Finding Research – other suggestions and tips
From Unofficial Guide to Engineering
During a physics 7A lecture, my professor displayed some slides that related the lecture material to some of his research efforts. His research seemed quite exciting; over the next few days, I read as much as I could about his specialty. During an office hours session, I spoke to him regarding his work and eventually (i.e. within a few weeks) I received a position in his lab.
The point of this story is that many professors constantly search for energetic undergraduates who can contribute to their projects, even if they have not completed upper-division coursework; one need not necessarily limit oneself to traditional methods of finding research. Below are some suggestions:
1. Find something you enjoy. The last thing you want is to be committed to a project that does not excite you; doing so will make both you and your research team members miserable. One way to find something you like is to simply spend an hour or two searching professors’ websites until you see something interesting.
2. Read everything you can about the project from #1 above. Once you find something you think you will enjoy, spend some time reading the most recent literature reviews and other publications about that subject. Examine the professor’s website again; see if you can find something you can do within that project.
3. Schedule an appointment with the professor or go to office hours. Speak to the professor, express interest in the project. Offer to work without pay. What will most likely happen is that the professor will see if any graduate students need your assistance. Remember that this is like the business world; nobody cares about how hard you can work. Professors care about whether you can contribute to their projects, i.e. if it will be worth their time to spend time with you.
“The bottom line is that there are plenty of research opportunities available, not just in the College of Engineering, for those who truly want it. And remember that the quality of your research experience is up to you.” - Vikram Gowrish (EECS, B.S. class of 2006)
