By Emy Regan, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

When I decided to apply for an IDEA grant, one step in the process really intimidated me. That step was approaching a project mentor. In creative endeavors, finding and approaching a project mentor works a little differently than in research. While there are no publications to read or labs to shadow in, there are artist statements, studio practices, and past work to learn about. These tips can help you select the right mentor, prepare for your first meeting, and ensure that you forge a relationship that will best serve your creative endeavors. Continue reading →

By Natasha Patel, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

Are you interested in the Health Research Program? Is this program right for you? Is it possible to manage the time and travel commitment? If you are asking these questions, you have come to the right place. As someone who has been a part of the inaugural group of the Health Research Program, I believe I can share insights on how I managed to be successful with research and have a great experience while balancing school and other responsibilities throughout the years. Continue reading →

By Jamie Georgelos, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

The idea of “doing research” sounds so vague and pretty daunting as an undergraduate student. For people in the sciences, we usually picture a person in a white coat with a beaker doing… something. As a freshman, I wasn’t sure what those people in lab coats were actually doing. I assumed it was important but really didn’t understand it.

Research doesn’t have to be like this! Let’s take a walk through my past week to demystify what really happens behind the closed doors of a lab. Continue reading →

By Emy Regan, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

Every year, on the first day of school, I have high hopes for my organization. I’ll use my planner every day! I’ll clean my whole apartment every Thursday night! Healthy dinners every night? No problem! Inevitably, in the first few weeks, these lofty goals slowly start to crumble. Why? Because I do not effectively organize my deadlines. Finally, after many years, and many organizational failures I have figured out some strategies to keep me on track past the first two weeks of the semester. Continue reading →

By Veronica Pleasant, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

When thinking about participating in undergraduate research, we often think about our interests – whether that be infectious diseases, genetic disorders, the social dynamic of college students, or the best medium to present a beautiful work of art. I stumbled into a laboratory that is working on something that wasn’t necessarily at the top of my interest list, but I am all the better for it.

I started working in Dr. Kristen Govoni’s lab in Animal Science during the fall semester of my sophomore year. As a sophomore, I was not exactly sure what my research interests might be. However, the work that her lab focuses on – the effects of maternal programming on the offspring in both neonatal calves and fetal sheep – was not something that jumped out at me immediately.  Much of the work to be done comes in the form of immunohistochemistry, PCR, and ELISA, and is tissue-based. I had always wondered about the impact of maternal environment on the fetus, and this seemed the perfect experience to explore that curiosity. Continue reading →

By Brendan Hogan, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

When I applied to UConn, I had no idea that I would be involved in research as a social science major, as I saw UConn as a center for innovative research in science and engineering. To be completely honest, I just simply thought of research as something that I would never be introduced to and understand.

However, in my first semester as a freshman, I was given the opportunity through the Bennett Research Assistant Program to work alongside Professor Morrell on the Scholio Project. The goal behind our project was to try to promote intellectual humility and public discourse in online news comment sections amid the polarized political climate of today. I was tasked with carrying out research on the latest experiments, assembling a survey for participants, and conducting initial user testing on our experimental platforms.

Here are a few tips that I learned through the course of my research: Continue reading →

By Ariane Garrett, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

My freshman year I received a UConn IDEA grant to complete an independent research project over the summer. My sophomore year, I received a SURF award for the next steps in my research. Although I worked in the same lab both summers, lived on campus, and had more or less the same routine, the two experiences couldn’t have been more different from each other. What changed? I did!

Continue reading →

By: Soumya Kundu, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

For me, summer has always been the most productive time for making progress on research. Without the regular worry of upcoming deadlines for coursework or responsibilities tied to extracurricular activities, I had the freedom to devote all of my attention to my research projects during the past two summers. However, summer doesn’t last forever, and often, work on the research project continues through the semester. Research during the semester can be much more challenging, especially if your plate is already full with classes and other commitments. If you find yourself in this situation, here are a few tips that can help you: Continue reading →

By: Ariane Garrett, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

In my last blog post, I wrote about navigating the mentor-mentee relationship and the baseline expectations you should have for your mentors. These expectations can include setting a reliable schedule, obtaining the necessary training to use equipment, and receiving the appropriate credit for your work. However, many professors go above and beyond the minimum standard and provide truly excellent mentorship to their students. This can play out in many different ways, from fostering a community within the lab to encouraging you to apply for opportunities that seem out of reach. Below I lay out some of the qualities that make for great mentors, along with some tips on how to transform your research experience from good to great! Continue reading →