| Student News :: Spotlight |
Undergraduate Research"Have a general sense of what area you want to study," says Alex Bastian, past presenter at the Undergraduate Research Conference, "but work with the faculty member to narrow your focus to a specific topic. Take initiative in searching for grants to fund your research or for places to present it; this will show the faculty member you are serious about what you are doing." Bastian says he had approached the faculty member who guided his research and honors thesis by going to his office hours. "I had taken a couple classes from him," Bastian says, "and had gone to his office hours maybe once or twice before, but didn't have much extensive contact. Our areas of interest overlapped and that's probably why he was willing to take me on." Research experience can give students a competitive edge for corporate summer internships and jobs. In addition, when it comes time to get letters of recommendation for graduate or professional school, you have an established relationship with a faculty member who knows your work. Pre-med student Nason Pourrahimi found a faculty member to work with by browsing through a binder kept in the Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior department office that lists vacant research positions. "I e-mailed professors whose projects sounded interesting," he says. "I set up an interview and was eventually accepted." His advice for students who want to research with a faculty member: "Be assertive and passionate!" Catherine Cox looked on the chemistry department's Web site and found a faculty member to work with. "It doesn't hurt to ask faculty members if you can work in their labs. In some certain cases they won't be able to take on an undergraduate, but a good percentage of them are willing to at least give you a shot. It may sound scary to meet with them, and a lot of people are worried that they are under qualified and they haven't completed enough of their coursework to be of any use in the lab. Faculty members don't expect you to walk into their lab already knowing exactly what you are doing. You will get trained and given papers to read on the subject matter." Paul Burow, environmental science and policy major, comments. "Finding a faculty member to work with is just like finding a job. You need to go out and seek a faculty advisor. Success is a function of the time you are willing to put into it—just like class. If you go out and ask faculty members if you can help them on a research project, you will find someone. It just takes a little perspiration and plenty of patience." |