistics is arguably as old as the field itself and, with the advent of computers, gave rise to many core techniques in data science.

Data Science for Nature and Sustainability

Many key sustainability issues translate into decision and optimization problems and could greatly benefit from data-driven decision making tools. In fact, the impact of modern information technology has been highly uneven, mainly benefiting large firms in profitable sectors, with little or no benefit in terms of the environment. Our vision is that data-driven methods can — and should — play a key role in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the way we manage and allocate our natural resources.

Ethics and Data Science

With the emergence of new techniques of machine learning, and the possibility of using algorithms to perform tasks previously done by human beings, as well as to generate new knowledge, we again face a set of new ethical questions.

The Science of Data Science

The practice of data analysis has changed enormously. Data science needs to find new inferential paradigms that allow data exploration prior to the formulation of hypotheses.

• Privacy Policy

Home » Research Topics – Ideas and Examples

Research Topics – Ideas and Examples

Table of Contents

Research Topic

Definition:

Research topic is a specific subject or area of interest that a researcher wants to investigate or explore in-depth through research. It is the overarching theme or question that guides a research project and helps to focus the research activities towards a clear objective.

How to Choose Research Topic

You can Choose a Research Topic by following the below guide:

Identify your Interests

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a research topic is your personal interest. This is because you will be spending a considerable amount of time researching and writing about the topic, so it’s essential that you are genuinely interested and passionate about it. Start by brainstorming a list of potential research topics based on your interests, hobbies, or areas of expertise. You can also consider the courses that you’ve enjoyed the most or the topics that have stood out to you in your readings.

Review the Literature

Before deciding on a research topic, you need to understand what has already been written about it. Conducting a preliminary review of the existing literature in your field can help you identify gaps in knowledge, inconsistencies in findings, or unanswered questions that you can explore further. You can do this by reading academic articles, books, and other relevant sources in your field. Make notes of the themes or topics that emerge and use this information to guide your research question.

Consult with your Advisor

Your academic advisor or a mentor in your field can provide you with valuable insights and guidance on choosing a research topic. They can help you identify areas of interest, suggest potential research questions, and provide feedback on the feasibility of your research proposal. They can also direct you towards relevant literature and resources that can help you develop your research further.

Consider the Scope and Feasibility

The research topic you choose should be manageable within the time and resource constraints of your project. Be mindful of the scope of your research and ensure that you are not trying to tackle a topic that is too broad or too narrow. If your topic is too broad, you may find it challenging to conduct a comprehensive analysis, while if it’s too narrow, you may struggle to find enough material to support your research.

Brainstorm with Peers

Discussing potential research topics with your peers or colleagues can help you generate new ideas and perspectives. They may have insights or expertise that you haven’t considered, and their feedback can help you refine your research question. You can also join academic groups or attend conferences in your field to network with other researchers and get inspiration for your research.

Consider the Relevance

Choose a research topic that is relevant to your field of study and has the potential to contribute to the existing knowledge. You can consider the latest trends and emerging issues in your field to identify topics that are both relevant and interesting. Conducting research on a topic that is timely and relevant can also increase the likelihood of getting published or presenting your research at conferences.

Keep an Open Mind

While it’s essential to choose a research topic that aligns with your interests and expertise, you should also be open to exploring new ideas or topics that may be outside of your comfort zone. Consider researching a topic that challenges your assumptions or introduces new perspectives that you haven’t considered before. You may discover new insights or perspectives that can enrich your research and contribute to your growth as a researcher.

Components of Research Topic

A research topic typically consists of several components that help to define and clarify the subject matter of the research project. These components include:

• Research problem or question: This is the central issue or inquiry that the research seeks to address. It should be well-defined and focused, with clear boundaries that limit the scope of the research.
• Background and context: This component provides the necessary background information and context for the research topic. It explains why the research problem or question is important, relevant, and timely. It may also include a literature review that summarizes the existing research on the topic.
• Objectives or goals : This component outlines the specific objectives or goals that the research seeks to achieve. It should be clear and concise, and should align with the research problem or question.
• Methodology : This component describes the research methods and techniques that will be used to collect and analyze data. It should be detailed enough to provide a clear understanding of how the research will be conducted, including the sampling method, data collection tools, and statistical analyses.
• Significance or contribution : This component explains the significance or contribution of the research topic. It should demonstrate how the research will add to the existing knowledge in the field, and how it will benefit practitioners, policymakers, or society at large.
• Limitations: This component outlines the limitations of the research, including any potential biases, assumptions, or constraints. It should be transparent and honest about the potential shortcomings of the research, and how these limitations will be addressed.
• Expected outcomes or findings : This component provides an overview of the expected outcomes or findings of the research project. It should be realistic and based on the research objectives and methodology.

Purpose of Research Topic

The purpose of a research topic is to identify a specific area of inquiry that the researcher wants to explore and investigate. A research topic is typically a broad area of interest that requires further exploration and refinement through the research process. It provides a clear focus and direction for the research project, and helps to define the research questions and objectives. A well-defined research topic also helps to ensure that the research is relevant and useful, and can contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field. Ultimately, the purpose of a research topic is to generate new insights, knowledge, and understanding about a particular phenomenon, issue, or problem.

Characteristics of Research Topic

some common characteristics of a well-defined research topic include:

• Relevance : A research topic should be relevant and significant to the field of study and address a current issue, problem, or gap in knowledge.
• Specificity : A research topic should be specific enough to allow for a focused investigation and clear understanding of the research question.
• Feasibility : A research topic should be feasible, meaning it should be possible to carry out the research within the given constraints of time, resources, and expertise.
• Novelty : A research topic should add to the existing body of knowledge by introducing new ideas, concepts, or theories.
• Clarity : A research topic should be clearly articulated and easy to understand, both for the researcher and for potential readers of the research.
• Importance : A research topic should be important and have practical implications for the field or society as a whole.
• Significance : A research topic should be significant and have the potential to generate new insights and understanding in the field.

Examples of Research Topics

Here are some examples of research topics that are currently relevant and in-demand in various fields:

• The impact of social media on mental health: With the rise of social media use, this topic has gained significant attention in recent years. Researchers could investigate how social media affects self-esteem, body image, and other mental health concerns.
• The use of artificial intelligence in healthcare: As healthcare becomes increasingly digitalized, researchers could explore the use of AI algorithms to predict and prevent disease, optimize treatment plans, and improve patient outcomes.
• Renewable energy and sustainable development: As the world seeks to reduce its carbon footprint, researchers could investigate the potential of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, and how these technologies can be integrated into existing infrastructure.
• The impact of workplace diversity and inclusion on employee productivity: With an increasing focus on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, researchers could investigate how these factors affect employee morale, productivity, and retention.
• Cybersecurity and data privacy: As data breaches and cyber attacks become more common, researchers could explore new methods of protecting sensitive information and preventing malicious attacks.
• T he impact of mindfulness and meditation on stress reduction: As stress-related health issues become more prevalent, researchers could investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness and meditation practices on reducing stress and improving overall well-being.

