Find your next undergraduate researcher!

Add your name to the Mentor Database!

check out the new mentor database

What is it?

This is a database of LSU faculty research mentor profiles. Students who are interested in research can use the database to learn more about the faculty member's research and what qualifications the faculty member is looking for in a student researcher. Students interested in getting involved in research will reach out to a listed faculty member by directly emailing them.

How do I use it?

To Create a Faculty Profile:

  • Go to the mentor database at this link or click the button at the top of the page
  • Click on 'Sign In' at the top right of the page and login with your LSU email
  • After logging in click on 'Create Faculty Profile'
  • Click the purple button that says  'Click here to create a Faculty Profile' at the right of the page
  • Fill in the form provided
  • Make sure to include any relevant information about your research and to link to your professional website. You can also let students know how you preferred to be contacted (email or phone)
  • Please wait a few business days while your profile is processed

To Edit or Delete a Faculty Profile:

  • Go to the mentor database at this link or click the button at the top of the page
  • Click on 'Sign In' at the top right of the page and login with your LSU email
  • After logging in click on 'Edit or Remove a Faculty Profile'
  • Click the purple button that says  'Click here to Edit or Remove a Faculty Profile' at the right of the page
  • Fill in the form provided
  • Please wait a few business days while your request is processed

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who do I contact for help with the database?
    • For technical assistance, please email us at lsudiscover@lsu.edu
    • You can also call our office Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at 225-578-8914
  • Do the students interested in undergraduate research contact the LSU Discover office or me?
    • Students are instructed to email the faculty member directly. LSU Discover does not contact the faculty for students, but we do offer them advice on how to write emails or approach faculty.  For students in the PFLR or Explorers programs, LSU Discover will contact faculty on their behalf, but these students are the exception. 
  • How much do students get paid per hour?
    • If you do not have the funding to pay a research student, that is okay. Many students volunteer their time or do research for credit hours (ex: independent study).  
    • If there is a way for you to pay your student researcher, the hourly rate is your decision and can depend on the student's experience and the available funding. The current minimum wage is $7.25/hour, but we strongly recommend that you pay a research student no less than $12.00/hour.  Please note: Students funded by an LSU Discover Project Grant must be paid a minimum of $15.00/hour.
  • The student interested in my research has Work Study, President’s Student Aid, or the President’s Future Leader’s in Research scholarship. Can they use that funding to work with me?
    • Yes! These forms of financial aid can be used to pay students for their time spent working with faculty.  You should speak to your departmental secretary or business coordinator to help set this up.  If there is no one in your department to assist you, contact the Student Employment Office at stuemployment@lsu.edu and they can assist you.      
  • How many hours per week do students have to work?
    • This will depend on the nature of the project, the student's experience, the student's course load, and you. Each research experience is unique. The maximum number of hours students are allowed to work on campus is 20 hours per week during the Fall/Spring and 40 hours per week during the summer (if they are not enrolled in classes). Mentors should work with the student to decide on an appropriate weekly schedule.
  • Does the LSU Discover keep track of the student researcher's hours or do I?
    • You, the faculty mentor or your office/lab coordinator, will have to keep track of the student researcher's hours.