Get paid to do real research

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Why research experience is worth your time

A degree teaches you what is already known. Research teaches you how to discover
something nobody knows yet. Spending eight weeks inside a working research group is one
of the most valuable things you can do as an undergraduate.

You will learn to turn a research question into a plan to test it, work with real data and its
imperfections, and talk about your findings with researchers. Students who have done this
consistently tell us it changed how they think about their degree, and it is exactly the
experience that makes an application for honours or a higher degree by research stand out.

You will also be paid $4,000 for it.

Eligibility

You can apply if you are currently a Curtin second-year student and are likely to have
completed 400 credits by the end of 2026, and you currently have a course weighted
average of 65 or above. No prior research experience is expected: supervisors are looking
for curiosity, reliability and genuine interest in the topic, not a track record. If you don’t fit this
eligibility requirement you can ask the supervisor and see what they say.

Projects are available across every discipline, so browse widely. Some will be close to your
own major; others may open a direction you had not considered.

What’s involved

Every project is different, but each one is built around the same core: a clear problem, a
research question to test, techniques to learn, and a result to work towards. Over the eight
weeks you can expect to:

• work alongside your supervisor and their research group on a defined piece of work
• learn and use the specific techniques, instruments or analytical methods the project
requires
• collect, handle and interpret data, and understand why the method matters.
• contribute to a real research outcome, and be able to explain it to someone else at the
end.

This is a paid placement rather than a full-time job, so you and your supervisor will agree a
clear pattern of work and a realistic set of tasks before you begin.

How to apply

Step 1: Browse the projects

Go to the project catalogue, ensuring that the project type is set to “Undergraduate
Student Experience” and search or browse what’s available.
Each listing includes the problem being investigated, the hypothesis, the techniques you will
learn, the outcome anticipated and the supervisor’s contact details.

Step 2: Pick two or three that genuinely interest you

Choose on the basis of the question and the skills you will gain. Research the topic online
before you make contact.

Step 3: Email the academic directly

There is no central application form – you contact the supervisor yourself. In a short,
professional email, include: your name, student ID, degree and year; which project you are
writing about; why that project interests you; any relevant units, skills or experience; and
your availability across the eight weeks. Attach a brief CV and your academic record if you
have them ready.

Step 4: Talk it through

Supervisors will usually invite you to meet or speak before deciding. Come with questions:
what would my weeks look like, what will I learn, where will I be based, what does success
look like at the end? This conversation is the selection process: treat it as you would an
interview.

Step 5: Get confirmed

If the supervisor offers you the placement, they will confirm it with the program administrator
and your position is locked in. Places are filled in the order they are confirmed and there are
only 100, so do not sit on a project you are excited about. You will need to provide your bank
details for payment at this time.

Step 6: Get paid

You are paid in weekly instalments. Your supervisor confirms your attendance and
engagement at both points, so turn up, communicate, and let them know early if something
gets in the way.

Expressing your interest

• Describe to the supervisor what drew you to the project.
• Be honest about what you do and do not know. Nobody expects a second-year student
to have done research before.
• Be reliable from the first email: reply promptly, arrive on time, and follow through on what
you agree.
• Apply early. Places are confirmed in order until all 100 are taken

Key dates

Questions?

Contact Caroline Albury at EA-DVCR@curtin.edu.au