Research Topics Ideas

Here are some Research Topics Ideas from different fields:

• The impact of social media on mental health and well-being.
• The effectiveness of various teaching methods in improving academic performance in high schools.
• The role of AI and machine learning in healthcare: current applications and future potentials.
• The impact of climate change on wildlife habitats and conservation efforts.
• The effects of video game violence on aggressive behavior in young adults.
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques in reducing anxiety and depression.
• The impact of technology on human relationships and social interactions.
• The role of exercise in promoting physical and mental health in older adults.
• The causes and consequences of income inequality in developed and developing countries.
• The effects of cultural diversity in the workplace on job satisfaction and productivity.
• The impact of remote work on employee productivity and work-life balance.
• The relationship between sleep patterns and cognitive functioning.
• The effectiveness of online learning versus traditional classroom learning.
• The role of government policies in promoting renewable energy adoption.
• The effects of childhood trauma on mental health in adulthood.
• The impact of social media on political participation and civic engagement.
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating anxiety disorders.
• The relationship between nutrition and cognitive functioning.
• The impact of gentrification on urban communities.
• The effects of music on mood and emotional regulation.
• The impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems and food webs.
• The role of artificial intelligence in detecting and preventing cyberattacks.
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in managing chronic pain.
• The relationship between personality traits and job satisfaction.
• The effects of social isolation on mental and physical health in older adults.
• The impact of cultural and linguistic diversity on healthcare access and outcomes.
• The effectiveness of psychotherapy in treating depression and anxiety in adolescents.
• The relationship between exercise and cognitive aging.
• The effects of social media on body image and self-esteem.
• The role of corporate social responsibility in promoting sustainable business practices.
• The impact of mindfulness meditation on attention and focus in children.
• The relationship between political polarization and media consumption habits.
• The effects of urbanization on mental health and well-being.
• The role of social support in managing chronic illness.
• The impact of social media on romantic relationships and dating behaviors.
• The effectiveness of behavioral interventions in promoting physical activity in sedentary adults.
• The relationship between sleep quality and immune function.
• The effects of workplace diversity and inclusion programs on employee retention.
• The impact of climate change on global food security.
• The role of music therapy in improving communication and social skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
• The impact of cultural values on the development of mental health stigma.
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques in reducing burnout in healthcare professionals.
• The relationship between social media use and body dissatisfaction among adolescents.
• The effects of nature exposure on cognitive functioning and well-being.
• The role of peer mentoring in promoting academic success in underrepresented student populations.
• The impact of neighborhood characteristics on physical activity and obesity.
• The effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation interventions in improving cognitive functioning in individuals with traumatic brain injury.
• The relationship between organizational culture and employee job satisfaction.
• The effects of cultural immersion experiences on intercultural competence development.
• The role of assistive technology in promoting independence and quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
• The impact of workplace design on employee productivity and well-being.
• The impact of digital technologies on the music industry and artist revenues.
• The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating insomnia.
• The relationship between social media use and body weight perception among young adults.
• The effects of green spaces on mental health and well-being in urban areas.
• The role of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing substance use disorders.
• The impact of workplace bullying on employee turnover and job satisfaction.
• The effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy in treating mental health disorders.
• The relationship between teacher-student relationships and academic achievement.
• The effects of social support on resilience in individuals experiencing adversity.
• The role of cognitive aging in driving safety and mobility.
• The effectiveness of psychotherapy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• The relationship between social media use and sleep quality.
• The effects of cultural competency training on healthcare providers’ attitudes and behaviors towards diverse patient populations.
• The role of exercise in preventing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• The impact of the gig economy on job security and worker rights.
• The effectiveness of art therapy in promoting emotional regulation and coping skills in children and adolescents.
• The relationship between parenting styles and child academic achievement.
• The effects of social comparison on well-being and self-esteem.
• The role of nutrition in promoting healthy aging and longevity.
• The impact of gender diversity in leadership on organizational performance.
• The effectiveness of family-based interventions in treating eating disorders.
• The relationship between social media use and perceived loneliness among older adults.
• The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on pain management in chronic pain patients.
• The role of physical activity in preventing and treating depression.
• The impact of cultural differences on communication and conflict resolution in international business.
• The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in treating anxiety disorders.
• The relationship between student engagement and academic success in higher education.
• The effects of discrimination on mental health outcomes in minority populations.
• The role of virtual reality in enhancing learning experiences.
• The impact of social media influencers on consumer behavior and brand loyalty.
• The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in treating chronic pain.
• The relationship between social media use and body image dissatisfaction among men.
• The effects of exposure to nature on cognitive functioning and creativity.
• The role of spirituality in coping with illness and disability.
• The impact of automation on employment and job displacement.
• The effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in treating borderline personality disorder.
• The relationship between teacher-student relationships and school attendance.
• The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on workplace stress and burnout.
• The role of exercise in promoting cognitive functioning and brain health in older adults.
• The impact of diversity and inclusion initiatives on organizational innovation and creativity.
• The effectiveness of cognitive remediation therapy in treating schizophrenia.
• The relationship between social media use and body dissatisfaction among women.
• The effects of exposure to natural light on mood and sleep quality.
• The role of spirituality in enhancing well-being and resilience in military personnel.
• The impact of artificial intelligence on job training and skill development.
• The effectiveness of interpersonal therapy (IPT) in treating depression.
• The relationship between parental involvement and academic achievement among low-income students.
• The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on emotional regulation and coping skills in trauma survivors.
• The role of nutrition in preventing and treating mental health disorders.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

You may also like

Research Summary – Structure, Examples and...

Informed Consent in Research – Types, Templates...

Background of The Study – Examples and Writing...

Research Results Section – Writing Guide and...

Research Methods – Types, Examples and Guide

Research Findings – Types Examples and Writing...

Identifying an Area of Research Interest

• First Online: 15 September 2021

Cite this chapter

• Robert S. Fleming 3 &
• Michelle Kowalsky 4  

Part of the book series: Springer Texts in Education ((SPTE))

1068 Accesses

The most enjoyable and memorable trips are planned in advance in accordance with the personal interests of the traveler. Taking the time to identify your travel interests will enable you to make good decisions regarding where you will travel and what you want to see and do during your trip.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save.

