Peer Research Ambassadors

Preparing for and Overcoming Roadblocks

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Preparing for and Overcoming RoadblocksBy Ian Sands, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

The beginning stages of research primarily consist of planning. That planning may pertain to a variety of things such as budget, timeline, procedure, and even how you plan to communicate the findings of your study. What may be most important to consider, however, is the inevitable reality that no research plan goes perfectly as planned a majority of the time. These research complications may come in many forms, ranging from the classic inconvenient delay of supply delivery all the way to a less common sudden campus closure due to a global pandemic. Whatever the roadblock is, every researcher must maintain patience, adaptability, and resilience to overcome the complications they are experiencing.

Here, I will talk a little about the types of roadblocks you may experience as a researcher and the methods I have developed to continue progress during these times. Continue reading →

Utilizing Your Research in the Graduate School Admissions Process

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Utilizing Your Research in the Graduate School Admissions Process. By PRA Abigail.By Abigail LaFontan, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

Applying to graduate school can be an intimidating process, but learning to use your research as a tool can boost your confidence and the power of your application or interview. I just finished applying to and receiving decisions from several law schools so, with my personal experience fresh in mind, I’m going to highlight some of the factors, related to my research experience, that I found to be most important during the graduate school application process. Continue reading →

Three Easy Ways to Be an Ideal Social Science Research Assistant Candidate

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Three Easy Ways to Be an Ideal Social Science Research Assistant Candidate. By PRA Mary.By Mary Vlamis, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

So you are interested in doing undergraduate research in the social sciences. You’ve taken a few introductory courses, a topic has sparked your interest, and you want to be a part of the creation of knowledge! Woohoo! Now what do you do? You’ll find tips and tricks on contacting faculty and networking on the Office of Undergraduate Research website under the student section. Running parallel to the process of finding a research opportunity is the process of developing skills to contribute to a research project. These three tips will help you stand out as a potential research assistant because they will show that you are dedicated to becoming a helpful part of the research process: Continue reading →

Beyond the Lab: Conducting Social Science Research

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Beyond the Lab: Conducting Social Science Research. By PRA Shreya.By Shreya Murthy, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

When I tell people that I am doing research, I usually get asked, “which lab are you in?” My response is always, “my lab is my backpack!” For many social science researchers, this is typical, as their research usually requires a very powerful laptop and a notebook. This presents some advantages and challenges to researchers. Continue reading →

Setbacks in Your Project? We’ve All Been There

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Setbacks in Your Project? We've All Been There. By PRA Maria.By Maria Latta, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

Whether you are working on lab work, human subjects research, an outreach project, or a creative endeavor, you have probably faced at least one setback along the way. I certainly have. Some of the challenges I have faced are: my experiments produced results that didn’t support my hypothesis, my IRB approval was delayed and required revisions, the organizations I partnered with underwent changes that impacted the timeline of my project, and I have just had mental blocks on how to move forward. Continue reading →

Meet the PRAs: Grace Nichols

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Meet Grace Nichols ’20, an OUR Peer Research Ambassador (PRA) majoring in Molecular & Cell Biology and minoring in Mathematics.

Meet the PRAs: Grace.What is the focus of your research?

I currently work in a neuroscience laboratory at UConn Health where we are studying the auditory system and occurrence of tinnitus in mice. I also assist with clinical research at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Prior to these experiences, I worked in a computational biology lab and helped in producing mathematical models of the genes promoting chemotherapy resistance in Triple Negative Breast Cancer tumors.

Why did you get involved in research?

When I first came to UConn, I was pursuing a major in Mathematics/Actuarial Science and was planning to become an actuary. After taking a few science courses and shadowing healthcare providers, I ended up changing my career track and switching my major to Molecular and Cell Biology. I initially got involved in research because I wanted to gain more exposure to how scientific investigation connects back to patient and community health. Participating in computational biology research provided a unique and valuable bridge between my background in mathematics and my new interest of cell biology.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

Get involved in as many different activities as possible, attend different lectures and workshops offered on campus, and take a wide breadth of classes. You never know who you may meet and connect with, or what new topics will pique your interest. College is one of the few times you will get to freely explore in this way, so take advantage of it!

What do you enjoy the most about participating in research activity?

What I enjoy most about my research activity is how no two days are the same in the laboratory – there are always new problems to solve and every day is a new learning experience. Being in such a dynamic work environment has helped me to develop my personal and professional skills. Under the guidance of my mentors, I have gained experience in planning and troubleshooting experiments, learned how to communicate the goals and results of a project with my peers, and gained confidence in myself as an investigator. This enriching experience reaffirmed my interest in the healthcare field, and inspired me to pursue scientific research beyond my undergraduate education.

What are your plans after graduation? How has involvement in research influenced your plans and prepared you for the future?

After graduation I plan to apply to medical school. My involvement in undergraduate research has truly been a positive experience, and has encouraged me to incorporate scientific investigation into my higher education and career goals. It is because of my time spent in research that I plan to apply to MD/PhD programs.

Making the Most of Your Research Experience

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Making the Most of Your Research Experience. By PRA Kavita.By Kavita Rana, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

Research is a long and rigorous process and typically requires patience and determination, but it is also rewarding and helps students gain knowledge in their fields of interest. At the end of the day, your research experience is what you make of it. As you dive into research, I’d like to share a few tips I’ve learned along the way that have helped me make the most of my research experiences and shape my own research career. Continue reading →