One Small Step, One Giant Leap: How to Approach Your First Research Experience
As a second-year student at the University of New Hampshire, undergraduate research has been the most transformative experience of my academic career. In my first full year conducting research in a chemical engineering field called catalysis, I acquired successful results, presented at local and international conferences, and am in the process of drafting my first publication. I cultivated effective communication and writing skills, developed knowledge of laboratory instrumentation, and made invaluable connections in my academic community. This blog post serves to highlight what I’ve learned along my research journey thus far, and to help guide new and seasoned researchers alike to make the most of their time and appreciate all the gifts and challenges of research.
Break through your academic barriers
One pivotal characteristic of undergraduate research is its nature to get you outside of your comfort zone. In my experience, opening yourself to research experiences is one of the best things you can do when seeking to enrich your undergraduate academics. I have found you will learn things in research you would never see in the classroom and doing so brings numerous benefits. Working with a university professor as your principal investigator (PI) and/or graduate students, you will learn how to read and communicate advanced research concepts proficiently through weekly reading and writing. Take advantage of this close connection and set aside time to consistently practice these skills. You will see benefits inside and outside the classroom as you will be able to write and speak concisely and intently about any topic you explore.
Along with learning how to cultivate and benefit from this relationship, you will learn a wide variety of skills. In my catalysis research, regularly reading literature and thoroughly dissecting the content has drastically improved my ability to comprehend the complex construction of scientific writing. I have found the more I practice advanced close reading skills the more I think critically about my project’s goals and methodologies. For me, investing time into these skills has enhanced my problem evaluation capabilities, broadened my ability to approach research questions, and provided me with invaluable expertise in communication and problem analysis which I apply daily.
I also encourage you to just say “yes” whenever your mentor asks you to do something new or different. Although it may be challenging, when you are thrust blindly into an unfamiliar area, you experience immense growth. During my summer research, my PI asked me to write a standard operating procedure (SOP) for a certain data analysis technique. I had no idea what an SOP needed to look like or what I needed to communicate in it, but I agreed to take on the challenge. I made many mistakes requiring many revisions, but I learned something new through the process. By challenging yourself to understand what you have been tasked with and accepting your mistakes, you rapidly enhance your research potential and knowledge of your project.
Exploring topics and techniques, speaking with your professors and graduate student mentors, and opening yourself to new experiences allows you to break through academic barriers, culminating in your genuine comprehension of your research. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?
If you are going in, go in 100%
When it comes to research, the halfhearted approach will not reward you with the results you want. Undergraduate research is incredibly reciprocal; you get out of research the same energy you put into it, meaning if you want 100% of the benefits, you need to give 100% of your effort. I have discovered when I get busy with exams and projects, my research brain takes the back burner, and that is totally okay. However, if you are overly busy juggling assignments and commitments, you will not achieve the productivity you desire in research and subsequently, you will not reap the benefits.
To give 100%, I advise considering your time management. Undergraduate research will either force you to develop good time management skills, or it will run you over like a strike at a bowling alley. This is not meant to scare young researchers, but undergraduate research requires your attention, meaning if you disregard your research content, you will be as lost as a penguin in Aruba. One of the best ways to avoid a time management catastrophe is to avoid all forms of procrastination. In my experience, developing a balance of brain-healthy activities with school and research helps me be efficient and reduces my procrastination. Practicing discipline will enable you to progress effectively and achieve more than you can imagine.
Do not be afraid to ask for help
My final tip is seemingly obvious but often avoided: Ask for help. Starting out, you will have little knowledge of your research area, and there is nothing wrong with that. I urge you to ask as many questions as possible. Your mentors will have no problem satisfying your curiosity and will commend your desire to understand the subject of research. Hiding away your uncertainties benefits no one, especially when it comes to a task with potency in your project, as mistakes due to lack of comprehension can impact a project's progress. Please be inquisitive. Research centers on curiosity, and there are no bad questions, so ask away.
Final notes
That is all! With these tips I hope any new researcher can embrace this unique experience feeling prepared for the road ahead and will use this knowledge in their own research journeys, allowing them to excel beyond their expectations. As written in the wonderful video game, Minecraft: “twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” (Julian Gough 2022).