• Get 10 units per month
• Download Article/Chapter or eBook
• 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
• Cancel anytime
• Available as PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Compact, lightweight edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

Brause, Rita S. (2012). Writing your doctoral dissertation: invisible rules for success . New York: Taylor & Francis.

Google Scholar  

Single, Peg B. (2009). Demystifying dissertation writing: a streamlined process from choice of topic to final text . Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Thomas, Gary. (2017). How to do your research project (revised ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Rohrer College of Business, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA

Robert S. Fleming

Campbell Library, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA

Michelle Kowalsky

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert S. Fleming .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Fleming, R.S., Kowalsky, M. (2021). Identifying an Area of Research Interest. In: Survival Skills for Thesis and Dissertation Candidates. Springer Texts in Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80939-3_10

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80939-3_10

Published : 15 September 2021

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-030-80938-6

Online ISBN : 978-3-030-80939-3

eBook Packages : Education Education (R0)

Share this chapter

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

1000+ FREE Research Topics & Title Ideas

Select your area of interest to view a collection of potential research topics and ideas.

Or grab the full list 📋 (for free)

PS – You can also check out our free topic ideation webinar for more ideas

How To Find A Research Topic

If you’re struggling to get started, this step-by-step video tutorial will help you find the perfect research topic.

Research Topic FAQs

What (exactly) is a research topic.

A research topic is the subject of a research project or study – for example, a dissertation or thesis. A research topic typically takes the form of a problem to be solved, or a question to be answered.

A good research topic should be specific enough to allow for focused research and analysis. For example, if you are interested in studying the effects of climate change on agriculture, your research topic could focus on how rising temperatures have impacted crop yields in certain regions over time.

To learn more about the basics of developing a research topic, consider our free research topic ideation webinar.

What constitutes a good research topic?

A strong research topic comprises three important qualities : originality, value and feasibility.

• Originality – a good topic explores an original area or takes a novel angle on an existing area of study.
• Value – a strong research topic provides value and makes a contribution, either academically or practically.
• Feasibility – a good research topic needs to be practical and manageable, given the resource constraints you face.

To learn more about what makes for a high-quality research topic, check out this post .

What's the difference between a research topic and research problem?

A research topic and a research problem are two distinct concepts that are often confused. A research topic is a broader label that indicates the focus of the study , while a research problem is an issue or gap in knowledge within the broader field that needs to be addressed.

To illustrate this distinction, consider a student who has chosen “teenage pregnancy in the United Kingdom” as their research topic. This research topic could encompass any number of issues related to teenage pregnancy such as causes, prevention strategies, health outcomes for mothers and babies, etc.

Within this broad category (the research topic) lies potential areas of inquiry that can be explored further – these become the research problems . For example:

• What factors contribute to higher rates of teenage pregnancy in certain communities?
• How do different types of parenting styles affect teen pregnancy rates?
• What interventions have been successful in reducing teenage pregnancies?

Simply put, a key difference between a research topic and a research problem is scope ; the research topic provides an umbrella under which multiple questions can be asked, while the research problem focuses on one specific question or set of questions within that larger context.

How can I find potential research topics for my project?

There are many steps involved in the process of finding and choosing a high-quality research topic for a dissertation or thesis. We cover these steps in detail in this video (also accessible below).

How can I find quality sources for my research topic?

Finding quality sources is an essential step in the topic ideation process. To do this, you should start by researching scholarly journals, books, and other academic publications related to your topic. These sources can provide reliable information on a wide range of topics. Additionally, they may contain data or statistics that can help support your argument or conclusions.

Identifying Relevant Sources

When searching for relevant sources, it’s important to look beyond just published material; try using online databases such as Google Scholar or JSTOR to find articles from reputable journals that have been peer-reviewed by experts in the field.

You can also use search engines like Google or Bing to locate websites with useful information about your topic. However, be sure to evaluate any website before citing it as a source—look for evidence of authorship (such as an “About Us” page) and make sure the content is up-to-date and accurate before relying on it.

Evaluating Sources

Once you’ve identified potential sources for your research project, take some time to evaluate them thoroughly before deciding which ones will best serve your purpose. Consider factors such as author credibility (are they an expert in their field?), publication date (is the source current?), objectivity (does the author present both sides of an issue?) and relevance (how closely does this source relate to my specific topic?).

By researching the current literature on your topic, you can identify potential sources that will help to provide quality information. Once you’ve identified these sources, it’s time to look for a gap in the research and determine what new knowledge could be gained from further study.

How can I find a good research gap?

Finding a strong gap in the literature is an essential step when looking for potential research topics. We explain what research gaps are and how to find them in this post.

How should I evaluate potential research topics/ideas?

When evaluating potential research topics, it is important to consider the factors that make for a strong topic (we discussed these earlier). Specifically:

• Originality
• Feasibility

So, when you have a list of potential topics or ideas, assess each of them in terms of these three criteria. A good topic should take a unique angle, provide value (either to academia or practitioners), and be practical enough for you to pull off, given your limited resources.

Finally, you should also assess whether this project could lead to potential career opportunities such as internships or job offers down the line. Make sure that you are researching something that is relevant enough so that it can benefit your professional development in some way. Additionally, consider how each research topic aligns with your career goals and interests; researching something that you are passionate about can help keep motivation high throughout the process.

How can I assess the feasibility of a research topic?

When evaluating the feasibility and practicality of a research topic, it is important to consider several factors.

First, you should assess whether or not the research topic is within your area of competence. Of course, when you start out, you are not expected to be the world’s leading expert, but do should at least have some foundational knowledge.

Time commitment

When considering a research topic, you should think about how much time will be required for completion. Depending on your field of study, some topics may require more time than others due to their complexity or scope.

Additionally, if you plan on collaborating with other researchers or institutions in order to complete your project, additional considerations must be taken into account such as coordinating schedules and ensuring that all parties involved have adequate resources available.

Resources needed

It’s also critically important to consider what type of resources are necessary in order to conduct the research successfully. This includes physical materials such as lab equipment and chemicals but can also include intangible items like access to certain databases or software programs which may be necessary depending on the nature of your work. Additionally, if there are costs associated with obtaining these materials then this must also be factored into your evaluation process.

Potential risks

It’s important to consider the inherent potential risks for each potential research topic. These can include ethical risks (challenges getting ethical approval), data risks (not being able to access the data you’ll need), technical risks relating to the equipment you’ll use and funding risks (not securing the necessary financial back to undertake the research).

Need hands-on help?

Private coaching might be just what you need.

