Documentation:CTLT Resources/Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate research carries different connotations in different contexts. Understanding the unique roles and responsibilities involved in undergraduate research – for the students and the professors – enables undergraduate research experiences to be further and better developed as effective tools for teaching and learning.
The list below includes definitions and characteristics of undergraduate research from various groups and institutions.
What is Undergraduate Research?
University of British Columbia
What is Undergraduate Research? What are its Characteristics?
- An inquiry; enquiry
- Gain new or novel knowledge to understand a phenomenon
- A systematic investigation, including a hypothesis, methods, results, data analysis, that adds to a body of knowledge
- Engagement in the scholarship of discovery
What Might it Include?
- Analysis of literature, text, etc. that adds to a body of knowledge
- Field/lab work that supports the scholarship of discovery
- Qualitative or quantitative data collection and analysis
Cornell University
What is Research?
research. n. Scholarly or scientific investigation or inquiry. Close, careful study
“Defining research is as difficult as explaining how gravity works…” http://www.research.cornell.edu/undergrad/getting_started.html
Princeton University
What Constitutes “Research” [for undergraduates]?
Princeton Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE) offers some insight in a surprisingly casual way… Check it out:
“Maybe you came up with an exciting idea while taking a course and want to implement/develop it. That could count as “research.” Or maybe you have ideas on how to redesign a computer science course to make it more interesting, and want to work with the professor teaching it. That could also count as “research.” We have no set notions. Surprise us.”
For more details (features of the PURE program and application info – open to undergrads from Princeton and other universities), visit: http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~arora/pure.html
Western Washington University
“Involving Undergraduates in Research” by Thor Hansen
“In the most restrictive sense research is original discovery that creates new knowledge. Most peer-reviewed science papers involve original discovery. The term research is also applied to the rediscovery of existing knowledge. The literature search that we do in preparation for writing a scientific article or “research” for a term paper falls into this category. True research (involving original discovery) is open-ended, i.e. the researcher addresses a question for which there is no generally agreed upon answer.”
See more: http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~dialogue/issue5.html
Why is Undergraduate Research Important?
So you have an idea of what undergraduate research is… but why is it important? Check out some ideas below.
University of Waterloo
Reasons for Undergraduate Research
Shoshin Research Group, The Distributed System Research Group at the Department of Computer Science, University of Waterloo
“There are several reasons for doing research with a professor while pursuing undergraduate studies. A number of these reasons are generic, while some have more specific limitations.
- A student can decide if s/he wishes to do a graduate degree
- A student can interact with a professor, which is likely necessary for strong letters of reference on graduation (essential for good graduate school and scholarship applications)
- A student can work on bleeding-edge research
- The skill set necessary for success in industry is the same as the skill set necessary for success in research.
That last comment in particular needs some elaboration. Let me explain, as someone who has spent much of my professional career in industry, and who currently has research relationships with five companies. The comment, simply put, is this: your boss in industry really doesn’t care if you are good at courses, or can write exams well. S/he wants you to innovate products. Innovate? Wow! Sounds like you must do something novel and significant. That’s research! Further, you must be able to describe this innovative idea to your boss, to persuade him/her to fund the idea. Wow! Sounds like you must communicate this idea, likely both orally, in a presentation, and in writing, like a publication. This is the same skill set as you acquire in doing research, even as an undergraduate.”
http://www.shoshin.uwaterloo.ca/~pasward/undergrad.shtml#USRA
How to Effectively Participate in Undergraduate Research
Stanford University
Best Practices in Mentoring Undergraduate Researchers
“Problems or shortcomings in the academic mentor-student relationship often come about because of misunderstandings about the expectations the parties have of one another—expectations about amount of contact, timelines and deadlines for work, what constitutes an adequate draft for submission, what qualifies as an acceptable honors thesis, and so on. Many misunderstandings can be avoided or overcome by following good academic mentoring practices such as those described below. These guidelines were compiled by the Undergraduate Research Programs office from conversations with Stanford faculty and students, the University of Michigan Ann Arbor’s How to Get the Mentoring You Want, and from unpublished resources from Yale University’s McDougal Center for Graduate Student Life.”
