Introduction toUndergraduate Research

Presented by:

Tiffany Pan,

Graduate Staff AssistantUndergraduate Research Program

SPA Research Night

  

UW is a Research Institution

What does research look like?

Faculty in all disciplines do research but approach it in different ways

Last year, UW received over $1,500,000,000 in grants and contracts for research

What does undergraduate research look like?

It depends…

Working with faculty and other mentors

Usually unpaid (option for academic credit)

Funding opportunities (e.g. scholarships, work study)

Usually ~2-3 quarter commitment

Year-round and summer research experiences

Sharing your work

Undergraduate Research Symposium

May 15, 2015 in Mary Gates HallApplication Deadline: February!

Why do undergrad research?With research, you can…• Direct your learning experience • Apply your coursework to real-world problems• Learn how to develop researchable questions• Develop problem-solving skills and resourcefulness

• Contribute to the creation of new knowledge

• Receive one-on-one faculty mentoring• Explore opportunities in a field• Prepare for graduate or professional school • Add an accomplishment to enhance your resume• Reduce the size of the university

Are you ready for research?You need to have:

Strong interest in subject

Willingness to take intellectual risks

Ability to work hard

Commitment of time to research

Basic skill set within the discipline *

Perseverance

How can the URP help?

Planning for undergraduate research

Identifying faculty mentors and projects

Contacting and communicating with faculty

Assisting with funding resources

Workshops on presentations, abstract writing, poster design

Presenting student work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium

What do you LIKE?

washington.edu/undergradresearch/

Other places to find opportunities

Department advisers/email lists

Department websites

Past Symposium participantshttp://www.washington.edu/undergradresearch/symposium/past-symposia/

Professors/TAs/friends/networking!

What do I do when I find something I am interested in?1a. Do your homework

1b. Prepare your résumé/CV

2. Set up a face-to-face meeting (via a short email)

3. Ask questions!

4. Ask if there are opportunities available

(5. Network)

Summer ResearchFull-time research immersion opportunity

Make connections & check out programs for graduate study

Often fully funded

Deadlines: late Jan/early Feb

URP Workshops

www.washington.edu/undergradresearch/summer/

$cholarships and Awards forUndergraduate Research

Mary Gates Endowment Research Scholarships http://exp.washington.edu/mge/

Library Research Award www.lib.washington.edu/researchAward

Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Awardswww.washington.edu/undergradresearch/students/funding/urcta/

Other fundinghttp://exp.washington.edu/urp/students/funding/

To Learn More…Check out year-round and summer research opportunities on

our website: www.washington.edu/undergradresearch/

Attend workshops, info sessions, and 1:1 advising with URP:Winter Quarter Drop-In Advising:

Tuesday, 2:00-4:00pmWednesday, 10:00am -12:00pm

Attend (& volunteer for) the Undergraduate Research Symposium!

TALK to advisers, faculty (go to office hours!), and friends