• Who’s Teaching What
• Subject Updates
• MEng program
• Opportunities
• Minor in Computer Science
• Resources for Current Students
• Program objectives and accreditation
• Graduate program requirements
• Admission process
• Degree programs
• Graduate research
• EECS Graduate Funding
• Resources for current students
• Student profiles
• Instructors
• DEI data and documents
• Recruitment and outreach
• Community and resources
• Get involved / self-education
• Rising Stars in EECS
• Graduate Application Assistance Program (GAAP)
• MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP)
• Sloan-MIT University Center for Exemplary Mentoring (UCEM)
• Electrical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Artificial Intelligence + Decision-making

AI and Society

Ai for healthcare and life sciences, artificial intelligence and machine learning, biological and medical devices and systems, communications systems.

• Computational Biology

Computational Fabrication and Manufacturing

Computer architecture, educational technology, electronic, magnetic, optical and quantum materials and devices, graphics and vision, human-computer interaction, information science and systems, integrated circuits and systems, nanoscale materials, devices, and systems, natural language and speech processing, optics + photonics, optimization and game theory, programming languages and software engineering, quantum computing, communication, and sensing, security and cryptography, signal processing, systems and networking, systems theory, control, and autonomy, theory of computation.

• Departmental History
• Departmental Organization
• Visiting Committee
• Explore all research areas

EECS’ research covers a wide variety of topics in electrical engineering , computer science , and artificial intelligence and decision-making .

The future of our society is interwoven with the future of data-driven thinking—most prominently, artificial intelligence is set to reshape every aspect of our lives. Research in this area studies the interface between AI-driven systems and human actors, exploring both the impact of data-driven decision-making on human behavior and experience, and how AI technologies can be used to improve access to opportunities. This research combines a variety of areas including AI, machine learning, economics, social psychology, and law.

Our goal is to develop AI technologies that will change the landscape of healthcare. This includes early diagnostics, drug discovery, care personalization and management. Building on MIT’s pioneering history in artificial intelligence and life sciences, we are working on algorithms suitable for modeling biological and clinical data across a range of modalities including imaging, text and genomics.

Our research covers a wide range of topics of this fast-evolving field, advancing how machines learn, predict, and control, while also making them secure, robust and trustworthy. Research covers both the theory and applications of ML. This broad area studies ML theory (algorithms, optimization, …), statistical learning (inference, graphical models, causal analysis, …), deep learning, reinforcement learning, symbolic reasoning ML systems, as well as diverse hardware implementations of ML.

We develop the technology and systems that will transform the future of biology and healthcare. Specific areas include biomedical sensors and electronics, nano- and micro-technologies, imaging, and computational modeling of disease.

We develop the next generation of wired and wireless communications systems, from new physical principles (e.g., light, terahertz waves) to coding and information theory, and everything in between.

We bring some of the most powerful tools in computation to bear on design problems, including modeling, simulation, processing and fabrication.

We design the next generation of computer systems. Working at the intersection of hardware and software, our research studies how to best implement computation in the physical world. We design processors that are faster, more efficient, easier to program, and secure. Our research covers systems of all scales, from tiny Internet-of-Things devices with ultra-low-power consumption to high-performance servers and datacenters that power planet-scale online services. We design both general-purpose processors and accelerators that are specialized to particular application domains, like machine learning and storage. We also design Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools to facilitate the development of such systems.

Educational technology combines both hardware and software to enact global change, making education accessible in unprecedented ways to new audiences. We develop the technology that makes better understanding possible.

Our research spans a wide range of materials that form the next generation of devices, and includes groundbreaking research on graphene & 2D materials, quantum computing, MEMS & NEMS, and new substrates for computation.

Our research focuses on solving challenges related to the transduction, transmission, and control of energy and energy systems. We develop new materials for energy storage, devices and power electronics for harvesting, generation and processing of energy, and control of large-scale energy systems.

The shared mission of Visual Computing is to connect images and computation, spanning topics such as image and video generation and analysis, photography, human perception, touch, applied geometry, and more.

The focus of our research in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is inventing new systems and technology that lie at the interface between people and computation, and understanding their design, implementation, and societal impact.

This broad research theme covered activities across all aspects of systems that process information, and the underlying science and mathematics, and includes communications, networking & information theory; numerical and computational simulation and prototyping; signal processing and inference; medical imaging; data science, statistics and inference.

Our field deals with the design and creation of sophisticated circuits and systems for applications ranging from computation to sensing.

Our research focuses on the creation of materials and devices at the nano scale to create novel systems across a wide variety of application areas.

Our research encompasses all aspects of speech and language processing—ranging from the design of fundamental machine learning methods to the design of advanced applications that can extract information from documents, translate between languages, and execute instructions in real-world environments.

Our work focuses on materials, devices, and systems for optical and photonic applications, with applications in communications and sensing, femtosecond optics, laser technologies, photonic bandgap fibers and devices, laser medicine and medical imaging, and millimeter-wave and terahertz devices.

Research in this area focuses on developing efficient and scalable algorithms for solving large scale optimization problems in engineering, data science and machine learning. Our work also studies optimal decision making in networked settings, including communication networks, energy systems and social networks. The multi-agent nature of many of these systems also has led to several research activities that rely on game-theoretic approaches.

We develop new approaches to programming, whether that takes the form of programming languages, tools, or methodologies to improve many aspects of applications and systems infrastructure.

Our work focuses on developing the next substrate of computing, communication and sensing. We work all the way from new materials to superconducting devices to quantum computers to theory.

Our research focuses on robotic hardware and algorithms, from sensing to control to perception to manipulation.

Our research is focused on making future computer systems more secure. We bring together a broad spectrum of cross-cutting techniques for security, from theoretical cryptography and programming-language ideas, to low-level hardware and operating-systems security, to overall system designs and empirical bug-finding. We apply these techniques to a wide range of application domains, such as blockchains, cloud systems, Internet privacy, machine learning, and IoT devices, reflecting the growing importance of security in many contexts.

Signal processing focuses on algorithms and hardware for analyzing, modifying and synthesizing signals and data, across a wide variety of application domains. As a technology it plays a key role in virtually every aspect of modern life including for example entertainment, communications, travel, health, defense and finance.

From distributed systems and databases to wireless, the research conducted by the systems and networking group aims to improve the performance, robustness, and ease of management of networks and computing systems.

Our theoretical research includes quantification of fundamental capabilities and limitations of feedback systems, inference and control over networks, and development of practical methods and algorithms for decision making under uncertainty.

Theory of Computation (TOC) studies the fundamental strengths and limits of computation, how these strengths and limits interact with computer science and mathematics, and how they manifest themselves in society, biology, and the physical world.

Research Areas

Research activity in the Biology Department spans the full range of biological organization, from molecules to ecosystems. Main research fields are indicated here, as links to groups of faculty doing research in those areas.

