Upper Division Honors

Student Profiles

Katie Hawkins

Title of your project:
Thiophene Helices, Rearrangements, and Functionalization (Chemistry Department, with Dr. Marsella)
Classical Ballet Costume Construction (Theatre Department, with Professor Cherrie)

Were you involved in an Honors program prior to starting your project?

I was involved in the Lower Division Honors program. I was actually very lucky in that the research I did to meet HNPG 97 credits, along with two summer fellowships, worked its way into becoming one of my thesis projects. It was a fairly smooth transition to Upper Division Honors.

What was your experience like with the Upper Division Honors program?

Katie: Hi Emily!

Ms. Nudge: (raises eyebrows) Hi Katie! Where’s your thesis?

Katie: Um, so, my thesis is due today only I haven’t gotten one of the signatures and one of my diagrams needs to be relabeled and I’ve just accidentally deleted the entire Microsoft Office suite from my hard drive and my spare copy is with the advisor who hasn’t signed yet!!!!

Ms. Nudge: Would you like an extension of the deadline? And a hug?

Katie: Yes…okay…

It was great, actually, and Emily, as we know, is awesome, and facilitated the process in every way possible. 

How do you feel the Honors program prepared you for your life after UCR?

I could write ballads about how Honors has prepared me for life after UCR, except that I can’t actually write a ballad. I’ll direct everyone to Audeamus for that. To be succinct, Honors has given me an education-within-an-education; it enriched my entire undergraduate experience and I really believe that I will be able to carry forward everything I’ve been able to do through Honors.

Was it hard to do your thesis?

The research itself, for both projects, was interesting and fun. But without the structure of the Upper Division program, I probably would not have had the motivation to follow through with a complete, formalized thesis.

How do you feel you are as a student because of the program?

I could say that Upper Division Honors gave me better time management skills (although it didn’t: I still procrastinate), but I feel I’m a better student on a less tangible scale. I now understand some of the basics of research—what is involved, how to find a mentor, how grants are supplied, why papers are the Holy Grail of academics, and why both pure and applied research fields are so important. And having had this thesis experience in undergraduate work, I’m less intimidated by (maybe even looking forward to) the possibility of doing research in the future.

What is the biggest strength you have gained from the experience? 

The biggest strength I developed is probably my appreciation of research across all fields, and for the people and time invested in various projects.

Biggest piece of advice?

Well, two pieces, actually:

1)  Find an advisor who you really enjoy working with. This makes all the difference!

2)  GET YOUR THESIS SIGNED EARLY. Even if your professor literally lives in their office, I promise they will be camping somewhere on the outer Mongolian steppes on the day you need to turn in your thesis if you’ve waited…so do everyone a favor, and have both advisors sign it as soon as possible.

Katie is a member of the Thomas Haider Biomedical Program