Thinking of Doing Undergrad Research? Check These Tips

By JESSI STICKEL, University of Maryland Student and Uloop National Columnist

Many college students conduct research of a topic within their major or particular interest, such as science, math, business or history. Although some many find the thought of undergraduate research boring or difficult, it is an excellent opportunity from which almost every college student can benefit.

PARTICIPATING IN RESEARCH CAN HELP YOU:

1. Determine your area of interest. If you are confident about your major but not sure what your specific interest is, doing research is a great way to try different things. You can figure out what you want to focus on while gaining information and useful skills. You’ll be able to learn about different topics within your major while stacking up features to add to your resume.
2. Excel in many courses. Gaining extra knowledge about your major can assist you in many of your classes, considering you will have learned background information. If you take a course that deals with something you have already deeply researched, you will have an upper hand. This can help you gain a better understanding and a higher grade, and it may even help you impress your professor.
3. Improve your technological skills. Getting familiar with doing research and using different tools will prepare you for any future research you will need to conduct. This includes researching during graduate school and/or your career. Having these skills on your resume is something some employers look for when hiring.
4. Stand out in your future career. Not only can you use your research as a sample of what type of work you can do, but you may even be able to get hired for a job because of your work. If you make a new discovery or one that has significant value, this can make you attractive to many employers.
5. Sharpen your communication skills. When conducting research, you are most likely going to need help from someone at some point during the process. This can include professors, group members, librarians, other researchers, etc. Whether it is working with others on the task at hand or contacting a librarian for research assistance, communication skills are always needed. While communicating with others on a professional level, you are learning a skill that will be essential for every career or job. 
6. Develop critical thinking skills. Researching can be extremely difficult at times, but this teaches you to think outside the box in order to solve the problem in front of you. This is not a skill that everyone has, and it does not come naturally to everyone. Research is a great way to practice critical thinking. Having this skill will take any employee far within their field because every job has problems waiting to be solved.

BEFORE COMMITTING TO A RESEARCH PROJECT, CONSIDER:

1. Time. Research topics vary in the amount of time they will take to conduct. You need to make sure you have the free time or plan time for your research to be able to finish it.
2. Financials. Some research projects, such as those in labs, will require funding, and this is another aspect to pay close attention to before starting the research. You need to check with your academic department to question whether you will be financially able to conduct your research.
3. Interest. You also want to consider the strength of your interest in the topic you are planning on researching. You do not want to commit to a topic you are not passionate about and end up disliking the entire research process.
4. Benefits. Consider what you want to gain from researching. Is it the experience, the development of skills, or the resume addition? It is good to think about these benefits before starting research to give yourself motivation and to have a purpose for conducting.
5. Safety. If you are planning on conducting research in a lab of some sort, you may need to take safety courses beforehand. ​

– Excerpted from uloop.com, Online Marketplace for College Life

Photo: Alexander Raths/Shutterstock