OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH2014-2015

Office of Undergraduate Research_____________

Explore

Refine

Contribute

Discover________

Office of Undergraduate ResearchOffice of Undergraduate Research_____________

4-209B Dewey HallRochester, NY 14627

(585) 276-5306

undergradresearch@ur.rochester.edu

www.rochester.edu/college/ugresearch

O

What is Research?The German-American rocket scientist Werner von Braun once said, “Research is what I do when I don’t know what I’m doing.” Though it may sound strange, spending some time not knowing what you are doing can be a fantastic way to learn and get to know yourself. That is, more or less, the idea behind the undergraduate research experience.

Research opportunities abound at a world-class research university like the University of Rochester. Undergraduate research encompasses a wide variety of activities and extends to all majors and programs in the College.

As a nurturing, tier-1 research institution with a world-class medical center and a strong research program, the University of Rochester is an ideal place for undergraduate research.

What is Research?

The conventional classroom and book-learning experience is very different from what a student learns through research. Research involves learning enough to formulate the problem and then working to solve it while always re-examining the situation in light of what is learned along the way. Things seldom go smoothly. Research often does not respect the traditional boundaries that exist between disciplines in the classroom. Research is a great equalizer where a student and a professor explore unknown ground together. When the project and mentor are a good fit for the student, there is no better way to teach or to learn.

There are a number of good reasons for a student to consider getting involved in undergraduate research. The most important reasons are to explore a passion and learn about a discipline much more deeply than can be done in a classroom. Other reasons are to define strengths and interests, help decide whether or not a research career is of interest, make connections in a discipline, develop problem-solving skills, make a connection with a mentor who can write an insightful letter of reference, get some credit or pay, and, of course, just to have fun!

A quality undergraduate research experience is unparalleled in its effectiveness in bringing about an intellectual maturity in students and providing them with experience useful for academic and career path decisions. Undergraduate research develops problem-solving skills and promotes the integration of what students learn in the rather compartmentalized classroom experience.

Research opportunities abound at a world-class research university like the University of Rochester.

O

September 10, 2013I’ve worked over two summers to build a magneto-optical trap that will soon become part of an undergraduate teaching lab at the university.A magneto-optical trap uses laser beams and a magnetic f ield to trap a cloud of atoms. Eventually, the atoms reach temperatures of several hundred micro-Kelvin above absolute zero: thousands of times colder than outer space. This process is the f irst step in creating clouds of ultra-cold atoms, called Bose-Einstein condensates, whose quantum mechanical properties are a very active f ield of research.

I have presented work relating to this project at the APS Frontiers in Optics Undergraduate Session, the Rochester Symposium for Physics Students, and the University of Rochester Undergraduate Research Expo. I plan to write a senior thesis describing the project.

Repumper

Coo l i ng

Peter Heuer Magneto-Optical Trap Design

Peter Heuer Magneto-Optical Trap DesignO

Undergraduate research encompasses a wide variety of activities and extends to all majors and programs in the College.

O

Avery PalardyTaylor Glacier, Antarctica

Avery PalardyTaylor Glacier, Antarctica

I was among eight scientists, four of them from the University of Rochester, charged with drilling into a glacier in order to study climate change. The ice samples harvested will date back tens of thousands of years, the trapped air inside yielding a preserved snapshot of where the earth’s climate stood at the time, and ultimately how it changed over millennia.

I was among eight scientists, four of them from the University of Rochester, charged with drilling into a glacier in order to study climate change. The ice samples harvested will date back tens of thousands of years, the trapped air inside yielding a preserved snapshot of where the earth’s climate stood at the time, and ultimately how it changed over millennia.

O

I was among eight scientists, four of them from the University of Rochester, charged with drilling into a glacier in order to study climate change. The ice samples harvested will date back tens of thousands of years, the trapped air inside yielding a preserved snapshot of where the earth’s climate stood at the time, and ultimately how it changed over millennia.

I’ve just always wanted to travel and go to neat, obscure places in the world,’I’ve always been interested in the environment, wildlife, seeing things . . . and Antarctica, I guess maybe part of it is because most people don’t get to do it.

I’ve just always wanted to travel and go to neat, obscure places in the world,’I’ve always been interested in the environment, wildlife, seeing things . . . and Antarctica, I guess maybe part of it is because most people don’t get to do it.

I was among eight scientists, four of them from the University of Rochester, charged with drilling into a glacier in order to study climate change. The ice samples harvested will date back tens of thousands of years, the trapped air inside yielding a preserved snapshot of where the earth’s climate stood at the time, and ultimately how it changed over millennia.

Undergraduate Research Q & AIs undergraduate research for all students? No. But, every student should consider it as a possibility.

Is undergraduate research just for scientists? No way. It’s done throughout the University. The University of Rochester is, after all, a research university.

What if I have my own idea for a project? Students may work with a faculty member on an existing research project or on a project based on the student’s own ideas. You must have a faculty advisor for your project. Veryoften in research you end up doing something rather different from what you set out to do. That’s part of the fun!

Can I get funding for an independent project? Maybe. There are several award opportunities described on the Fellowships and Awards page of the Undergraduate Research web site. It is also a good idea to speak with the faculty members working on the project and those working on associatedtopics.

How should I start? Students who are interested in exploring opportunities in undergraduate research should begin by refining their interests and working hard in their classes. Different disciplines differ in their research culture. Students must learn about the culture of research in their area(s) of interest by speaking with faculty and departmental advisors, joining student academic organizations, talking to other students, and exploring departmental resources on the web. A good place to begin is the website of the College Office of Undergraduate Research.

The Office of Undergraduate Research and our web site canhelp you find information about:

O Getting started in research

O The Journal of Undergraduate Research

O Research & Innovation Grant disbursement

O The Barth-Crapsey Award

O Conference Support

O The Discover Grant

O National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research Q & A

The Office of Undergraduate Research and our web site canhelp you find information about: