The many and diverse demands on faculty at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) are such that any research endeavors undertaken must be efficient and beneficial to both students and faculty. Sustaining faculty productivity into midcareer and beyond thus requires careful consideration of strategic approaches and processes. For this reason, faculty should be aware of the potential pitfalls associated with certain situations that any undergraduate project may succumb to and that lessen the likelihood that the research experience will be productive for both faculty and students. Some of these situations are examined in this article.