Visit http://ual.stanford.edu/FS/ResearchPartnerships.html to view the following categories:
- Advice for Mentors
- Advice for Students: Choosing a Mentor
- Establishing Positive Working Agreements
- Organizing Meetings
- Setting Expectations
- Turning in Your Work
American Mathematical Society/Mathematical Association of America (AMS/MAA) 2002, Joint Meeting
Factors to consider when you assume supervisory duties:
- Consider the level and type of the research that is appropriate
- Decide on a supervisory style that you are comfortable with
- Make your expectations clear and explicit
- Learn to identify common problems for research students
- Avoid common criticisms of supervisors made by research students
- Learn to identify warning indicators for students at risk
- Consider your role at supervisory meetings
For more information: http://math.la.asu.edu/~crook/tips_topics.html
UBC Courses
Depending on your chosen speciality, faculties and departments across campus offer courses with undergraduate research opportunities. Most courses come in the form of directed studies, field studies, undergraduate thesis, laboratories and seminars.
We strongly encourage you to contact your faculty/department academic advisor for more information as well as your eligibility to register in these courses.
UBC Research Programs
University-wide
- Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Program
Students who participate in this program will have the opportunity to develop skills to support their research project within their discipline while fulfilling requirements in a research-based course they are enrolled in. Student participants must have a faculty supervisor and have identified a specific research project by the beginning of the project. Critical thinking skills, communication skills, and library research skills are concentrated on in this program.
Program Coordinator: info.murp@ubc.ca
- UBC Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Directory (ROAD)
Are you an undergraduate looking for research experience? Look no further! This site contains a research directory of faculty across disciplines who can support undergraduate research.
Applied Science
- Student Teams-Mechanical Teams
Participation in student project teams is a popular activity among Mechanical Engineering students. The teams enter national and international competitions with varied engineering and environmental objectives. For example, the “Heavy-Lift” team enters a competition to design and build a model airplane that can lift the greatest weight. The department has a strong tradition of participation and success in these competitions. Team members have a lot of fun working together, and at the same time gain much valuable practical experience.
Contact: Barbara Murray, (604) 822-4163
The Project Fair is an annual event that is an integral part of the Project Laboratory. The Project Fair is the showplace for small scale or emerging technological projects involving the Engineering Physics Program at UBC and industry in the Province of B.C. The Project Fair provides a forum for the interchange of ideas and for the reinforcement of technological networks between students and faculty at UBC, local industry, and government support agencies. The major objectives of the Project Fair are to increase the awareness of the high technology skills in B.C. and to encourage the use and development of those skills in new ventures. This can be best achieved by bringing together the participants so that they can review current developments and renew their interest in entrepreneurial activities.
The Project Laboratory is a pivotal activity in the students’ senior years in the Engineering Physics Program. It consists of two, one-term academic courses that sandwich the summer break. Different projects are normally done in each term although in some circumstances it is possible to have a summer job placement that carries one project through a full year. This sequence allows longer projects to be planned that would be of interest to industry. In addition, projects can continue over several years where a new group of students would build on the results of previous work.
Arts
- Family, Child and Community Research Mentoring Project
This initiative links undergraduate students with faculty research projects. Undergraduate majors are encouraged to become involved in research activities through the Research Mentoring Program. In 2002-2003 26 students contributed 280 hours to 17 research projects directed by 9 professors. The program grew in 2003-2004 to include 44 students working with 14 professors on 22 different projects. This program continues to attract significant interest from Family Studies majors and more Social Work students are expressing interest as well.
Contact: Sheila Marshall
The FNLG program was initiated in 1996 as part of UBC’s commitment to community-based collaboration with First Nations peoples, in recognition of the vital importance of First Nations Languages and culture. The program actively engages a number of undergraduate students in research projects related to the documentation and analysis of endangered First Nations languages.
Contact: Patricia A. Shaw
The Museum of Anthropology forms a unique part of the anthropological experience at UBC. The collections, exhibitions and collaborative programs sponsored by the Museum provide archaeology and socio-cultural anthropology students with opportunities to participate in ongoing research and educational projects.
Forestry
Volunteers, usually in 3rd or 4th year programs regarding forestry and natural resources, spend at least two months at a Research Forest to gather experience with performing forestry practices, as well as participate in data collection for research. Both the UBC Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF) and the UBC Alex Fraser Research Forest (AFRF) offer this opportunity for volunteering interns. Historically, we have hosted international students who want to get practical experience. Occasionally, Canadians volunteer as well. So while the title of the program contains the word “International,” it is not necessarily restricted to non-Canadians. If undergrads find they need more experience to get work and are willing to volunteer, they can certainly be eligible. While the work tends to include practical forestry and forest management tasks, there usually is a component dealing with research data collection and data management, as well as maintenance of research sites in the field. We can also assist with student self-directed research.
