Should i do undergraduate research

As an undergraduate, you have the freedom to change your major and your future plans. Make sure to strike a balance between reading and conducting experiments. Set specific goals for yourself and let your mentors know.

Think about what you want from your research and how much time you are willing to put in. Besides learning the techniques, do you want to learn how to analyse results and design experiments? Do you want to learn how to write proposals by applying for undergraduate research grants?

Do you want to improve your presentation skills by going to conferences? Do you want to potentially finish a project for publication? Working out what you want to achieve will help you to direct your time effectively. Research takes time. Science is about failing and trying again. Getting used to and coping with frustration is part of the learning curve of research. Find a healthy balance. University is already a lot of work, and research will only take up more time.

When planning your schedule, try to allocate large blocks of time whole afternoons or individual days to research. Rushing through a procedure could be unsafe and will often produce useless results. Always plan extra time for experiments. Talk to your mentor about your schedule and feelings regularly, so that you can arrange experiments at times that suit you, and you can keep on top of your mental health. Find financial support. If you wish to do research at your own institution over the summer, your institution might offer funding to cover your expenses.

Universities, foundations and academic societies might also offer grants to cover your travel expense to various conferences. Talk to senior students or professors, or search online to find all the opportunities!

Always think about the big picture. Keep reading and taking classes outside your comfort zone. Explore and learn as much as possible.

Working out what you love is the best preparation you can get for the rest of your career. This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged.

Work closely with a faculty mentor and have the opportunity to connect with other faculty and other student researchers who work in your area of interest.

Hone your leadership and teamwork skills as you collaborate with others. Gain academic credentials that will help create a well-rounded resume, publishing your work and working with a research team. Learn valuable life skills for life and class such as professionalism, time management, learning how to use online research tools.

Learn valuable skills for life and class professionalism, time management, multi-tasking, online research tools. Learn to effectively communicate your ideas and how to analyze and critique the work of others. Assisting in research gives you hands-on experience in your field. You gain a deeper understanding of the scientific process You can get paid. Sometimes as an employee and sometimes as a scholarship You can publish your work.

If you help a faculty member they will mention your work, or you An excellent opportunity to develop relationships with faculty members who work in your area of interest and make connections with other students working on research. Green designed a large poster representing her research and, in a session lasting 90 minutes, explained it one-on-one to attendees. She talked about the process and her policy recommendations not only to policymakers and people from the clean car industry, but also to others who were unfamiliar with the topic.

Based on her success in that venue, Green represented UC Davis at showcase in Los Angeles earlier in April for alumni, donors, regents and other friends of the University of California. A graduate from UC Davis, she credits her participation in undergraduate research as foundational to where she is today.

As a freshman, Fu heard others talking about research and sought out the Undergraduate Research Center on campus for more information. Annaliese Franz, associate professor of chemistry and faculty director of the Undergraduate Research Center , sees students experience the joy of discovery and creation through research.

And Green, who did the research on the clean-car rebate program, discovered a new power. Julia Ann Easley of News and Media Relations supports communication and writes stories at the heart of the university. Her career includes a noble cause, adventures in learning, working with wonderful people and a beautiful green setting. Subscribe to our majors blog.