Few of the students profiled below started college with the idea that they’d soon be working side by side with professors and PhD candidates. But where their academic curiosity led, opportunities followed—and many were surprised to find what doors opened to them when they took initiative and moved their exploration beyond the classroom. For NYU undergraduates interested in research, gaining this kind of experience—in the field, the lab, or the studio—can take several forms, ranging from assisting a faculty or grad student mentor to embarking on independent projects and even co-authoring publications
