Creating Effective Undergraduate Research Programs in Science


Book Description

This is the first comprehensive, data-based study of the benefits to students who actively participate in authentic science research programs. The book features contributors from a variety of institutions who bring together studies of undergraduate research programs. They focus on identifying the successful elements of each program, and then draw valuable conclusions about the effects those programs have on the students. Providing much-needed information about the organization and administration of programs and the challenges to create and sustain viable research opportunities, this essential resource: Features a variety of perspectives, including those of external evaluators, longtime program directors, participants, and administrators. Identifies the characteristics of effective programs and the kinds of gains that faculty and administrators can expect from them. Examines the barriers to research opportunities, including lack of departmental and institutional resources and inadequate faculty compensation. Can be used as a primer for creating programs and for determining their effectiveness.




Launching a Successful Research Program at a Teaching University


Book Description

This practical guide addresses the challenges for building and maintaining a college research program in an environment that does not focus on supporting research activity and for those with a heavy teaching load. The challenges faced by teacher-researchers and solutions to issues are reviewed. The steps for maximizing research productivity are outlined: time management, obtaining research space and equipment and funding, recruiting and managing human subjects, and overcoming bureaucratic stumbling blocks. Chapters feature opening vignettes, examples, cases, figures, tables, summaries, suggested readings, and research references which provide a scientific grounding. Highlights include coverage of: -The latest time saving digital resources including automatic literature search alerts, Zotero for managing literature, Dropbox for sharing files, Open Science for managing workflow, and OpenSesame and OpenStax Tutor. -Strategies for recruiting subjects such as flyers and posting lab meeting minutes on a web page. - How to increase research productivity while still engaging in effective teaching. -The problems of the availability of human subjects and strategies for recruiting from classes, offering extra credit for research participation, and participation as a course requirement. - Using students as volunteer research assistants and strategies for recruiting and managing volunteers along with ethical considerations. -Bureaucratic stumbling blocks and strategies for overcoming those challenges. - How to use browser/word processor add-ons that store and organize literature in a searchable library and produce citations and reference lists. -The use of free open source software to design experiments and collect data and free cloud based resources to store electronic research files. The steps for maximizing research productivity are outlined in chapter 1: time management, obtaining research space and equipment and funding, recruiting and managing human subjects, and overcoming bureaucratic stumbling blocks, along with impediments and solutions for establishing a research program. Strategies to overcome time constraints including automatic literature searches, Zotero for managing your literature, Dropbox for sharing files, and the Open Science Framework for managing workflow are provided in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 provides tips on obtaining funding. Chapters 4 and 5 provide strategies for recruiting and managing research participants such as ad hoc recruiting from classes, offering extra credit for research participation, and participation as a course requirement. The book concludes with a review of other items to consider when developing a research program. Intended for professional development or teacher training courses offered in masters and doctoral programs in colleges and universities or as a supplement in graduate level research methods courses, this book is also an invaluable resource for faculty development centers and university administrators. Designed for both early career and veteran teacher-researchers looking to enhance their research productivity, this book appeals to college teachers of all levels and disciplines.




Designing and Managing a Research Project


Book Description

`The authors did an excellent job of addressing many of the "real world" issues in conducting a business research project. They have given care to address some of the issues that often represent the major stumbling blocks for students engaged in business research projects.... An excellent text.... It is concise, very readable and addresses many of the issues that we, as instructors, grapple with as we assign research projects′ - Andrew M Forman, PhD, Hofstra University Designing and Implementing a Research Project is a concise, easy to read text designed to guide business students through the various aspects of designing and managing research projects. The focus is on research projects that have a solid academic basis, although some implications for more applied projects are also highlighted. It is divided into three main sections, `Laying the Foundations′, `Undertaking the Research′, and `Communicating the Results′, which present a logical flow for the research project. A unique aspect of the book is the inclusion of particular chapters on topics like supervision, group work and ethics, and the focus of the discussion of data analysis (qualitative and quantitative). The authors have applied their years of past experience in supervising student projects, when writing this book to provide some actual examples of problems and practical guidelines. This unique book presents a step-by-step guide for undertaking research projects that is multidisciplinary in focus and student friendly in style. It could be used, as either a text, or a supplementary text on courses in management (including industrial psychology) and marketing. Graduate students in related fields such as health care administration, public administration, and nursing administration would also find this text useful.




Designing and Implementing a Successful Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Program


Book Description

Designing and Implementing a Successful Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Program is designed as a resource for faculty, administrators and university leaders interested in developing new, or expanding existing, undergraduate research programs. The book provides a practical handbook addressing the many 'how to' questions associated with running a successful undergraduate research enterprise - ranging from how to organize an undergraduate research office, to how to find funding, foster cross-campus relationships, and develop learning outcomes for students in order to maximize the benefits of the research experience. It also addresses best practices in mentoring, how faculty mentorship fits within the discussion of tenure and promotion, and the basics of assessment, both for funder reporting and program improvement. Containing a series of vignettes offering specific advice from program directors, faculty mentors, and university administrators from a diverse array of universities and colleges, this book showcases their hands-on tips, advice and lessons learned. Addressing key issues through real-world experience, the authors show how to build effective cross-disciplinary undergraduate research programs with positive impacts for students and faculty.