Biochemistry

Cell Biology

Computational Biology

Conservation Biology

Developmental Biology

Marine Biology

Microbiology

Molecular Biology

Neurobiology

Plant Biology

Population Biology

How to Write About Your Research Interests 101

Wondering how to write about your research interests without loosing all your hair from stress in the process? Don’t worry – you have the power to make it an enjoyable – and enlightening – process! If you’re keen to secure admission into your dream graduate program, then tailoring your application to align with your passion for research is absolutely essential.

In this blog post, we take a deep dive into what exactly goes into writing about one’s research interests and provide invaluable guidance on how to do so to stand out from the competition. By taking the time and putting some thought into crafting this vital component of your application, you will be setting yourself up for success. So get ready because here come our top tips on how to write with flair about your most passionate research pursuits!

Understanding the purpose of your statement of purpose

Many prospective graduate students apply to graduate school without having a clear idea of how to write about their research interests nor having determined which topics or questions they would like to explore during their studies. This is a fairly normal situation. Many of my clients struggle with this challenge. While some people are concerned that they may be held to their still-developing thoughts, others have not yet truly invested time into the thought process.

Yet, no need to panic. The best way to decrease the anxiety related to learning how to write about your research interests is to take a step back and consider the purpose of your statement of purpose.

It’s important to realize that you are applying to graduate school to learn more, and your statement of purpose should never be about what you already know. The purpose of your statement of purpose is to provide a glimpse into your research interests at a particular moment in time . It is meant to demonstrate your research potential and it should not be seen as the presentation of a long-term commitment to research a precise set of ideas or questions.

So take a deep breath and relax! When starting to write your thesis, nobody will suddenly appear out of nowhere with your SOP or research interest statement in hand, accusing you of lying. As you navigate your way through graduate school, your understanding and perspectives will inevitably expand in countless ways. Many prospective students end up working on something entirely different than what they wrote about in their SOP.

And believe us, nobody gets sued or judged for changing their mind. In fact, admissions committees expect applicants’ ideas to take a slightly different or brand-new direction as they take more courses and become more knowledgeable of their target field, so there is no need to worry if you are unsure how committed you are to your current research interests.

Yet, not being clear on what your research interests are can be problematic, as the research process and field of study that you choose will ideally be an area in which you are passionate about and have at least some knowledge, so it is important to take the time to research and explore various topics before applying. The goal is to commit for the time being to a certain set of questions or a topic .

Keep in mind that admissions committees are more concerned with how the applicant communicates their research interests than with any specific content of the research itself. Furthermore, since many programs require students to pursue individualized study plans or take part in interdisciplinary collaborations during their studies, applicants need to demonstrate their ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.

Thus, admissions committees are looking for applicants that can present their research interests in a compelling way and illustrate how they can add value to the program.

To make a good impression on the admissions committee, you need to emphasize your comprehensive understanding of and passion for your field. Learning how to write about your research interests is all about learning to showcase these qualities in detail, thus demonstrating that you have what it takes to excel in research work. If your statement does not include any pertinent experience or qualifications, then you might come across as inexperienced. To avoid this issue and make a convincing argument for why you are well-suited to the chosen career path, be sure to provide specifics on what makes the field exciting for you and back it up with relevant background information.

What are admissions committees considering when looking at your research interests

Graduate admissions committees consider a variety of factors when evaluating an applicant’s research interest statement. Most notably, they assess the depth and breadth of the student’s knowledge in their chosen field or discipline and their ability to communicate why their research interests are relevant to that particular area.

They also look at how well an applicant understands current literature in the field, the research methods and approaches they plan to take, and their overall commitment to pursuing a graduate degree. In addition, committees may evaluate an applicant’s creativity in developing new research ideas or questions as well as their ability to collaborate with other faculty members or students.

Finally, the committee will consider how well an applicant can articulate a clear vision for their future research plans, indicating their interest in long-term scholarship. Taking these factors into account, graduate admissions committees gain an understanding of how well an applicant is suited to pursue a graduate program and contribute to the university’s overall research strength.

Writing about your research interests might involve… preliminary research!

When writing your statement of purpose, it is important to narrow your research interests as much as possible. Start by researching and familiarizing yourself with the particular field or program you are interested in. Ask yourself questions such as, What kind of research is currently being done? What topics are most commonly discussed? What topics are most relevant to your goals and interests?

Once you have a better understanding of the field, start by focusing on specific topics, ideas, or questions that you are passionate about. You can do this by asking yourself what kind of research requires your unique skillset. What kind of research questions do you find yourself most drawn to? What innovative ideas or solutions can you bring to the field?

If you are still not clear about which tangent to follow in your SOP, take the time to begin familiarizing yourself with the ongoing questions and issues in your field: read recent journal publications, and attend conferences when applicable. Additionally, reading related literature reviews will enable you to construct a language-based framework for expressing your ideas that aligns with prevailing trends and discourse.

By asking yourself these questions, you can narrow your research interests and better define the scope of your research interests. This will help you present yourself as a well-rounded and knowledgeable candidate for the program.

When writing about your research interests for an admissions committee, it is important to be concise and clear. First, create a brief overview of the research topic that you are interested in. When possible, provide examples of how your research interests overlap with the topics being explored by the program or institution for which you are applying. Demonstrate a strong understanding of the research methods and theories that apply to the topic. Additionally, if you have already conducted any research in this area, provide a summary of the findings. Finally, outline your long-term research goals and explain why they fit within the context of the program.

Learning how to write about your research interests is also learning to define your goals

Connecting your research interests to achievable goals is an important part of writing a statement of purpose. It helps to demonstrate that you have thought through the research project and how it can be accomplished in the timeframe of PhD studies. By including realistic, achievable goals, it also shows that you understand what is possible and have considered the potential obstacles that may arise. It is important to avoid being overly ambitious in your statement of purpose as this can lead to unrealistic expectations and a loss of focus, potentially leading to failure to achieve the desired outcomes.

Additionally, presenting achievable goals in your statement of purpose demonstrates that you are confident in what you are proposing, yet also realistic about the challenges that need to be overcome. By doing so, you will provide a strong indication that your research project is well-planned and worth investing in.

It is also important to demonstrate that your research interests are well-aligned with the graduate program you are applying to. This can be done by researching the faculty members and research groups of the university or program and looking for professors whose research focuses on topics related to yours. Once you have identified a few faculty members or research projects of interest, you can begin to explain how your research interests dovetail with their work. In doing so, you can demonstrate that your research is compatible with the program’s offerings and that it will contribute positively to the program’s research goals.

Finally, connecting your research interests to your career goals is essential. Your research will allow you to gain expertise, develop ideas, and build knowledge. This experience can be used to create meaningful connections between courses taken during the program and career paths that may come afterward. Additionally, it can serve as a way to form relationships and build networks that may help you establish a successful career. Make sure to share your short-term and long-term goals after graduation are clearly connected to your interests.

