Research in University
Soo Jeong Hwang
Rutgers University Class of ’18
This PowerPoint made using information from a faculty and personal experience.
03/19/15
WSSP
Academics
• Office Hours (the professor gets to know you)
• You CAN change your path
Enjoy!
Try new things.
Are you interested in doing research?
• An Advice: In the first semester, get into the lifestyle.
• Academics, lifestyle, directions, play time, etc.
• Reach out to faculty.
• The earlier you get in the game, the more you gain
If you are interested in research…
• Browse through faculty research profiles
• If you find their research interesting, read some of their abstracts.
• Go and tour the lab building
• Email the professor (see sample)
• Ask faculty (who knows you) about other faculty
• They know each other.
• Rec letter
• Ask upperclassmen
• Programs, fellowships
Contact
Location
Search,
Read Abstracts
Read the Abstracts but also
look at the figures –
what kind of experiments
do they do?
Sample Bad Email
Sample Email
Sample Email
Don’t just copy and paste!
Think about what you
want them to know.
Sample Email
Be detailed
Do you
have a
position?
Then what?
•
You are allowed to shop for labs.
•
Professors do not always respond.
•
Keep following up.
Interview
• Questions for you
• What about my research are you interested in?
• Why are you interested in doing research?
• What skills do you know / have you done?
• If you have been involved in a program, describe it.
• Courses you took / are taking
Interview
• Questions for them
• They will tell you about their projects
• Don’t just sit and listen. Ask questions.
• Ask them if they can show you their labs.
The Lab Environment
• Who is in the lab?
• The professors/ PIs are usually not there
• Grad student? Post doc?
• Undergraduates. Any upperclassmen?
• If the lab is consisted of just the PI and undergrads, it may not be the best
learning environment for you.
The Lab Environment
• If you can talk to an undergrad
• Ask them what the lab environment is really like
• Can they do their own research?
• Are they getting enough guidance?
• (What’s the mentor like?)
Time
• Make sure you can handle it with the classes!
• You will be in the lab for 10 or + hrs/ week.
Congratulations, you found a lab!
Declining
• Make sure to email other professors that you are not coming.
• Thank them for their time
• Ex: I have found other opportunities...
Once you start
• Readings
• Go to lab meetings, take notes, ask questions.
• It takes time, but you will get it.
Doing Research
• Research for credit
• 1 credit = 3 hours/ week
• 2-3 credits/ semester (14-17 total credits/ semester)
• Fellowships – funding
• Pay
• Summer is a great time to do research
• Staying with a lab
• More time ~ more good results -> happy professor -> good rec letter
• You can switch labs if you are not enjoying it. But stick with it for at least
three to four months.
• Talk to the faculty/ mentor about what you were expecting and what you
would like to do.
All of the above are a perspective.
Do not let any one of them be a determining
factor in your pursuits.
What you choose to do from now on matters more
than what you have or have not done and where
you are going.
Be patient
What do you want to do?
College
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•
•
•
•
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Exposure to various, new things
Meet people
Taking care of yourself!
Find people you can talk with – RAs
Get involved – activities/ clubs
Take the AP credits
•
Try new things.
Thank you.