Designing and Implementing a Successful Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Program


Book Description

Designing and Implementing a Successful Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Program is designed as a resource for faculty, administrators, and university leaders interested in developing new, or expanding existing, undergraduate research programs. The book provides a practical handbook addressing the many "how to" questions associated with running a successful undergraduate research enterprise – ranging from how to organize an undergraduate research office, to how to find funding, foster cross-campus relationships, and develop learning outcomes for students in order to maximize the benefits of the research experience. It also addresses best practices in mentoring, how faculty mentorship fits within the discussion of tenure and promotion, and the basics of assessment, for both funder reporting and program improvement. Containing a series of vignettes offering specific advice from program directors, faculty mentors, and university administrators from a diverse array of universities and colleges, this book showcases their hands-on tips, advice, and lessons learned. Addressing key issues through real-world experience, the authors show how to build effective cross-disciplinary undergraduate research programs with positive impacts for students and faculty.




The Indispensable Guide to Undergraduate Research


Book Description

Despite all of the information that exists to encourage students to attend and do well in college, this is the first research-based guide that directly advises first- and second-year college students. With a focus on the needs and interests of students who are underrepresented in the academy (African American, Latinx, low-income, and first-generation students), this book will help all students take full advantage of the academic resources that the university setting has to offer. The authors introduce students to different types of research across the disciplines, showing them how to work with professors to build a course of study, how to integrate research work into coursework, and how to write and present research. This timely volume will also assist faculty, staff, and parents in providing the needed tools to promote student success. Book Features: Prepares students for the transition from high school to college with a focus on writing, time management, and research skills.Addresses the challenges that face high-achieving, underrepresented students.Empowers students to seek out resources and research opportunities to achieve their full academic potential.Includes models, approaches, student voices, and vignettes from the authors’ successful undergraduate research program. “A must read for every college student. This practical guide provides a roadmap for success as a researcher, a scholar, and a learner.” —Tia Brown McNair, Association of American Colleges & Universities “Faculty mentors and administrative leaders who aspire to be effective sponsors and supporters of students from diverse backgrounds should definitely acquire this resource.” —Elizabeth L. Ambos, Council on Undergraduate Research “What I love about this book is the broader, humanistic conversation about how pursuing research becomes a window into how one becomes a supremely informed and critical citizen.” —Armando Bengochea, director, Mellon-Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program




Enhancing and Expanding Undergraduate Research: A Systems Approach


Book Description

Undergraduate research is a high-impact practice that sparks students’ interest in learning, and it improves retention, student success, graduation rates, and postgraduation achievement. Many individual campuses have offered these programs for several years, and the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) has partnered with state systems of higher education and public and private consortia to foster the institutionalization of undergraduate research. This volume illustrates many of the successes that entire systems/consortia and their campuses have achieved, such as: connecting undergraduate research to the curriculum, student success and completion, especially for underrepresented students creating cross-campus discussions on curricula and pedagogy, research collaborations among departments and campuses, and enhanced interdisciplinary activities addressing the challenges of workforce development and faculty issues—especially workload and tenure/promotion. This the 169th volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Higher Education. Addressed to presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other higher education decision makers on all kinds of campuses, it provides timely information and authoritative advice about major issues and administrative problems confronting every institution.




Entering Research


Book Description

For students whose experience with science has been primarily in the classroom, it can be difficult to identify and contact potential mentors, and to navigate the transition to a one-on-one, mentor-student relationship. This is especially true for those who are new to research, or who belong to groups that are underrepresented in research. The Entering Research curriculum offers a mechanism to structure the independent research experience, and help students overcome these challenges.




Starting and Sustaining Undergraduate Student Research


Book Description

The purpose of this series is to provide resources related to teaching and career development for faculty at all stages of their careers and to scientists considering careers in industry. Young faculty [or graduate students and post docs thinking about going into academia] will find valuable information about how to design a course, how to find the right job, including academia and industry, and how to incorporate undergraduate research into their programs. Future volumes will be focused on a wide variety of topics including grant writing, how to incorporate service learning and outreach into the curriculum, mentoring and how to work towards increasing diversity in both the classroom and the college or university. For more established faculty interested in career development, or who are considering changes in career direction, such as transitions to industry, or who are simply interested in keeping up with new pedagogy, future volumes will include ones dedicated to "navigating the tenure and promotion process", being an effective department chair, developing courses for non science majors, assessing student learning and changing careers midstream. Written by acknowledged experts, each volume will provide practical guidelines geared towards faculty in a variety of institutions as well as discussion of problems and potential solutions facing both academics in the life sciencesand those working in industry. Undergraduate research in the life sciences is recognized as playing a critical role in both the overall education of a student and in preparing a student to go on to graduate work in the life sciences. Furthermore, pedagogical research shows that early and sustained involvement in research activities benefits the student far more than either a senior year research experience or a single summer research experience. This monograph, "Starting and Sustaining Undergraduate Student Research"is aimed at faculty setting up an undergraduate research program and will deal with topics from recruiting first year students and designing suitable projects that can be sustained throughout their undergraduate experience to how to fully integrate their research activities with broader educational goals that will provide them with meaningful skills for their future.