In conclusion

In this blog post, we explored the importance of properly conveying your research interests when writing a graduate school essay. The ability to do so can make all the difference between having your application being accepted and overlooked in the shuffle.

While learning about how to write about your research interests may seem like an especially daunting task, it doesn’t have to be with a little preparation and understanding. We hope you found this post helpful in demystifying the process of writing about your research interests when applying to graduate schools. If after reading our post you are still feeling overwhelmed to write up a stunning graduate school essay that showcases your research interests, fear not! I am here to help and take some of the stress of applying away.

The Admit Lab’s mission is to empower you with the tools needed for success by making sure your story stands out. So don’t waste any more time – check out our graduate essay services today! Got questions? Sign up for a consultation or send us a copy of your draft for an assessment, it’s FREE!

With a Master’s from McGill University and a Ph.D. from New York University, Dr. Philippe Barr is the founder of The Admit Lab . As a tenure-track professor, Dr. Barr spent a decade teaching and serving on several graduate admission committees at UNC-Chapel Hill before turning to full-time consulting. With more than seven years of experience as a graduate school admissions consultant, Dr. Barr has stewarded the candidate journey across multiple master’s and Ph.D. programs and helped hundreds of students get admitted to top-tier graduate programs all over the world .

Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for tips and tricks on navigating the grad school application process and weekly live Q&A sessions!

Share this:

Join the conversation.

12 Comments

• Pingback: Your Winning PhD Application Timeline - The Admit Lab
• Pingback: Tips on How To Choose a PhD Program - The Admit Lab
• Pingback: Getting Admitted into a PhD in Applied Economics - The Admit Lab
• Pingback: Statement of Purpose for Masters in Psychology Essentials -
• Pingback: Perfect History PhD Statement of Purpose (Example) -
• Pingback: Statement of Purpose for Scholarship Tips -
• Pingback: Doctoral Program Consultants: Useless or Helpful? -
• Pingback: Why Statement of Purpose Editing is Crucial for Your Future -
• Pingback: Flawless Statement Of Purpose For PhD: Samples & Tips -
• Pingback: Choosing Topics for PhD Applications: Your Ultimate Guide -
• Pingback: Economics PhD Acceptance Rates 2024: Do You Stand a Chance? -
• Pingback: How to Tackle Graduate School Interview Questions Like A Winner -

Leave a comment

Leave a reply cancel reply, discover more from admit lab.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Starting the research process
• 10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project

10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023.

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper , thesis or dissertation . It’s important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.

The exact form of your question will depend on a few things, such as the length of your project, the type of research you’re conducting, the topic , and the research problem . However, all research questions should be focused, specific, and relevant to a timely social or scholarly issue.

Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question , you can use these examples to craft your own.

Note that the design of your research question can depend on what method you are pursuing. Here are a few options for qualitative, quantitative, and statistical research questions.

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, October 19). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Scribbr. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, writing strong research questions | criteria & examples, how to choose a dissertation topic | 8 steps to follow, evaluating sources | methods & examples, what is your plagiarism score.

Support Biology

Dei council and dei faculty committee, biology diversity community, mit biology catalyst symposium, honors and awards, employment opportunities, faculty and research, current faculty, in memoriam, areas of research, biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology, cancer biology, cell biology, computational biology, human disease, microbiology, neurobiology, stem cell and developmental biology, core facilities, video gallery, faculty resources, undergraduate, why biology, undergraduate testimonials, major/minor requirements, general institute requirement, advanced standing exam, transfer credit, current students, subject offerings, research opportunities, biology undergraduate student association, career development, why mit biology, diversity in the graduate program, nih training grant, career outcomes, graduate testimonials, prospective students, application process, interdisciplinary and joint degree programs, living in cambridge, graduate manual: key program info, graduate teaching, career development resources, biology graduate student council, biopals program, postdoctoral, life as a postdoc, postdoc associations, postdoc testimonials, workshops for mit biology postdocs entering the academic job market, responsible conduct of research, postdoc resources, non-mit undergraduates, bernard s. and sophie g. gould mit summer research program in biology (bsg-msrp-bio), bsg-msrp-bio gould fellows, quantitative methods workshop, high school students and teachers, summer workshop for teachers, mit field trips, leah knox scholars program, additional resources, mitx biology, department calendar, ehs and facilities, graduate manual, resources for md/phd students, preliminary exam guidelines, thesis committee meetings, guidelines for graduating, mentoring students and early-career scientists, remembering stephen goldman (1962 – 2022).

For over 50 years, we have played a central role in the growth of molecular life sciences and the revolution in molecular and cellular biology, genetics, genomics, and computational biology.

Research Topics

Cutting-edge research into the workings of the human mind

Our faculty conducts scientific research on topics that span across all areas of psychology. Some themes of research concentration are listed below. Click the topics to see the list of department faculty associated with each theme.

Addictive Behaviors

Computational Approaches

Decision Science

Developmental Approaches

Interventions

Learning & Memory

Mathematical Cognition

Meaning & Mental Representation

Motivation & Emotion

Neuroimaging

Plasticity & Change

Psychopathology & Risk

Reasoning & Problem Solving

Self & Identity

Self-Regulation & Control

Social Cognition

Stereotyping & Stereotype Threat

Vision Science

Words & Categories

Key research areas

Our researchers are leading the way in critical areas..

Beyond people, data is our most valuable resource for expanding human potential. At U of A, innovative information systems and computational methods are being used to transform big data into knowledge. Collaborative, transdisciplinary institutes and centers are unlocking new research possibilities at the intersections between information, people, and technology. And unique experiential training programs and cutting-edge academic curriculum are preparing our students and university partners for in-demand, data-focused careers.

Environment

Situated in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, U of A is a living laboratory. Our researchers are mitigating the impacts of climate change and extreme heat, critical threats to agriculture and food production, and dwindling water and energy resources, all while developing solutions to feed a growing, global population that is fast approaching nine billion people. Our focus is resilience, the practice of designing environmental and social systems to anticipate and integrate with global change.

U of A researchers are combining the power of interdisciplinary expertise with innovative technology to create new solutions for global health challenges. Our expansive health-related infrastructure includes bioscience, biomedicine, and wellness-focused centers and institutes, Arizona’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, and specialized facilities to support the development and commercialization of personalized prevention strategies, targeted treatments, and potential cures of complex diseases that impact our loved ones.

The Human Experience

U of A researchers explore the human experience through groundbreaking work encompassing subject areas as diverse as language and gender stereotypes and discovering what constitutes an effective apology. As an institution, initiatives like Leveraging Insights to Strengthen Regional Talent and Opportunities (LISTO), which increases opportunities for Hispanic students in STEM, enable us to prioritize the human experience and increase diversity across our faculty, staff, and student body.

