This assay presents some of the reflections on formative research and student research training, done by the author who is trying to clarify the differences between these two terms, and demonstrating the contributions that such processes are making to student formation at Colombian universities. These processes, called «student research seedbeds», provide opportunities to the students that get involved in an ongoing research. This has become as an important pedagogical strategy to teach and learn how to do research, which is an aspect of great interest in undergraduate university formation. In this sense, this writing considers the concepts previously mentioned, and the role that seed projects play in research early formation.