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Get Honors Seminar Credit (HNPG 97)
for Research at UCR!
Download .pdf paperwork to get started! |
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Request information from a coordinator or staff
person in the University Honors Program for information about how to
utilize
HNPG 195H/HNPG 197H. |
1. Getting Started
Getting involved in an undergraduate research project is not like signing up
for a class. Instead, it is much more like obtaining a job - you need to find an
available research position and then sell yourself for that position.
2. Finding a Research Project
Becoming involved in research is one of the most important decisions you
will make as an undergraduate student. The right research experience can greatly
enhance your education and further your preparation for industry, business, and
graduate and professional schools. Many opportunities are available to you at UC
Riverside. These brief tips are a guide to help begin your search for a research
opportunity.
A. Think about courses you've taken or other educational experiences
you've had.
- Make a list of those subjects that you find most interesting.
- For ideas on topics to list, scan through your textbook indices.
- Look at the departmental Web sites for the subjects in which you are
interested.
B. Make an "ad" to sell yourself.
- Keep these questions in mind as you prepare your one page
"ad":
- Why do you want to do research? (e.g., learn more about a particular
field, work closely with scientists, get experience for graduate
school, etc.)
- Why should a faculty mentor want you?
- Create your "ad":
- It should be no more than 1 page long
- Include your major
- List all the ways to get in touch with you: e-mail, phone, pager#,
etc.
- List background courses you have taken (i.e. physics, chemistry,
calculus, etc.)
- Describe the experience you're looking for, if you can (techniques,
tasks, etc.)
- State the commitment you're able to make to the research:
- How many quarters will you be involved?
- How many hours will you commit each week?
- At what times are you available?
3. Finding a Faculty Mentor
Once you've explored you own personal interests and reflected on your
background:
- Look through UC Riverside's web pages for potential faculty mentors.
- Read faculty bio-sketches outlining various research projects. Make a list
of the names, email addresses, phone numbers and room numbers of their
laboratory or office.
- Identify a few faculty and set up interviews with them - read about their
general area of research and, if possible, a couple of their published
papers before your meeting, contact them by phone or e-mail, be sure to
bring your "ad" with you.
- Arrive at your faculty interview prepared to ask questions about the
research of the laboratory, talk with other undergraduate students, graduate
students and postdoctoral students working in the lab you are trying to get
in, if any are available.
- Be sure the faculty member knows how to get in touch with you.
- If you are turned down for a research project, don't take it personally as
there are many reasons why a faculty member may deny your request; the
current research projects may be different than the projects listed on the
website, he/she may already have the maximum number of students, the hours
you are available may not be convenient for the faculty mentor, etc.
4. Good luck with your search. If you need assistance in identifying a
faculty mentor and/or choosing a research area see:
- Your UHP advisor, or
- Your major department advisor, or
- The Undergraduate Student Affairs Advisor in the department of interest.
Research Opportunity
Links
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