The NRVP, formally the Conservation Volunteers Program, provides the tools for UBC students to participate in environmental science, conservation, and/or community-based volunteer activities. We aim to help aspiring environmental science professionals gain valuable work experience using their practical skills in addition to that obtained in classroom and field exercises while helping and contributing in the community. The NRVP promotes linkages between the environment, communities, and education, and strengthens these linkages by connecting student volunteers with environmental organizations and community projects.
Medicine
The purpose of the Research Mentorship program is to provide an opportunity for UBC Medical Students to explore a career in health research and to encourage them to seek out research possibilities to complement their medical careers.
The Translational Research in Infectious Disease program at UBC is in partnership with the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity. This program was designed to promote and strengthen the national capacity for translational research in infectious diseases through an integrative Training Program and to raise national standards in the training of health researchers and cultivate and facilitate transdisciplinary and translational research in infectious diseases.
Pharmaceutical Sciences
This program, coordinated by Ingrid Price, provides opportunities for undergraduate students in Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC to participate in research being conducted within the Faculty over the summer. You will be working in a research environment within the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. There are several different kinds of research going on in our Faculty, from bench science (e.g., developing new and better ways to deliver drugs to the site of action) to clinical (e.g., developing more effective therapeutic options for patients) to practice (e.g., solving issues related to patient care). Individuals within our Faculty submit applications to take summer students. In order to learn more about the types of research you could become involved in and what you will be doing when working with a particular professor go to Faculty Submissions Page.
UBC Conferences
This annual event is scheduled for the Monday afternoon of the first week of September. The event includes faculty and student presentations and an informal research forum with poster presentations by the currently enrolled MD/PhD students. It is intended to showcase the research by our students, and to recruit new students and interested faculty into our Program. It is a very informal arrangement, mainly giving an opportunity for students and prospective applicants to ask questions about the clinician-scientist career path. All are welcome!
This conference was organized by Women’s Studies at UBC. Undergraduates from various departments in the colleges and universities in British Columbia and beyond submitted proposals and presented their interesting interpretations of the Consuming Women theme in various formats including papers, posters, films, performances, artwork, and workshops. The large undergraduate turnout demonstrated their commitment to a number of important issues ranging from critiques of the beauty industry, to the affects of globalization and colonialism, the silencing that occurs due to discourses around race and sexuality, and the violence perpetrated on sex trade workers.
Contact: Wendy Frisby
External Conferences
List maintained by the Journal of Young Investigators
UBC Units
Below are units at UBC related to undergraduate research:
- Office of the President
- Since its opening in 1915, the University of British Columbia has developed a reputation for innovation and excellence in both teaching and research, and has become a leader in higher education in Canada.
- Place and Promise: The UBC Plan
- As one of the world’s leading universities, The University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society,and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world.
- Office of the Vice President Research
- The University is committed to discipline-based traditions of inquiry, while fostering interdisciplinary initiatives that allow research groups to pursue avenues that could not be as fully explored within disciplinary boundaries.
- Office of Vice President Students
- Through the Vice-President, Students Portfolio, programs and services are available to students to assist students and alumni achieve personal and academic success to:
- Become lifelong learners
- Experience, appreciate and understand other cultures, global interconnectedness and the value of community engagement
- Communicate effectively
- Use critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Gain respect for themselves, their peers, the global community and the environment
- Maintain a balanced lifestyle
- Demonstrate productive and responsible citizenship
- Make intelligent and informed career decisions
- Through the Vice-President, Students Portfolio, programs and services are available to students to assist students and alumni achieve personal and academic success to:
Canadian Societies
CACSL is a national association of post-secondary institutions that supports the active participation of students, educators, and community organizations in Community Service-Learning (CSL) by identifying, investigating and promoting best practices, by offering solutions to common challenges, and by facilitating the creation of local, regional, and national networks of CSL practitioners.
The mission of the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education is to facilitate and promote, by means of comprehensive partnerships and programs, the creation, dissemination and application of research of exemplary quality in postsecondary education in Canada.
The Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) is a national association of academics interested in the improvement of teaching and learning in higher education