荔枝视频

鈥淩esearch is not just an academic pursuit, but a way to make meaningful contributions to society.鈥� 

Dr. , PhD, an associate professor in the at the 荔枝视频, delivered that nugget of inspiration at the Celebration of Undergraduate Research Experiences, held on Sept. 23. 

Co-hosted by the and the the event recognized outstanding research conducted by U荔枝视频 undergraduate students over the summer. 

The celebration kicked off with a panel discussion moderated by Fast. It featured four students 鈥� , Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA); Amber Skye Beaulieu, Program for Undergraduate Research Experiences (PURE); Austin Bender (PURE); and Laiba Nasir (PURE) 鈥� who touched on key areas of the undergraduate research experience, including mentorship, the value of mistakes and key learnings from the summer.  

Advice to students: keep an open mind

One common thread of advice from the panellists was to keep an open mind: where you think you want to be may not be where you end up.  

鈥淎t first, I didn鈥檛 really think about research for most of my undergrad degree. I was interested in so many different things and wasn鈥檛 sure where to start,鈥� said Annor Bediako. 鈥淢y biggest advice is: Don鈥檛 restrict yourself. Just jump in. Do some background research on professors and narrow it down from there.鈥� 

Bender agreed, adding 鈥渂elieve in yourself. Don鈥檛 let that whisper say, 鈥業鈥檓 not good enough, I can鈥檛 do this.鈥� Because the fact that you鈥檙e in this room, you can all do it already.鈥� 

The students highlighted how curiosity, persistence and mentorship can shape academic journeys. They also shared personal stories of growth, challenges and the transformative impact of their projects, while underscoring the importance of supportive communities.  

Poster presentations demonstrated a variety of research projects

Following the panel, 30 students participated in poster presentations representing their research projects and outcomes, answered questions, and engaged in conversations with their peers and other interested attendees.  

Over the course of the day, Dr. , MA'04, PhD, also an associate professor with Arts and the academic lead for undergraduate student research, wanted to make one thing clear to students interested in participating in research: 

鈥淚 know that you鈥檙e inspired, but also terrified. In addition to all the phenomenal advice we heard today, know that we are here to support you," Guglietti said. "You鈥檙e not alone in your journey or your pursuit of these undergraduate research opportunities."

Top tips for finding a supervisor for your summer research application 

• Do your homework first: read about professors鈥� research interests and projects before contacting them.
• Start early: give yourself time to explore different opportunities and build relationships.
• Cast a wide net: don鈥檛 limit yourself to your own faculty; supervisors in other disciplines may be open to working with you.
• Be curious and open-minded: even if you鈥檙e unsure what to study, showing enthusiasm can spark opportunities.
• Be clear and respectful: when reaching out, briefly introduce yourself, explain why you鈥檙e interested in their work and ask if they have space for an undergraduate researcher.
• Show initiative: mention any relevant coursework, skills or interests that connect to their research.
• Don鈥檛 be afraid to follow up: sometimes professors are busy; a polite reminder is often welcome.
• View it as a conversation, not a transaction: you鈥檙e building a mentoring relationship, not just trying to 鈥済et a spot.鈥