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8. Research, Lab & Competitions

How to join research, get into a lab, and compete β€” ways to gain experience beyond the classroom.

How to join a lab​

  • Find a lab that matches your direction (e.g. ACLAB for robotics / embedded / edge AI / IoT).
  • Read up on the lab's research first; prepare the basics (Git, your main language, tools).
  • Reach out through official channels; send a short email with your GitHub/CV (see Career Preparation).
  • Once in: follow Member Onboarding and Lab Rules & Safety.

Research vs project-based learning​

  • Project-based learning: build a product with clear deliverables β€” fast results, great for portfolio and jobs.
  • Research: ask open questions, read papers, experiment, publish β€” best if you aim for a master's/PhD.
  • The two reinforce each other; you can start with a project and move toward research.

Research skills​

  • Reading papers: read the abstract β†’ figures/tables β†’ conclusion first, then the details; note "problem – method – result – limitations".
  • Writing reports: follow Goal β†’ Method β†’ Result β†’ Discussion; see How to document a project.
  • Poster & demo: one main message, clear figures, a working demo; practice presenting in 3–5 minutes.

Competitions​

  • Robotics β€” on- and off-campus robot competitions.
  • AI / Data β€” AI hackathons, Kaggle-style competitions.
  • Innovation β€” e.g. BΓ‘ch Khoa Innovation: INNOTECH.
  • CTF / Security β€” for the security direction.

How to find and build a team​

  • Find teammates with complementary skills (e.g. one backend, one AI, one frontend/communicator).
  • Agree on a Git workflow and assign roles early.
  • Each member owns a part and can demo their own part.