"Undergraduate research is a comprehensive curricular innovation and major reform in contemporary American undergraduate education and scholarship. Its central premise is the formation of a collaborative enterprise between student and faculty member-most often one mentor and one burgeoning scholar but sometimes (particularly in the social and natural sciences) a team of either or both" (NCUR)

Working on scholarly or creative projects with a faculty member is an opportunity for you to get out of the classroom and become actively involved in creating knowledge and new meaning within a field of study. 

This hands-on approach allows you to "get to do it," instead of just learning about it.  Not only that, it is typically hard work, fun, and very satisfying. This type of study in not only a great experience, but it provides crucial preparation for both graduate school and the work world.

 

What will I learn?

You will learn many things.  You will learn not only about the specific content area you are researching, but also important skills such as:

• How to pose an important question in your field

• How to design a research plan or an approach to answering the question

• How to collect and analyze data, or analyze texts or other information to test your  hypothesis or support your argument

• How to communicate the results of your work through poster and oral presentations and papers

• How to work collaboratively with a faculty mentor and/or other student colleagues

You are also likely to increase your self-confidence in your ability to carry out a major project, and recognize whether or not post-graduate research (graduate school) is for you.

Whether you immediately enter full-time employment or go onto graduate studies, experiencing in-depth research scholarship will help you. The research and presentations that you will be engaged in will help to build impressive resumes and facilitate your acceptance and transition into graduate school.

Both prospective employers and graduate schools recognize that students who have this kind of experience are better prepared than many of their peers. Often student researchers have opportunities to make presentations at professional meetings, co-author papers, and produce other published or juried products.

First of all, research is for students who want to experience growth and learning by doing a project. Consequently, you should be prepared to make some serious commitments.

No two projects are alike, however, some activities/attributes are common to most or all projects.  You need to:

• Be self-motivated and work on the project consistently.

• Meet deadlines.

• Communicate often with your advisor/collaborator and any other project participants and be clear on your role in the project.

• Read the literature of the discipline related to your project. Visit the Jim Dan Hill Library or our Journal Section.

• Think deeply and creatively about your project.

• Produce a presentation on the results of your project, typically a poster but perhaps also an oral presentation, paper, a performance or a show, or some combination of these.

• Enjoy the project for the intellectual stimulation and sense of accomplishment it provides.

You need to budget sufficient time to work on the project.  Two ways to plan for this time are:

• Take fewer course credits in a semester and take directed studies or research credits in their place.

• Seek funding in the form of a stipend or work study so that you can cut back on hours worked at other jobs.

• Plan to work on the project over the summer months and/or during semester breaks when your schedule may be easier. The McNair Scholars program offers summer research opportunities.
  

Getting involved is as easy as:

• Visiting department web sites or the internet resources of affiliated schools to to look for listings of available research projects and internships.

• Asking a faculty member whose class you take for feedback on your classroom work; they may observe that you have the potential to work independently, and invite you to participate.

• Learning of projects from more senior classmates who are doing research, or from faculty presentations, and ask the collaborating professor if you may join the project.

• Talking directly to professors in your department about research opportunities-many have topics and need your help.

• Developing your own idea for a scholarly or creative project based on class activities such as reading, research for class assignments, or in-class discussions;  approach a faculty member you think would make a good advisor for that project.
  
  
• Review Scholarly Journals who's focus is Undergraduate Research.
  
  

Be sure to:  

Review the undergraduate grant guidelines and deadlines and start preparing your proposal.



 

What knowledge and skills do I need?

You do not necessarily have to be far along in your major to become involved.  Some projects require a lot of content knowledge, but for others you can learn what you need to know during the research project.

The most important attributes you need to be successful are:

• Interest and intellectual engagement in the project

• Open communication with your collaborator(s)

• A work ethic that makes you a dependable partner in the project

• An ability to see the project to the end and produce a final product, be it a poster or oral presentation or an artistic performance

• An optimistic and positive attitude!

View related scholarships or review the Resources Page for possible funding sources.

There are several opportunities provided students to present their research. Seniors are required to make capstone presentations which are coordinated by their professors and major departments and generally take place in the fall or spring.

UW-System Affiliate school, UW-Whitewater, has put together some helpful tips for making presentation posters.

External Opportunities

National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR ): Undergraduates nationwide showcase their creative and scholarly research at this annual event held on a university or college campus.

Posters in the Rotunda (UW-System):an annual event where UW undergraduates share their research with legislators, state leaders, and UW alumni and supporters in the Capitol Rotunda in Madison, Wisconsin. Held each Spring.

UW-System Symposium:  UW System undergraduates showcase their scholarly and creative accomplishments at this annual event held on a UW System campus.

There are numerous other opportunities; Be sure to talk to your professors or advisor.

There are several national journals that provide opportunities for students to share their undergraduate research.