By 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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

By Maria Latta, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

There is a major misconception that students need to conduct research in their major. In reality, you can find projects that you are passionate about and that are relevant to your future goals in a seemingly unrelated field. Continue reading →

By Brendan Hogan, OUR Peer Research Ambassador

Meeting with faculty you’re interested in working with can be intimidating. However, this important step towards getting involved in research does not need to be stressful. The following tips can help you build connections, and ultimately, secure a research opportunity.

Continue reading →

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 →