Thinking about getting started in research, but not knowing exactly what it is or how to even get involved? No worries! I'm a freshman who just started research at the beginning of the year with no prior experience or knowledge, so here's a how-to guide if you want to get involved in research at UCF.
What is undergraduate research?
Well, the name is quite literal. As an undergraduate, students have the chance to work with faculty on their research projects which span hundreds of topics! This can mean from working in a university lab or going to a different country to do field work to studying history or human behavior. Students get the chance to see what it's like to do real life graduate and PhD student work, while also learning a plethora of information!
How can I get involved?
So, you think you want to get involved in undergraduate research, but where do I go to start? At UCF, there's an undergraduate research office that has free walk-in appointments that give you the chance to talk to an upperclassman about their experience and how to get involved. There, they'll give you a password to go into a database filled with research professors looking specifically for undergraduate students to join their research group.
The database gives the students a quick description of the type of research being done and you get to choose which ones interest you the most. Similar to a dating site, except only for research! And if you don't find a topic that interests you, you can go on the faculty website and search up other professors who are doing research and try to get involved through there.
How do I contact the professor I'm interested in?
For me, sending the email to the professors I was interested in was one of the hardest parts. I spent about half an hour rereading the same four sentences, trying to make it sound as professional as possible, then I spent hours nervous on how they would reply. But I promise it's not as painful as it sounds.
The email should simply start with Dear Professor____ or Dear Dr._____, then you should follow with a quick introduction of your name, major, and any other important information you think you should add, such as any special programs you're in. I'd also strongly suggest that you include a few sentences about why you're interested in their research and how it relates to your future plans, if applicable. The end of the email should be a formal closing along with your name and resume. (If your resume has no prior experience in the subject, no worries!)
What is meeting with the professor like?
Congratulations! One of the many research professors or maybe only research professor you emailed, answered! And they want you to schedule a meeting with them. This definitely means they're interested and now they want to know more about you and how you could help them with their research. Though these kind of meetings aren't very formal, it's important to wear something professional or business casual.
And if you have a scheduled meeting, arriving on time always leaves a good impression (*funny story, I was actually thirty minutes late to my meeting). The professor will most likely ask about your future plans, your major and classes you're taking, and why you want to get involved in their research. Hopefully, at the end, they'll give you time to ask them questions so you can find out more about their research. "What will be my role in this research group? Can you explain more about the topic? Are there any books or papers I can read to better understand this topic?..."
I'm in! Now, what?
You got the position! Congrats!! You're officially an undergraduate researcher and now you get to learn so many cool things. At UCF, you can publish your research in the undergraduate research journal, present your findings at conferences, listen to other students in their fields and hear about their research!
Hopefully, you found a great professor and topic and you'll want to continue doing research throughout the year. And if not, that's great too! There's no problem finding another interesting topic and doing research with another professor, or maybe you discovered research just wasn't for you. No matter, it's a great learning experience, and I recommend if you have even the slightest interest, you should definitely look more into it!
*I met with my professor near the beginning of the fall semester and I didn't know exactly where everything was on campus. I ended up taking a thirty-minute walk to the building, when I obviously should have taken the bus, and then I had trouble finding her room and I was continuously told she wasn't there. So, not fun but at least she was graciously understanding and gave me the position. And I'm still doing research with her today!
