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 How do I get involved?
Research begins with a question. If you are interested in
conducting research as an undergraduate, you have already
taken the first step by attending Rutgers. Engaging undergraduates
in the discovery of knowledge is at the very heart of the
Rutgers mission. Whether through taking a research-intensive
course, working in one of the University's many centers or
institutes, or teaming up with a favorite professor to pursue
a mutual academic interest, the opportunities to become involved
in research abound for students of all majors.
As you begin to get involved, there are two things you want
to think about:
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People with whom you would like to work. Are there faculty (or research staff) whom you particularly respected or enjoyed learning from? Do you have friends who are doing research and who speak highly of their advisors?
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Topics that are of interest to you. Think back over classes
you have taken. Which were most enjoyable? Which did you
find yourself enjoying working on, and spending extra
time on? Which left you wanting to learn more?
If you are a first year or sophomore student who has never
conducted research, you may attend one of our research orientation
workshops, and start small by taking a research-intensive
course or helping a faculty member with his or her research.
You should talk with your favorite professors about their
research interests (many of these are listed on departmental
websites), and about how to get involved.
Identifying your own research topic may seem daunting, but most undergraduates find that their research interests emerge through some combination of experiences in their favorite courses or outside the classroom in their co-curricular pursuits. Talk with friends who have done or are doing a research project, too.
What kinds of things would I do in a research setting?
Students in the liberal arts, business, economics, and social
sciences often go to the library to find recent journal articles
on a particular subject, photocopy them, and read and summarize
them with your own comments. You may also collect, enter,
and analyze data, conduct interviews or observations, recruit
subjects, work on web sites, transcribe audio, organize a
conference, edit written work, or catalogue information.
In addition to these tasks, students in the sciences may
also do experiments to confirm results, build equipment, do
laboratory maintenance, prepare samples or perform assays,
maintain a culture in vitro, or collect and analyze samples.
Choosing a mentor
The best way to choose a mentor for your research is by investigating
the professors you might be interested in working with through
the departmental websites, or by perusing our list of past Sophomore RA opportunities (more to come soon!). Some mentors may want assistance with a project they are already
working on; others may be interested in helping you to develop
your own project. Read your prospective mentors' current articles
or publications, visit their websites, and be prepared to
meet with them and articulate your goals. Your project idea doesn't need
to be perfect at your first meeting; good research always
evolves. Talk with others about your prospective mentor, too;
it's important to find someone with a good personality fit!
Send your mentor an email, say why you are interested, describe
your qualifications, and ask for an appointment. Always attach
a resume to this message!
The interview is an opportunity for you to learn more about potential
projects, and for you to describe your interests. (Do not
go to the interview in a state of ignorance. Be sure you've done your
homework by learning about the project and the faculty member.
Also consider talking to other students; they will give you
the "inside" information about what it is like to work in
the group.)
Perhaps you will discover that the professor's research isn't as interesting
as you expected. Perhaps you won't have good personal chemistry
with the potential advisor. (This is more common than you
might expect. Plenty of well-meaning and smart people just
think and act in different ways, so they don't have good synergy;
it doesn't reflect poorly on either one.) In the best case,
you will like the research and the advisor.
You should definitely meet with multiple potential advisors.
Even if you think you hit the jackpot after your first meeting, believing you've found a good professor and project, you should talk to other
potential advisors so that you can be sure that another option wouldn't
be even better. The additional meetings will also reinforce
your certainty and prevent "buyer's regret." And, when another potential advisor asks you with whom else you've been interviewing,
you won't appear unprepared.
Starting the Process
Embarking on your own independent research project involves
advance planning. With your mentor, decide what books and
articles will be important to review, how many hours a week
you should plan to invest in your project, whether you will
be working alone or with a group, etc. Visit the ARC to
find out about earning credit for your work, getting funding, participating
in skill-building workshops, and more!
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