Strategies to Develop and Promote Undergraduate Student Interest and Participation in Research

Abstract

Undergraduate students are not always exposed to opportunities to participate in research projects and may not even be thoroughly versed in career options in scientific fields other than medicine. Compounding the problem is that a significant number of colleges with strong academic programs do not have the research infrastructure to support a large number of undergraduate student research projects. In our experiences we found students were knowledgeable about career paths for medical doctors, but not for professors. However, students become very interested in going to graduate school to pursuing a Ph.D. after participation in research projects and attending conferences to present their results. To provide research opportunities we formulated a strategy of seeking out and dissemination information about summer undergraduate research programs, as well as applying for grants focusing on student development and strengthening research infrastructure. Additionally, we bring in seminar speakers to talk to students about research topics as well as travel to research institutions and attend conferences as often as possible. Participation at conferences may be the highlight of their undergraduate activities. Approximately 15 – 20 students apply for and are accepted into summer research programs each year, whereas prior to this only 1 or 2 would be interested. We also established in-house research projects on oyster rehabitation, physiology and biochemistry in which about 10 students participate each year. We have grown from a situation where hardly any student attended national conferences to present research reports to now attending 6 – 7 conferences yearly with about 40 – 50 student presentations.