Ways to become involved in research
-Talk to professors about their research
If you are interested in a professor’s research, don’t be afraid to ask them about it! Not only can you learn something interesting, but oftentimes professors can use an extra hand for a project.
-Email professors and researchers who may have open positions
The internet is a wonderful resource for learning about what research is taking place on campus. From the University Hospital website to the School of Public Policy website, opportunities are available whatever your interests may be. Lists of current research projects are usually posted, along with the primary contact’s email address. Email people whose research you are interested in, and you are sure to receive some positive responses!
-Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
By applying and being accepted to the UROP program, it is guaranteed that you will have a research opportunity. UROP has access to many exciting research projects on campus, and leads students step-by-step through the application and interview process. Also, students participating in this program may work for credit hours or work-study. Check out their website at http://www.lsa.umich.edu/urop/ for more information.
-Student Employment Website
Want to earn money and gain research experience? Then the Student Employment Website is a great tool for finding a research job! Available positions are posted by many university departments. Explore the openings until you find something that interests you! For more information check out https://www.studentemployment.umich.edu/.
Summer Research
-Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)
UROP offers various research summer opportunities, including the Biomedical and Life Sciences, Community-Based, Social Sciences, and Humanities Fellowship Programs. These programs are designed to help students become more independent in their own research, develop relationships with faculty mentors, and think about post-graduate careers. In addition, these fellowships offer students the ability to begin work that forms the basis for an honors thesis or could contribute to a published article.
-Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP)
SROP offers undergraduates the opportunity to conduct intensive research in various disciplines. The goal of this program is to prepare students for Ph.D. programs. In this, SROP gives undergraduates the opportunity to work on graduate level research projects with faculty mentors either on an individual basis or as part of a research team.
-And many more…
Many of the same principles apply for finding summer research opportunities as they do throughout the academic year. The career center and internet are excellent resources for finding more internship and research opportunities. Also, check out the student employment website and e-mail professors who work on research that interests you. In addition to traditional jobs, there are many summer research programs that can be found through the University of Michigan, as well as other universities.
Methods of compensation
-Academic Credit
Students in the biological fields are able to enroll in MCDB 300/400. Each of these courses is one semester long and they are to be taken in series. A student must contact a potential faculty member with whom they would like to perform research with and develop a research plan. Students should first consult with their academic or concentration advisor to determine whether or not these credits can be used toward their specific concentration.
-UROP compensation methods
Research positions gained through UROP can be used for academic credit or for work-study, if eligible. Up to three credits can be acquired per semester of participation in UROP, depending on how many per week a student researches. Work-study students receive one credit per semester in UROP along with the hourly pay.
-Work-Study/Monetary compensation
Students in their first-year of UROP are paid $8.50 per hour and students in their second year of UROP are paid $9.00 per hour, along with being granted one credit hour. Students must be granted work-study funds through financial aid in order to work for work-study. Also, various research sponsors are willing to hire students as employees and pay them for their work.
-Grants/Scholarships
There are many sources of competitive grants and scholarships for undergraduates to perform research. UROP has multiple summer research grants and fellowships that students can apply for, which can be found at http://www.lsa.umich.edu/urop/summer/fellowship. The University of Michigan offers many summer programs that deal with research in all fields; check them out at http://www.umich.edu/summer_prog.php.
-Volunteer hours
If all else fails, students can perform research with a volunteer status. Along with gaining experience and skills from assisting in research, these students will already have a foot in the door for the next year’s round of hiring lab assistants.
How you benefit from research
-Learn things you wouldn’t normally learn in the classroom
Research is a way for you to take what you have learned in class and apply it to real world situations, such as in economic, engineering, archaeological, or biological studies. You can experience for yourself how to perform molecular biology techniques or how to analyze data sets depending on your field of interest. Finding a researcher who focuses on your interests will also allow you to learn more about what you find most appealing rather than the general overview you may get in class.
-Great for graduate school
Being involved in research can be good preparation for graduate school. Besides learning laboratory and/or analytical techniques, you are exposed to the thought process behind planning studies and ways to effectively digest large quantities of background literature for your experiments. In addition, depending on what research topic you decide to pursue, you may have the chance to interact with graduate students who have most recently experienced the transition from an undergraduate to graduate lifestyle and provide insight into this process. All of these things will help you determine whether graduate school is for you and prepare you for your future research endeavors.
-Connections with faculty
Each investigator has a different approach to research and so it is important to find one with whom you can develop a meaningful, productive relationship. Not only will you have the opportunity to learn from and work with a leading researcher in the field, this faculty member can serve as a mentor to provide valuable advice on how to best accomplish your goals whether those goals include graduate school, a career, etc.