Taking part in undergraduate research can lead to opportunities with summer research at other institutions and abroad, national fellowships, top-rated jobs, gaining admission and funding for advanced degrees. It can also bring the opportunity to present and publish your work at national professional meetings and in journals, according to the Office of Undergraduate Research at NC State.

“I think research is a valuable experience for students to learn more about their discipline,” said Tiffany Kershner, coordinator for Distinguished Scholarships and Fellowships at NC State. “They get in-depth training and insight into the kinds of questions that are being looked into with more detail in their discipline.”

There are many factors that students should consider when beginning their search for research opportunities, according to Judy Day, associate director of undergraduate research at NC State.

“Students need to think about what it is they can get excited about,” Day said. “Looking for an opportunity in the departments they are majoring in is a starting point, but there is a lot of overlap within subjects.”

The process of finding research that fits with interests and also has availability can prove to be challenging for students.

“I knew my interests, but finding the different opportunities I’ve been involved with has been a rather difficult process,” said Will Garrison, a junior double majoring in chemical engineering and international studies, who currently works in the Sombers lab in the Department of Chemistry. “I thought the lab sounded really interesting so I just went up there one day, introduced myself and my major and a conversation just started from there. Now I’ve been working there ever since.”

Lauren Frey, a sophomore double majoring in environmental sciences and women and gender studies, conducted ethnographic research in Guatemala last summer, concentrating on family planning.

“I was on the Guatemala Ethnographic field methods research program, where I stayed with a host family for 7.5 weeks and we were allowed to study any topic of our choice,” Frey said. “I am really interested in population growth so I studied family planning and did questionnaires, cognitive drawings, interviews, file sorting.”

A common misconception about research is that it can only be conducted in the engineering and science fields.

“NC State is a Research 1 institution and every faculty member is expected, unless he or she has a teaching-only appointment or administration-only appoint, to continue doing research in their discipline,” Day said. “That means there are a lot of people doing things on the cutting-edge across campus, not just in the science, technology, and mathematics, but also in the humanities, design, business, and other areas you don’t think of as traditionally doing research.”

When it comes to looking for opportunities to do research, earlier is better, according to Day.

“It’s something you don’t want to wait too long to do,” Day said. “You need to be thinking about it, at the latest, your junior year.”

Having participated in research can also serve as a valuable asset on applications as well.

“Nowadays with fellowships, in particular the Goldwater, you have to have undergraduate research experience to be competitive because they are looking for future scientists who are going to be innovative within their discipline,” Kershner said. “But even many of the other fellowships, including Fulbright where you can go abroad and do some kind of project, want to see that you have some skills in asking questions and doing further examination of an issue.”

Research experience has been shown to not only to be a resume booster and a valuable learning experience, but also a method of getting to know professors better.

“The letters of recommendation you get from faculty members you do research with can help you accomplish amazing things versus from a professor you’ve only had a couple of classes with,” Day said. “They can not only talk about what you’ve been able to accomplish, but your work ethic, your ability to relate with other people, your collaborative skills and how well you are able to apply your critical thinking skills to solve problems.”

NC State offers many opportunities to learn about and present research.

The university will be hosting the 10th annual State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium on Nov. 22 at the McKimmon Center. Undergraduates from all of North Carolina will be presenting in all disciplines of research, creating a great venue to learn about research topics, labs, and to share research.

NC State also hosts Undergraduate Research Speed Dating, where students can learn about research from professors in various fields. Students can find out more about the other research events on campus online as well.

“These symposia we have are a perfect opportunity for students to talk to other undergraduate students about what research is out there and who they’ve worked with,” Day said.

NC State also offers undergraduate research grants and is currently accepting applications for spring or summer research.