Doing Research at a Research University
This article is a technical as well as an anecdotal guide for undergraduates looking to do research with their professors at UC Santa Barbara. I do not need to stress the importance of undergraduate research because I believe that most students coming into a research university like UCSB know that research is this campus’ primary function. Not only does collaborative research aid humanity on its quest towards truth, having some undergraduate research experience under your belt improves your post-graduation prospects, whether it be pursuing employment or a graduate degree. In fact, in the UCSB Graduate Division guide for writing a graduate school statement of purpose, one of the questions to consider was: “Do you have other experience or characteristics that prepares you for graduate study? (preparation and aptitude; research experience)”.
The first thing you need to know is the various resources open to Gauchos that promote research. Check my article at The Bottom Line for a more comprehensive overview, but the main ones are:
Based on my personal experience, the FRAP has been the best resource for me—it is where I got in touch with a professor who I have worked with for the past two years. My work started when I sent the professor an email and he promptly sent back some work to be done. However, you need to keep in mind that not all professors are open to collaboration, and not all professors will respond simply because you emailed them. In addition, not all departments are the same; whereas it is quite easy to find research opportunities in the Humanities, the same cannot be said for a competitive department such as Engineering. Just like hunting for a job, this process requires persistence.
Another thing that you should consider is how you conduct yourself. For example, your correspondence with the professor must be professional and sincere. Refer to this blog to see how to write a proper email; a nice and neat email goes a long way to show the professor that you have strong attention to detail. Moreover, another key aspect of how professors make their hiring decisions is based on your skills. Do your current skills and knowledge match the project’s needs? Are you a fast learner? Are you a hard worker? Will they regret hiring you? Consider these questions and try to persuade the professor that you are the right person for the job.
To close, I will mention that to professors, striking a good balance between teaching and research is a tricky thing. In a survey examining the relationship between research and teaching at Queen’s College, Shelley King stated that “‘the split between our work as teachers and our work as scholars,’ adding that ‘ “My work” usually means research and writing as opposed to work in the classroom or service to department or university.’” As a result, do not feel discouraged when you get rejections from professors; they are also having a hard time balancing their professional obligations with their research interests. Just keep at it and soon you will find a mentor that will forever change your life.
The first thing you need to know is the various resources open to Gauchos that promote research. Check my article at The Bottom Line for a more comprehensive overview, but the main ones are:
- Faculty Research Assistance Program (FRAP): “a directory which provides information about faculty currently involved in research and the prerequisites needed to participate in the projects.” Use this to find professors who are open to collaboration, get their emails, and send them a nice message!
- Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities (URCA): “the grant provides undergraduate students conducting independent research projects or creative activities a maximum award of $750 dollars per project.” Apply to this if you are looking to do an independent project that requires funding. The
- Undergraduate Research Colloquium: An annual exhibition of research done by students using the URCA grant. This is a great opportunity for you to showcase your work and potentially get noticed by professors who want to collaborate. Remember that one of the key factors in getting a professor to want to work with you is showing your diligence.
- Office Hours: One of the tried and true methods of getting your professors to trust you with their research is to show diligence in class. If you are that one kid who always is involved in class, gets good grades, and goes to office hours, then chances are that your professors will respond positively when you ask for collaboration. Remember to confirm first that the professor is actually doing research and is looking for help!
Based on my personal experience, the FRAP has been the best resource for me—it is where I got in touch with a professor who I have worked with for the past two years. My work started when I sent the professor an email and he promptly sent back some work to be done. However, you need to keep in mind that not all professors are open to collaboration, and not all professors will respond simply because you emailed them. In addition, not all departments are the same; whereas it is quite easy to find research opportunities in the Humanities, the same cannot be said for a competitive department such as Engineering. Just like hunting for a job, this process requires persistence.
Another thing that you should consider is how you conduct yourself. For example, your correspondence with the professor must be professional and sincere. Refer to this blog to see how to write a proper email; a nice and neat email goes a long way to show the professor that you have strong attention to detail. Moreover, another key aspect of how professors make their hiring decisions is based on your skills. Do your current skills and knowledge match the project’s needs? Are you a fast learner? Are you a hard worker? Will they regret hiring you? Consider these questions and try to persuade the professor that you are the right person for the job.
To close, I will mention that to professors, striking a good balance between teaching and research is a tricky thing. In a survey examining the relationship between research and teaching at Queen’s College, Shelley King stated that “‘the split between our work as teachers and our work as scholars,’ adding that ‘ “My work” usually means research and writing as opposed to work in the classroom or service to department or university.’” As a result, do not feel discouraged when you get rejections from professors; they are also having a hard time balancing their professional obligations with their research interests. Just keep at it and soon you will find a mentor that will forever change your life.
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