{"104641":{"#nid":"104641","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Undergraduate Research Teaches Critical Thinking and Life Skills","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKaren Harwell, Ph.D.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nDirector, Undergraduate Research\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf your student ever wonders what it would feel like to make that link between the known and the unknown and is interested in practicing \u00e2\u0080\u009chands-on\u00e2\u0080\u009d application of their major, then they should look into the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.undergradresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Eundergraduate research\u003C\/a\u003E opportunities available at Georgia Tech.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u00e2\u0080\u0099s position as a leading research university provides an ideal setting in which students can experience the exciting world of discovery by working directly with a faculty mentor. College of Computing faculty member Dr. Amy Bruckman describes research as \u00e2\u0080\u009ca chance to work on a totally new problem - one that no one has ever tackled before.\u00e2\u0080\u009d It\u00e2\u0080\u0099s an intellectual challenge. Laura Armanios, an undergraduate who has worked on projects in both aerospace engineering and French, describes research as \u00e2\u0080\u009can opportunity to discover something new,\u00e2\u0080\u009d and suggests that students \u00e2\u0080\u009ctake the initiative\u00e2\u0080\u009d to get involved. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech undergraduates can participate in research during fall, spring, and summer semesters either for course credit (graded) or for pay under the direction of a faculty or graduate student mentor. Research classes for course credit count toward free electives in most majors and discipline-specific electives in other majors. Most students work around 9-10 hours per week on a project and receive 3 hours of course credit. Students may also be hired as research assistants by their faculty mentors or be funded through the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/undergradresearch.gatech.edu\/funding.php\u0022\u003EPresident\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Undergraduate Research Award\u003C\/a\u003E (PURA). Options for research also include full-time summer experiences both on- and off-campus and international research.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDr. Jud Ready, Georgia Tech Research Institute researcher and Material Science Engineering faculty member, describes research as \u00e2\u0080\u009ca fun way to get hands on application of theory learned in the classroom.\u00e2\u0080\u009d Furthermore, he agrees that the experiences look fantastic on a resume. Students involved in research gain skills in independent problem solving, communication, and in direct hands-on knowledge critical to providing immediate contributions in the workforce upon graduation. Plus, participants have something substantial to discuss with recruiters during interviews. Erin Epperson, a biology student, reported that she learned \u00e2\u0080\u009cnot only about a specific topic area (chemotaxis), but how to manage time wisely, be patient with results, and devise [her] own hypotheses.\u00e2\u0080\u009d These skills are critical for not only graduate school, but also life in general.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EStudents can begin research at any time during their undergraduate career. The UROP office strongly suggests students begin early so that they have the additional benefit of working on a multiple semester project. This type of longer-term experience can lead to more independent work, and possibly to results that contribute to a journal article or conference presentation. A research thesis is also possible under the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/undergradresearch.gatech.edu\/research_option\/index.php\u0022\u003EResearch Option\u003C\/a\u003E program. Students are encouraged to begin talking to faculty during Phase I registration for the term in which they\u00e2\u0080\u0099d like to begin work. In fact, early November is a great time to approach faculty regarding spring positions. The UROP office, an academic advisor, or the school\u00e2\u0080\u0099s undergraduate coordinator can assist students in finding projects.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor additional information, including video interviews of several students, visit the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.undergradresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EUROP Web site\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/undergradresearch.gatech.edu\/workshops.php\u0022\u003E Click here\u003C\/a\u003E for copies of slides from the most recent UROP information session.\n\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"If your student ever wonders what it would feel like to make that link between the known and the unknown and is interested in practicing \u00e2\u0080\u009chands-on\u00e2\u0080\u009d application of their major, then they should look into the undergraduate research opportunities available at Georgia Tech.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Undergraduate research offers hands-on opportunities."}],"uid":"27164","created_gmt":"2009-11-02 01:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:11:29","author":"Rachael Pocklington","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2009-11-02T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2009-11-02T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1298","name":"Parent and Family Programs"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"21311","name":"living learning communities"},{"id":"22341","name":"Think Big"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cstrong\u003ERachael Pocklington\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EParents Program\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/contact\/index.html?id=rpocklington3\u0022\u003EContact Rachael Pocklington\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E404-385-3920\u003C\/strong\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["rachael.pocklington@vpss.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}