Research

By: Team C

Transitioning into the first year of college can be challenging. Adjusting to your dorm room, meeting a lot of new people, juggling a new class schedule- everything is falling into place until someone mentions research. Have no fear, the word, and the work are not as scary as they seem! Team C is here to break down what research is, where to find it, and how to get involved.

Why do Research?

Research is an awesome way to get involved for many reasons and it's absolutely doable during your first year! Research can allow you to find a topic you’re interested in and delve much deeper into it. You don’t have to have your own idea on what to do, simply find a lab that has stuff you're interested in and you can work with an advisor on where to go from there. It’s a great way to explore potential career field ideas. If you find you like the stuff you’re working on, you’re already connected with the people in your lab to help you find more opportunities in the related field! It can also give you great hands-on experience or technical expertise in an area. Companies love to see you’re involved in more than just classes. Doing research can also give you the opportunity to be published! Whether it’s writing your own article or supplementing your advisor’s current project, it’s a great addition to any resume.

 

How Can I Get Involved?

There are plenty of ways to find research on campus. First, if one of your professors (for example, your MATH 140 or EDSGN 100 professor) does research that you’re interested in, ask them about it! It’s a great way to connect with your professor outside of their class and office hours. Additionally, they already know about your class schedule (especially since they’re a part of it), so the workload will be reasonable. Another bonus, if you ever need a recommendation for a position or scholarship, they will already see your work ethic in class and in your research- it’s a win-win! If your professor does not do research, or their topic is not of interest to you, there are plenty of other options out there.

Another way to find opportunities can be found on the undergraduate research website! There is a database where students can access all the different labs on campus and their details: https://urfm.psu.edu/research/undergraduate-research-opportunities-database. Here, all students have to do is fill out the search criteria (see image below), and a list of the labs and their point of contact will be listed! This is a great way to sort through the different labs, and also for you to see what’s out there. If there is one (or a few) that interest(s) you, reach out to the advisor through email!

Search Field for Undergraduate Research Database

            Female, first-year students have an additional way to get into research, and that is through the WISER program! The Women in STEM and Engineering Research Internship is a two-semester research internship through Penn State. During this internship you can collaborate with a research team, conduct experiments, and are mentored by faculty. This is a great way to get early hands-on experience in research including lab meetings, collecting and analyzing data, and working with high-tech instrumentation and software. Applications are available during the fall semester! To find out more and apply go to: https://urfm.psu.edu/resources/opportunities/women-stem-and-engineering-research-wiser-internship

Participant in WISER Program

(https://sites.psu.edu/paspacegrant/opportunities/scholarships/undergraduates-penn-state/wmf/)

How Do I Fit Research in My Schedule?

Research is a great way to get involved, but how do you fit it in your schedule? Here are some pro-tips from Team C:

1. Schedule blocks of time on your own to work on your research- treat it like a class. Whether you are doing research as a volunteer, for credit, etc.; scheduling time for research like a class can help you nail down a routine during your week
2. When working on your research: only work on your research. It may sound like common sense, but only focusing on your research will help you be more productive and less stressed. Working on homework or studying for an exam during your allotted research work-time defeats the purpose of your scheduled time. (Everyone gets sidetracked here and there- and that’s alright. Just try your best to stay focused :)). Being intentional with your time will help you focus and will reflect itself positively in your work.
3. Some labs have a set amount of hours to work per week, whereas others it depends on the work that week. Talk with your advisor and see what format fits your needs most.
4. Talk to your advisor if you need any help with workload/scheduling! Sometimes you’ll have 2 exams in a week, and need some extra time to study- your advisor will understand. Work with them to ease your load until you’re ready to take on the work again. Talking with them will not only ease your load, but it will reflect well to your advisor that you are communicating with them! 

As mentioned before, doing research is a great way to get involved on campus. Being a part of a research project can help you learn more about a topic/field of your interest, gain hands-on experience/training, and can help build your network. There are many ways to get involved, especially as a first-year student. Lastly, working in research to your schedule may seem challenging, but it is absolutely manageable. It’s never too early or too late to get into research- all you have to do is be curious, and put yourself out there!

 

Miss WorldWide

 Studying Abroad

By: Lead Team

Imagine being able to be in an exotic location while earning your degree. You do not need to imagine, because YOU CAN! Studying abroad is a great way to be able to experience the world while also going to school.

