This absolutely has to be the most convenient, well-timed thing on the planet.
MIT has a program known as “UROP” – Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program – which allowes undergrads to do research and such when it is usually reserved for graduate students.
Here’s a posting I found today.
Though granted that the technology will be a slight tiny bit more sophisticated than dear Snuffles, and probably infinitely more controllable, I think I may have a good head start…