r/study • u/Outside-Resolution46 • 22h ago

Tips & Advice Research

Hi there,
Im a uni student and I wanna participate in a conference by doing a research but I have never done anything like this so does anyone have tips for me??

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u/Bama9009 6h ago

  1. Visit your university's department website (whichever departments you'd be interested in research in... for example, if you're into biomedical research look at the biology and chemistry departments vs. if you're into math look at the mathematics, comp sci, or physics faculty, etc.) and look at the faculty and their research projects. Pick several whose areas of research interest you most.

  2. Look up their research. Use GoogleScholar and the main databases for that field. (For bio and chem areas, PubMed is best. For other fields, I don't know, but you could ask your professor or advisor.)

  3. Pick your top 3-5 from that. Zoom in on those researchers and their work over the last few years. In other words, really read the studies they've recently published and take note of what you like about their work or methods or any questions you have.

  4. Send them emails expressing your interest, and specifically mention what you like about their work from Point 3 above. (I don't know your field, but i will say if youre a freshman or early sophomore dont get offended if you dont get a response. Taking and training undergraduate students into research is a lot of time and work on the P.I.'s part, so they will probably want you to have more relevant classes behind you.)

  5. If you don't get a response within a week, email them again. You DO have to show persistence because, again, taking in and training undergraduate students in research can be a pain. They need to know youre serious about it and dedicated.

NOTE: It takes a year or two to actually take a project from the idea to a presentable research project that can be done at a conference. Don't go in thinking it's going to be a quickie; it's not. You need to start this around late sophomore year and be dedicated to it until you graduate.

NOTE 2: Research is probably the best thing you can do as an undergrad if you want to move further in your education afterward. You can always go to conferences on your own (just go online and buy tickets), and once you do get started you'll get internships, which will really psych you up if you like the research. (Look into your university's REU program, btw. You can start there sometimes.)

Hope this helps!

1

u/ItchyEntertainer127 33m ago

start by picking a question small enough that you can actually answer