The Department of Political Science’s Undergraduate Research Program gives students the chance to move beyond the classroom and contribute directly to cutting-edge scholarship. Through hands-on research alongside faculty and graduate mentors, undergraduates gain practical skills while tackling real-world political questions.

Through the program, undergraduates contribute directly to original scholarship, build methodological skills, and see how political science research is developed from initial questions to published findings. One recent participant, Ana’Karen Moreno-Flores, exemplifies how the program helps students connect academic training with real-world policy questions.

Moreno-Flores has been working with Devin Brown, a PhD candidate in the department, on a project led by Hagler Fellow Dr. Beth Simmons from the University of Pennsylvania examining the determinants of U.S.–Mexico border security policy and how those policies diffuse internationally. The project traces the evolution of border security since the early 2000s by analyzing firms that hold major federal contracts, emphasizing how corporate perspectives shape definitions of national security threats and needs. Moreno-Flores’s role centers on conducting in-depth case studies of companies contracting with the Department of Homeland Security. Through this work, she has developed strong data analysis skills by reviewing annual reports and press releases related to border security and national defense—skills she is eager to apply after graduation, particularly in fields such as law and behavioral economics.

Reflecting on the experience, Moreno-Flores emphasizes that undergraduate research offers a “behind the scenes” view of the academic work students encounter in their courses. Participating in research allows students to actively apply concepts from political science and related disciplines, moving beyond treating published findings as unquestioned conclusions. She also credits the POLS curriculum for preparing her for this work, noting that repeated exposure to both qualitative and quantitative research in her classes helped her understand how to connect evidence to research questions and hypotheses. That foundation, she says, enables her to analyze firms’ public interactions in ways that meaningfully contribute to the broader study on border security and national defense.

Students interested in applying for future semesters should visit https://bush.tamu.edu/research/ and contact Dr. Todd Kent, Director of Undergraduate Studies, at toddkent@tamu.edu with any questions.