Why do undergraduate research?
Undergraduate research can be a transformative experience, count towards your major requirements, and give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs or graduate school. To make the most out of your research experience, review our advice below:
I: Begin early
Research laboratories are very different than what you experience in the classroom. Depending upon the project, it could take several months before you are able to independently collect data independently. If you want to publish your research or present at Scholarship Sewanee, you may need several semesters to gain the scientific background and technical experience to achieve your goals.
II: Commit
Research requires commitment, drive, and resilience. Your experience as an undergraduate researcher can provide graduate or professional school search committees and prospective employers direct evidence of your capacity to commit to and complete a long-term goal. As such, minimize switching between projects and laboratories.
III: Prioritize
Is completing a research project, presenting your data, or co-authoring a paper one of your main goals? If so, you'll need to demonstrate this by how you schedule your time. Though lab- and project-dependent, a minimum of 4-6 hours per week is typically necessary for high-quality and productive research experiences.
IV: Own it
As the researcher, you have the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the success of your project. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to demonstrate your independence! To be successful, you'll need to keep up with the literature related to your project, plan your week/semester efficiently, and collect data carefully and accurately.
What is the next step?
We deeply value working with students, but have limited resources and time. Therefore, we encourage you to reach out to professors you may want to work with, but make sure in your email you include a few sentences telling the professor why you want to perform research with them and what most interests you about their research. Unsure who to ask? Review our research interests on our faculty website.