National Security

National security initiatives at U of A focus on partnerships with defense, intelligence, and industry to advance research and develop the workforce of tomorrow. Through collaborative research and tech transfer, we are improving the agility and resiliency of U.S. national security, from helping predict and prevent cyberattacks to advancing military operations in space. U of A is home to two hypersonic facilities and wind tunnels that permit testing from Mach 0 to Mach 5.

U of A has an unparalleled history of achievement in the space sciences anchored by Steward Observatory, the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, and the Arizona Space Institute. In addition to leading NASA’s first mission to collect and return a sample from the surface of an asteroid, our researchers are set to lead its $20 million Aspera mission to observe galaxy processes hidden from view until now. Our Space Act partnership with NASA allows for collaborative research and technology development related to human spaceflight and builds the student talent pipeline.

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS. A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

NSF awards $38M to strengthen research infrastructure, build partnerships and improve STEM workforce development

The U.S. National Science Foundation has awarded researchers in Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, Puerto Rico and Rhode Island roughly $38 million through the  Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research  (EPSCoR), which promotes the development of research competitiveness among 28 targeted states and territories, called jurisdictions. The awards, facilitated by the NSF  EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems Research Infrastructure Improvement  (E-CORE RII) program and NSF  EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement  (E-RISE RII) program, aim to enhance research facilities, form new networks, support workforce development and accelerate economic growth in parts of the U.S. that have historically received less funding for scientific research.  "The NSF EPSCoR program is critical to ensure that we are creating opportunities and investing in innovation in every part of the United States," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "These new E-CORE RII and E-RISE RII awards will positively impact our nation by advancing the breadth of STEM research, research infrastructure and workforce development while catalyzing opportunities for research and education in EPSCoR jurisdictions and beyond." The E-CORE RII opportunity aids in building capacity in targeted research infrastructure cores within a jurisdiction's research ecosystems. Capacity building may include developing, enhancing and sustaining research administration, facilities, workforce development, partnerships, community engagement and economic development. 

The E-RISE RII opportunity supports research teams and products in a scientific area linked to jurisdictional science and technology plans. It seeks innovative proposals for sustainable networks to enhance STEM research capacity in a selected research area that has the potential for sustainable socioeconomic impact within the jurisdiction. E-RISE RII projects aim to build research competitiveness, develop a skilled workforce, promote diversity and inclusion and integrate research efforts.

E-CORE RII and E-RISE RII were established in response to the 2022  Study of the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research , the  Envisioning the Future of NSF EPSCoR  report and the "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022." This round of awards will catalyze economic growth by propelling laboratory research to scalable commercial products and bringing together expertise from multiple institutions to unravel complex scientific challenges. The awards will strengthen workforce development through educational initiatives that will help economically disadvantaged students and promote diversity, inclusion and accessibility by cultivating scientists and researchers from different backgrounds with various experiences and points of view. 

The awardees and a summary of each project are listed below:  

E-CORE RII: Research Infrastructure Optimization for New Mexico Led by The University of New Mexico, this project aims to connect New Mexico's emerging research institutions (ERIs) with the broader state research ecosystem consisting of national laboratories, high-tech industries and established research universities. By strengthening New Mexico's research infrastructure, the project will foster innovation, which will lead to economic growth in critical sectors and create high-value employment opportunities for graduates from ERIs. The project will also provide the state legislature with insights on economic and workforce trends to enable strategic investments in key areas and foster a culture of inclusion and diversity, thereby broadening participation in the scientific enterprise across individuals, institutions and sectors.

Collaborating institutions (subawardees): Central New Mexico Community College, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Navajo Technical University and New Mexico State University. E-CORE RII: Rhode Island Inclusive Network for Excellence in Science and Technology The University of Rhode Island is leading this project to enable the state of Rhode Island and the Narragansett Indian Tribe and its citizens to develop and maintain a sustainable, broadly inclusive and competitive research ecosystem that supports use-inspired science and technology and workforce development. The project will sustainably develop capacity, programming, platforms and partnerships that serve and benefit institutions of higher education across Rhode Island by institutionalizing research infrastructure support programs and implementing innovative programs that lead to increased collaborations across the state's institutions. These platforms and systems will lead to an inclusive network for scientific opportunities with low barriers to entry, an increased number of students from minoritized and tribal backgrounds that flourish in STEM, and the creation of new initiatives that align with the strategic diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and access plans of the collaborating institutions. 

Collaborating institutions (subawardees): Brown University, Rhode Island College, Rhode Island School of Design and Roger Williams University. E-CORE RII: Mississippi Research Alliance The vision of this project, led by Mississippi State University, is to be a transformative force in the Mississippi research and innovation ecosystem. The project will forge strategic partnerships that harness and enhance existing human and physical assets and coordinate new investments to position Mississippi as a national front-runner in science and technology. The project will strengthen strategic governance, improve sustainable access to instrumentation and foster cross-institutional collaborations, thereby boosting cutting-edge research carried out by interdisciplinary teams and resulting in exponential gains to Mississippi's knowledge-based economy. The project's integrated approach will create a research and development ecosystem that builds strategic alliances among research and emerging research institutions, state agencies and public and private organizations to positively impact education, workforce development and the broader societal understanding of scientific endeavors.

Collaborating institutions (subawardees): The University of Southern Mississippi, The University of Mississippi and Mississippi Valley State University. E-RISE RII: Maine Algal Research Infrastructure and Accelerator The Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences leads this project to build the Maine Algal Research Infrastructure and Accelerator which will serve as a nucleus for algae-based innovation in Maine and catalyze economic growth and workforce development. This state-of-the-art research infrastructure will be used to streamline exploration of algae's commercial potential -- from individual cell-level analysis to product optimization and eventual scaling. The project will lead to the discovery of novel approaches to harness algae as efficient biofactories for synthesizing new high-value products relevant to the "Maine Innovation Economy Action Plan," while aligning strategic collaborations, including with local farmers and algal companies, to create an accelerated network to enhance the agricultural, aquaculture and pharmaceutical potential of algae in Maine.

