How to find research opportunities in area of interest? [D]

Im an undergraduate studying CS at a state school in the US. I’m interested in researching a specific style of self supervised learning (JEPA) and want to eventually go to grad school to study further. I have experience working in a lab similar to this topic, and I’ve become fairly comfortable with the literature and have a basic understanding of what its going on, but right now km only doing applied research in a specific domain (physics).

I hope to eventually go to grad school to study this. But right now my opportunities are kinda limited as my school’s CS department is pretty mid. I was wondering if y’all have any advice on how to approach things?

I know i can perform research independently but its not ideal due to:
1. Limited compute, less resources compared to a proper lab
2. Lack of a supervisor/guidance on the nuances of the field

My current lab would be supportive if i do try to do things, but pure ml research is not really their main thing.
I’ve heard people do REUs or cold email profs. But Im not sure if i could find something that specifix in an reu (also am international). And the labs i have seen working in this are either private or quite prestigious so im not sure how far cold emailing would take me. Sorry for the long post.

Tldr; want to do pure ml research but theres no existing lab/professor at my current school who does something similar, wondering if any other pathways exist

Any advice would be appreciated thanks