Penn State has amazing study abroad advisors that work for the college of engineering to help engineering students go abroad. There are a couple different types of study abroad trips you can take. There are programs run by Penn State professors, and there are also opportunities at different universities around the world. The types of programs available are Maymesters, which run for a couple weeks after school ends, semester-long that run the length of a semester, some maymesters that run for a couple months after the school year is over. I went on a Penn State maymester trip to Peru for 6 weeks after my freshman year. This was the perfect length for me because I was still able to complete an internship after my trip.

-          Technology Lead, Erin Anderson

Where should you go to start planning a study abroad program?

Now hopefully if you are interested in studying abroad, you are excited to start searching for a program at Penn State. There are a lot of opportunities and resources available to you as a student. A good resource is the Global Engineering Engagement website (global.engr.psu.edu). This website will allow you to start reading about different programs for engineers, how to fund your trip, and how to set up a meeting with a Global Engineering Fellow. The programs on this site will work well with our engineering schedules and have some great options if you start looking early!

Another good website to check out is global.psu.edu which has all the study abroad programs and more resources for students. This is a good place to do some reading and preparation to supplement the engineering website. If you are interested in another major or minor outside of engineering, this is where you could explore those options and get ahead with those courses.

-          Professional Development Lead, Renee Sollenberger

How can studying abroad benefit you?

If you haven’t heard it yet, you probably will very soon: Penn State wants to help you become a “world-class engineer”! In our connected world, there is a high need for globally-minded engineers who can communicate with international coworkers and design for a range of human needs and experiences. Spending time in another culture is one way you can develop those skills.

More tangibly, studying abroad can also help you build your resume and get noticed at the career fair. Recruiters value the communication skills and global perspectives an international experience provides, regardless of program type. Engineering-specific programs can also help you learn skills useful in a particular industry. My study abroad program included coursework and site visits related to automotive engineering, and those experiences sparked an interest that led me to an internship this summer with Ford Motor Company.

Another benefit comes from the coursework you can earn abroad. Although the course selection and number of credits varies by program, offerings exist for anything from gen eds to world languages to engineering electives. Some programs may count toward a certificate, minor, or even a double major! My program, for example, counted toward an International Engineering certificate and helped me start my German minor.

Finally, studying abroad will benefit you on a personal level. Living in an unfamiliar culture, practicing my German skills, and traveling both in groups and independently forced me to repeatedly step outside of my comfort zone...and that’s how you grow! I returned having learned a lot, but also feeling like a more confident and capable person.

- Engineering Design Lead, Abbie Wagner ("Engineers Made in Germany,” summer 2019)

How to get the most out of your study abroad experience?

Choose a place that gets you out of your comfort zone! When choosing a study abroad, especially if you are looking to improve your language skills, choose an unconventional place. One of the main reasons I chose Peru was because I wanted to be immersed in a Spanish-speaking culture. I lived with a host family who only spoke Spanish and my skills improved tremendously. Going into the experience, I was worried I would be too rusty and it wouldn’t click. However, in the end, I felt immersed within the community and culture. I made local friends, became a regular at some local spots, and ultimately felt at home. No matter where you go, you will be okay and succeed!! Don’t be afraid to take a big leap and try something new.

Go on adventures! On a study abroad, and just like college, TIME FLIES. Take up every opportunity and prioritize becoming a well-rounded traveler. You will regret the things you don’t do, not the ones you do. When in Peru, we took an impromptu weekend trip south to Ica and Paracas. We had the opportunity to sandboard and buggy in a vast desert AND see Humboldt penguins in the Pacific ocean. This ended up being one of my absolute favorite memories and a highlight of my trip. The money aspect can sometimes seem intimidating, but it is worth it! You have once in a lifetime opportunities that you might not have the chance to embrace again. 

Journal and take a lot of pictures! Embrace each and every moment and capture it in some form. I loved to journal the little things and wins throughout the trip. I also look back to all the fun pictures I took and reminisce on my amazing experiences. After my trip, I put together a scrapbook that I saved bus tickets, wristbands, coins, etc to include. It is now one of my most cherished possessions. When you graduate and adjust into the real world, you aren’t going to remember the homework you did, but all the fun experiences you had!

 

-Success Strategies Lead, Juliana Redisi