Are you ready to take your learning out of the classroom? Do you want to follow your own interests and work on related projects? Maybe it's time to consider doing research. Whether your field of study is neuroscience or the social sciences, undergraduate research can be an enriching and valuable experience.
Benefits
Undergraduate research can help motivate students to further pursue their area of interest. "It's very useful to actually work on a project and know exactly what that type of research is like," says Justin, a graduate student at Cornell University who did undergraduate research with liquid crystals. "It gave me a solid foundation and inspiration to do the master's in engineering. It also gave me a lot of useful laboratory skills."
For James Burkhardt, a graduate of UCLA, his undergraduate research on Latino community formation in LA got him his job as a field deputy for an LA city council. "My research experience helped me develop my writing skills and understand public policy and politics," Burkhardt says.
"What Kind of Research Can I Do?"
Although the options are limitless, there are two common avenues:
- Independent research. Many schools offer the opportunity to design and execute your own research projects, either as an independent study course or as part of a school-wide research program. To find an appropriate project, pick a subject that you're passionate about and explore what's been done in the past. Discuss ideas and potential projects with your professors. They can help you design a manageable project and plan how you're going to complete it.
- Assist professors and university staff. Some professors have extensive research projects that require dozens of people to assist, including undergraduates. Opportunities like this help you develop a sense of "belonging," or "rite of passage" into your chosen discipline. Research of this nature can also provide valuable networking experiences. But don't expect to be splitting the atom on your first project. "In some labs, it's hard for an undergraduate to do truly independent research, but they can help and observe," says Barbara Knowlton, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Getting Guidance
The key to undergraduate research is finding a professor or faculty member who will assist you. To find the best mentor, follow three steps: 1) identify your potential mentors, 2) learn about their background and interests and 3) contact your best prospects.
To identify potential mentors, check out who's available on your campus. Start by seeking information and advice from teachers whose courses you've enjoyed. Attend lectures in areas that interest you. Check departmental Web sites for faculty research interests and publications. Find out which faculty members have supervised undergraduate research in the past. Teaching assistants can be great sources of information.
Once you've assembled a list of potential resources, learn something about the faculty member's area of interest. This will help you ask intelligent questions and justify why you have come to this particular person.
Your next step is to contact potential mentors. "The best way to do this is to knock on doors and talk to professors," Justin says. "Professors love talking about their own research." Remember to be persistent. "Even if you swing and miss the first time, you shouldn't be afraid to go right down the hallway and find someone else," Justin says.
Getting Funding
Funding for undergraduate research can be tricky, but it's not impossible. Organizations like the Council on Undergraduate Research help undergraduate students in all settings of science, mathematics, and engineering education find funding for research. Your professors or department heads can also be good resources.
Getting Credit
One you've found a project, talk to the department head about getting credit for your work. There may be an official program that covers undergraduate research. Or you might need to set up an independent study. You might even use it as work-study or as part of a grant that either you or a professor has won.
Keep in mind that earning an "A" for your independent study doesn't mean your research has to be successful from initiation to publishable conclusion. "Your final grade is based more on how you work through the data on the research, and how you interpret your research," Justin says.
Research can enhance your undergraduate experience by allowing you to take the skills you have learned and apply them to real situations. No matter where your academic interests lie, undergraduate research is well worth considering.
Add to:
