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!