Undergraduate Research: An Overview of the Opportunity in STEM

Undergraduate research is a popular field that most students, STEM or not, participate in as a post secondary schooling opportunity. It is believed to have begun in 1969 when the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was founded. Stemming from this very first program, many universities soon adopted the idea of accepting undergraduate students to aid in research conducted by their professors. Both the professors and the students benefited from this experience. The professors gained the help of creative young minds, while the students were able to explore more into certain topics.

Student working in a lab at UNC Chapel Hill

Research at this stage in an individual’s academic journey is popular amongst, but not limited to, STEM students. The location and procedure of assisting in research varies depending on the project and the discipline of the study. Humanities majors may be working in museums with ancient relics of history while biology majors could be working in a lake, testing water quality. However, the most popular locations for STEM students include wetlabs , drylabs, clinical settings, and in-the-field locations. These locations provide access to all equipment, machinery, organisms, chemicals, and technologies to bring their research to life.

So where can interested students find these opportunities? A vast majority of four year institutions offer undergraduate research as an option for their students. There are multiple ways to go about locating and applying for these labs. The most popular way is to discuss with the professors whose class you may be in or search your universities database for research being conducted around campus. More than likely, these professors are always looking for more students to aid around the lab. Sometimes, it may just take an emailed request but other times, there may be an application process.

Student at Fordham University presenting his undergraduate research

The benefits in being a part of an undergraduate program are plentiful. Students who take advantage of their university’s undergraduate research programs build connections, strengthen their passion for a topic, and learn what a career in their intended field may look like. Through strong connections and relationships, crucial guidance and experience is gained, as well as the wisdom of their peers and professors. Similarly, working towards a topic that interests you enables you to get a deeper understanding if it is something you want to pursue. Undergraduate years are crucial to the development of your career awareness, so taking advantage of these opportunities can help one understand whether that particular field suits them or not. Another important thing about the field of STEM is that things do not work as expected, which is how perseverance is built. When you are in a high school or classroom setting, the teachers know the outcome of whatever experiment or project you are expected to do. In the professional STEM world, progress takes a lot of time and may not always heed to a result.

All things considered, undergraduate research offers many benefits to students. Its accessibility makes it a great building block for anyone to build experience in their field as well as creating connections with the people in that field. Embracing these opportunities builds a sturdy foundation and more possibilities in their future endeavors.

Works Cited

Moody, Josh. “Why Undergraduate Research Matters in College .” U.S. News & World Report, 20 Sept. 2019, www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2019-09-20/why-undergraduate-research-matters-in-college.

UNC Development. “‘A Rather Remarkable Feat.’” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 9 Mar. 2020, www.unc.edu/posts/2020/03/09/a-rather-remarkable-feat/.

“Undergraduate Research Celebrated at Annual Symposium.” Fordham Newsroom, 26 Apr. 2023, news.fordham.edu/colleges-and-schools/fordham-college-at-rose-hill/undergraduate-research-celebrated-at-annual-symposium/.

“Undergraduate Research.” Undergraduate | Scripps Research, education.scripps.edu/undergraduate/. Accessed 16 July 2023.

“What Does Undergraduate Research Look Like?” College of Biological Sciences, 20 May 2022, biology.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-research/what#:~:text=Undergraduate%20student%20researchers%20use%20the,graduate%20student%20or%20postdoctoral%20researcher.

What’s in a Name? A Brief History Joyce Kinkead, Utah State ... - Cur, www.cur.org/assets/1/7/331Fall12KinkeadWeb.pdf. Accessed 17 July 2023.