Designing an Undergraduate Research Project
Designing and orchestrating a research project as an undergraduate can be quite the undertaking. However, do not be intimidated by the challenge! I recommend taking advantage of the opportunity to develop a project in your undergraduate years because you will learn countless new skills through your experience in the process.
First, it is important to perform the experiment in a lab that researches a topic you genuinely enjoy. This way, you get so much more out of your project, as you will be spending a lot of time diving into your subject of choice. Yes, this means diving into the literature and being well-versed in the background surrounding your project. If you choose, you may have the opportunity to present your findings at a conference in the future. Having a vast understanding of the general background will be incredibly useful when explaining the contextual importance of your findings.
Diving into an undergraduate experiment may require you to get funding. Check out the scholarships available for undergraduate researchers at your university. Drafting a scholarship or grant will give you the opportunity to write about your background knowledge and get a rough design for your project. Not to mention, this will also offer a unique experience to specialize your writing and continue to develop your knowledge on the topic.
Speaking of design, be prepared for plans to change. Once the project is underway, there may be logistical hang-ups. Don’t be surprised if things move slower than expected or if plans change frequently and unexpectedly. Stay flexible. This way, the delays or hang-ups won’t seem like a huge stress; they are just another part of the experimental process.
If you can, develop a project that is an offshoot of another experiment going on in the lab so you have the support of others when diving into the literature and building a background of knowledge surrounding your topic. In my case, I was able to design an experiment that enhanced my lab member’s current observational studies for their project, while answering some of my personal questions along the way. By developing a project alongside theirs, I was mentored through animal husbandry, experimental design, data organization, and general communication with others. I really valued this guidance in my first time designing, developing, and taking charge of my own experiment.
Finally, developing a research project can give you a good idea of what it may be like to design and fund a project in graduate school. It is valuable to experience the process on a smaller scale with more assistance, so when you move on to higher education, you will feel-versed in the process.
