Research Opportunities 

Being engaged in research means being engaged in university life.

Undergraduates, particularly freshmen and sophomores, find that research helps them see the relevance of their coursework, as the concepts come alive during through “real world” examples research provides. Being mentored by faculty, staff, and graduate students in the research setting leads to deeper connections with the university and professional relationships with others. For scholars who find the transition from high school to college difficult, working on research projects may be vital connection that helps you find your niche here at MSU.  To find out opportunities for research, please visit the Opportunities Page and the Research section.

Working as a member of a research team helps to develop important skills in a non-classroom setting.

While much of the “instruction” at universities goes on in the classroom, scholars may also learn valuable skills in other university settings. Undergraduates may learn special research techniques and processes or be trained to use special equipment and software. The research may also require critical thinking, information gathering, computer, problem solving, or statistical skills that might not be taught in the traditional classroom setting.

As part of a research team, scholars may also improve their listening, interpersonal, and communication skills. Students have the opportunity to learn how to work collaboratively with team members, and, at the same time, work independently on their own particular aspect of the research project. Learning to shift between these two ways of working—as a member of a team and independently—is an important skill scholars are likely to draw upon in future work settings.

Participating in research may also assist in career development. Through research, undergraduates are able to explore an area of interest, a major, or a specialization area. Through first-hand, in-depth experience with a subject, they may be better able to gauge their true interest in a subject matter, and consequently make better decisions about their courses, majors, and ultimately their careers.

Participating in research also introduces undergraduates to the culture and expectations of academic life. For those students who continue their careers as researchers, their research experiences—working on a team, working with data, publishing the results, presenting them—are invaluable stepping stones to graduate school or corporate research careers.

Even for students who choose not to pursue active research careers, writing research reports and making professional presentations are valuable experiences. Working with a senior researcher may open doors during the job search through professional connections, relationships, networking, or simply through an excellent letter of recommendation.

Clearly, engaging in research many enrich your life in many ways—personally and professionally. If you haven’t considered being part of a research team or project while you are here at MSU, I’d strongly encourage you to give research a try, even if it is for one semester. You may find that the financial rewards (pay) or academic rewards (credit) aren’t the only things you take away from the experience!

University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum

The University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum provides an opportunity for you to present your work in the form of a poster or oral presentation or creative work. Undergraduates from all MSU Colleges who are engaged in original work are encouraged to participate in this annual forum for research and creative activity. Presentation at the MSU Forum does not preclude students from presenting at other appropriate venues. Links to past year’s forums are located at http://www.msu.edu/user/hcsac/urf/.