Collaborating institutions (subawardees): Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, University of New England, Colby College, Maine Center for Entrepreneurs and Gulf of Maine Ventures. E-RISE RII: Cracking the Developmental Blueprint of Life: Omics, Computational Science, and Artificial Intelligence This project, led by the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, will position Puerto Rico as a thriving hub for innovation and economic growth in the life science and biotech/molecular sectors. Faculty from seven institutions will come together to unravel the complexities of developmental biology by examining the evolutionary and developmental framework of butterfly divergence. The project will delve into the fundamental science of evolution and adaptation, seeking to decipher the molecular intricacies that govern cellular processes and organismal development. The novelty of the project lies in the single cell-genomic resolution around which all other molecular information will be integrated using cutting-edge computational and AI approaches. Also included in the project will be workforce development initiatives that integrate STEM education and interventions to cultivate skills for both academic and non-academic careers, in part by generating important resources for the broader scientific community and through outreach activities tailored to K-12 teachers and students. 

Collaborating institutions (subawardees): Centro Comprensivo de Cancer de la Universidad de Puerto Rico.

Research areas

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• X (formerly Twitter)

Interior Department Issues Offshore Wind Research Lease to State of Maine

Lease area has potential to create up to 144 megawatts of clean energy

Date: Monday, August 19, 2024 Contact: [email protected]

WASHINGTON  — In another step by the Biden-Harris administration to support the growing momentum across America for a clean energy economy, the Department of the Interior today announced the execution of the nation’s first floating offshore wind energy research lease. The lease area covers less than 15,000 acres located 28 nautical miles offshore Maine on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and could allow for the deployment of up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines capable of generating up to 144 megawatts of renewable energy, as well as many good-paying jobs in local communities. 

“The Biden-Harris administration is building momentum every day for our clean energy future, and today’s announcement is yet another step toward our ambitious goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore energy by 2030,” said  Secretary Deb Haaland . “Our clean energy future is now a reality – I am so proud of the progress being made by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as we work to address climate change, foster job growth, and promote equitable economic opportunities for all communities.”   

“Floating wind opens up opportunities to produce renewable energy in deeper water farther offshore.” said  Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Elizabeth Klein . “Signing the Gulf of Maine research lease demonstrates the commitment by both BOEM and the State of Maine to promote a clean energy future for the nation. It is another example of a successful all-of-government effort to reach the Administration’s offshore wind energy goals and to combat the impacts of climate change.” 

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the middle out and bottom up – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over half a trillion dollars in new private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good-paying jobs and building a clean energy economy that will combat the climate crisis and make our communities more resilient. 

Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, the Department has approved the nation's first nine commercial scale offshore wind projects with a combined capacity of more than 13 gigawatts of clean energy — enough to power nearly 5 million homes. In that time, BOEM has held five offshore wind lease auctions – including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and the first-ever sales offshore the Pacific Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. The Department also recently announced a schedule to hold up to 12 additional lease sales through 2028. 

The Department has also taken steps to grow a sustainable offshore wind industry by encouraging the use of project labor agreements, strengthening workforce training, bolstering a domestic supply chain, and through enhanced engagement with Tribes, fisheries, communities and ocean users. 

The research lease executed today will allow the state, fishing community, wildlife experts, and others to conduct in-depth studies and thoroughly evaluate floating offshore wind as a renewable energy source in the region. Information gathered from the research lease will inform responsible commercial floating offshore wind development in the future and allow BOEM and Maine to capitalize on innovative technology, while protecting local and national interests and industries.

As a research lease, Maine or its designated operator will propose and conduct research regarding environmental and engineering aspects of the proposed project. This information will be made public and used to inform future planning, permitting, and construction of commercial scale floating offshore wind projects in the region.   

Construction activity on the research array is not likely to occur for several years. The lessee is first required to submit a Research Activities Plan to BOEM, which will undergo environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. 

More information about the research lease can be found on  BOEM’s website . 

Secretary Haaland Applauds President Biden’s Designation of Springfield 1908 Race Riot National…

Biden-Harris Administration’s Central Atlantic Offshore Wind Lease Sale Yields Nearly $93 Million

Secretary Haaland Designates Texas Preserve as Nation’s Newest National Natural Landmark

Was this page helpful.

This page was not helpful because the content:

Please provide a comment

Last Published 8/23/24

Division of Academic Affairs

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Research and Sponsored Programs

Grant Life Cycle 

The Grant Life Cycle provides a brief overview of the research proposal process at Cal State Fullerton, from idea generation to proposal management. This is the starting point for understanding the policies and procedures of the Research Enterprise.

Step 1: Generate Ideas

Before you begin the proposal process, you need an idea. There are many aspects of a good idea that need to be considered. Here are some strategies for developing ideas that fit your career goals and a funding agency’s expectations.

Pre-Proposal Development

• Position Yourself for Success
• Set Your Goals
• Find Collaborators

Concept Development

• Develop a Concept Paper 
• Literature Review
• Get Feedback
• Refine your Idea

Step 2: Find Funding

Funding opportunities are available in a wide range of places, but you need to know where to look and how to determine which opportunities are right for your project. Here, you will find information on how to find funding opportunities for your specific project.

• How do I Start?
• Find Funding Opportunities 
• Limited Submission Opportunities

Step 3: Develop Proposals

Developing a proposal can be a lengthy and nuanced process. It involves following specific guidelines, putting together a research team, adhering to compliance requirements, justifying a budget, and more. The following links will provide you with information on the proposal preparation process.

Proposal Preparation and Submission

• Who is Eligible to be a Principal Investigator (PI)?
• Review Proposal Guidelines
• Assess Resources
• Proposal Timeline Policy 
• Proposal Components
• Develop your Budget 
• Proposal Development FAQs

Step 4: Submit Proposals

All proposals must be submitted through the university, following specific policies and requirements. Proposals cannot be submitted to agencies directly. The information in this section outlines the policies and procedures for submitting proposals.

• Pre-Submission Requirements/CAYUSE
• Proposal Submission
• Proposal Tracking 
• Post-Submission Requirements 
• Reviewers' Feedback/Resubmission

Step 5: Award Review

Once your proposal is submitted, the Office of Grants and Contracts remains the main contact point for administrative issues and award negotiation. After your award is accepted, it is managed by the Office of Sponsored Programs. Here you will find the policies and procedures of the award acceptance process.

Award Review and Acceptance

• Pre-acceptance Process
• Acknowledgement Form
• Negotiating Award Terms and Conditions  
• Award Review FAQs

Step 6: Manage Awards

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) manages all awards accepted by the university. Here you will find information on accessing your Sponsored Programs account, as well as the policies and forms regarding award management.

Managing Awards

mobile menu Menu

Lock Icon - login required Portal

Campus Wide Resources

on this page Page Topics

Search Icon Search

switch to light mode Dark Mode

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS. A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Search Awards
• Recent Awards
• Presidential and Honorary Awards
• About Awards
• How to Manage Your Award
• Grant General Conditions
• Cooperative Agreement Conditions
• Special Conditions
• Federal Demonstration Partnership
• Policy Office Website

Please report errors in award information by writing to: [email protected] .