Pick who you are and read the answers written for you.
Questions faculty ask
How much time does this take?
Your choice of one 15-minute call or a five-minute form. After that you only meet students we have already screened
What does it cost?
Nothing. Research Reach is free for faculty
What do you screen students for?
Every student is checked against what your lab asked for. We look at major, year in school, research interests, hours a week, class schedule, the kind of work they want, how long they can stay, paid or for credit and past experience
How many students will you send?
As many as you ask for, and only the ones who are a real fit
Do I have to take a student you introduce?
No. An introduction is only that. You meet the student and you decide who joins your lab
Who can see what my lab is looking for?
Only our team. What your lab needs is never published and students cannot browse it
Is there a portal to learn or a login to keep up?
No portal and no login. Introductions arrive in your inbox as an email
Which departments can join?
Every department. There is no limit on fields. Research Reach is built to work across all of them, and our biggest goal is to bring every department at IU on board
Questions chairs ask
What does the department need to do?
One conversation with our team. After that each lab joins on its own with a 15-minute call or a five-minute form
How does a department start?
We begin with the labs ready to take students this semester, then open it to every lab in the department
How much time does it give back?
About 60 hours a semester for each lab. Across a department of 50 labs that is about 3,000 hours a semester
Does our staff have to run anything?
No. There is no portal, no login and nothing to install. Our team does the screening and makes each introduction
Which labs can join?
Every lab in every field. Research Reach is built to work across all departments
How do you handle student information?
We handle all student information with FERPA and other privacy protections in mind, and every lab signs a mutual data sharing and confidentiality agreement with us. Student information stays private and is kept in a secure database
Where is Research Reach running today?
At IU Bloomington, with 4 labs this fall 2026 and more than 100 students signed up
Questions students ask
Does it cost anything to apply?
Not a thing. Research Reach is completely free for students
What do I need to apply?
Five minutes and your IU email. The profile asks about your major, year, research interests, weekly hours, the kind of work you want and how long you hope to stay in a lab
Do I need research experience to apply?
No, research experience is not necessary at all. If you have some, that is a plus, but we look at many things beyond it, like your interests, your schedule and how long you hope to stay in a lab
I’m a freshman. Is it too early to apply?
Not at all. Faculty told us they love training students early, so your first year is a great time to start
Who will see my profile?
Only our team and the lab we introduce you to. Your profile is never posted for anyone to browse
What happens after I submit?
We check your profile against what each lab is looking for and email you when there is a match. There is nothing to do in between
Does applying get me a spot in a lab?
We introduce you to a lab that fits what you are looking for. From there the lab makes the final call, and we will be rooting for you
Still have a question
Write to us and our team will answer.
Email our team