If you are interested in research, you should be proactive: read through the website or recent publications of research groups you are interested in, contact the research advisor (or members of their lab) to let them know that you are interested in joining their lab, and seek out funded opportunities (see "Looking for Funding?" section below). See below for some additional tips on how to navigate this process.

1. Timing is Everything: Whether you're applying to a graduate program or seeking out your first undergraduate research experience, reach out early! For undergraduate students, reach about 4-6 weeks before the beginning of the term you want to start doing research. For prospective graduate students, reach out when you are applying (between October-December) to indicate that you are interested in their lab.
2. Be Sure to Follow Up : If you don't receive a response, be sure to follow up once or twice—giving ~3 weeks in between outreach attempts.
3. Don't Get Discouraged: If you don't get a response for a research advisor, don't take it personally. Research advisors are juggling a lot, and so it's common for emails to slip through the cracks. That's why timing and follow-ups are important—you to contact them right at the moment they have the bandwidth to think about bringing new members into their lab.
4. Don't Put All of Your Eggs in One Basket: There's an element of serendipity when it comes to finding a research opportunities. To improve your odds, you should seek out multiple opportunities simultaneously. However, it's important to be transparent with your prospective research advisor(s) so that they can plan accordingly as well.