Encouraging Undergraduate

Research: A Mentor’s Guide

Larry AaronsonUtica College

The Issues Recruiting undergraduate researchers Care and feeding of undergraduate researchers

Maintaining a student research program with limited space and resources

Mentorship of undergraduate researchers as an asset in faculty development

External support for undergraduate research

Recruiting Undergraduate Researchers Start small Simple, realistic goals Talk about your research in class You are cordially invited… Never say “no”…well, almost never! “Show me the money!” Grab them when they’re young Let students do the recruiting

Care and Feeding of Undergraduate Researchers Give them a home “It’s not what we say…” Show them, watch them, then let them run

“There are no stupid questions.”

“Did anyone get hurt?” Classes come first

Care and Feeding of Undergraduate Researchers Lab meetings Write it down…write it up! Road trip!

Maintaining a Research Program with Limited Resources

Sustainable research Dual-use reagents and equipment

Collaborations

Mentoring Student Research and Faculty Development

Institutional acculturation “But you’re the last author on the paper!”

External Support for Undergraduate Research

NIH AREA grants NSF RUI grants Sigma Xi grants ASM Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program

Questions & Discussion