<p>Well, since you are doing mechanical engineering, your research will probably be in mechanical engineering. Unless it is extremely important to start research freshman year, I would wait until you get a taste of the different engineering classes and what it’s like to work with the material. Then, if you think you might like to do research in that area, ask the professor or ask the department head if there are other professors doing research in those areas. </p>
<p>Mechanical research often integrates well with electrical engineering research and biomedical research, which you might not get a taste of too early in your undergrad education, so try studying those outside of your class if you think you might want to research in mechatronics or biomed</p>