Reaching out to faculty you’re interested in working with can be intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. The tips below helped me get started and take the first steps in building connections and finding a research opportunity. Continue reading
Meet Ariane Garrett ’20 (ENG), an OUR Peer Research Ambassador (PRA) majoring in Biomedical Engineering and minoring in Spanish.
My research focusses on the development of a flow sensor for use in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) shunts. This is important because CSF shunts are prone to breakage, however it is difficult to assess if the shunt is working in vivo. This flow sensing device enables the measurement of flow sensing in vivo, and has the potential to greatly improve patient quality of life.
I knew I wanted to be involved in research as soon as I got to college, because I wanted to be a part of knowledge generation and work on exciting projects!
Don’t be afraid to reach out to professors and get involved!
My favorite part of research is the design process. It is very rewarding to start with a concept, then design it, and finally hold the piece in your hand.
I plan to apply to graduate school after graduation. Research has greatly influenced this decision- I enjoy it so much I want to continue for the next 4 to 7 years!
You might think a pre-pharmacy student would want to be working in a lab on drug discovery and most of time you would be right! But with me, things were different.
I have a passion for sociology that I discovered when I was fulfilling my gen-ed requirements my first semester. And after taking a Methods in Social Research course, I knew that the best way to for me to continue pursuing sociology and pharmacy was through research.
So, you want to get into research, but you probably don’t know where to start? Here are a few tips to give you an idea of what you’re in for! Continue reading
Congratulations to the 33 UConn undergraduates who have been awarded UConn IDEA Grants in the spring 2019 funding cycle!
The award recipients represent a variety of disciplines, from anthropology to animal science, and from biomedical engineering to art. They will conduct independent research, develop creative works in different media, and lay the groundwork for entrepreneurial ventures.
Click here to view the full list of spring 2019 UConn IDEA Grant award recipients.
Special thanks to the faculty and staff who supported student applications to the UConn IDEA Grant and to those who will be mentoring the award recipients as they complete their projects.
The UConn IDEA Grant program awards funding to support self-designed projects including artistic endeavors, community service initiatives, research projects, prototyping and entrepreneurial ventures, and other creative and innovative projects. Undergraduates in all majors at all UConn campuses can apply. Applications are accepted twice per year from individuals and from small groups who plan to work collaboratively on a project. The next application deadline will be in December 2019.
As someone who has engaged in research and creative activity, I have learned that marketing yourself and your work is a key step in the process itself. An important way to do this is through an elevator pitch, or a short but impactful statement describing what you do and why you do it. This elevator pitch is the first impression of your research or creative projects that you’ll share with your peers, mentors and employers, so you’ll want to make it attention catching and easy to understand. Continue reading
If you are ready to embark upon the exciting and rewarding journey of presenting your research – congrats! Whether complete or in-progress, take a moment to acknowledge all of the hard work you have put in to make it this far in your undergraduate research career. Now is time for the fun and creative part – displaying your research. Continue reading
Toward the end of their undergraduate career, most students find themselves wondering about what’s next – the job market, graduate school, etc. Some students, however, have their hearts set on medical school, dental school, veterinary school or other professional programs from day one. The decision to apply to these programs is not an easy one- between the financial burden, mental and emotional burden, and the time commitment going forward, it is easy to get lost amongst the application cycle. I want to offer a few specific tips and tricks about the application process that I learned along the way. Continue reading
If you are finishing up research, are a senior, or are in the honors program, you may be starting a research thesis soon. I currently am beginning to compose my honors thesis for the research that I have been doing for the past three years. This definitely sounded like a daunting task, however hopefully this blog post can eliminate some of your fears and help you tackle and get started on your thesis! Continue reading
I recently applied to graduate programs to pursue a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Throughout the application process, I struggled with the challenge of condensing a year’s worth of research into the small space on the application and on my resume, and with explaining my research within the time allotted during the interview process. I also faced the dilemma of whether to apply for formal research opportunities in these new programs.
If you find yourself in this situation, here are a few tips that helped me: Continue reading