"Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought."
- Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Research is about passion and exploring the unknown.
Research is the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
This knowledge can come in different varieties such as:
The research can happen in any discipline:
Research can happen anywhere:
Undergraduate research is a scholarly study in any discipline in which inquiry, discovery, and creativity culminate advancements in science, technology, the arts, or humanities.
Any undergraduate chosen by a mentor may participate in UGR. Students from all disciplines - from anthropology, history, design, English to physics, microbiology and business management - can engage in the excitement of scholarly research.
Research is an opportunity for you to identify something that interests you and study it in depth. It is up to you to seek out the information you need from textbooks and primary sources.
Research involves:
This approach tends to be how learning happens outside of school - not by memorization and regurgitation but by trial, error, and hopefully, success. Immersing yourself in research will teach you how to do the work on your own.
You can make significant contributions to the research effort and scholarly productivity at UNCW. As a result, you will:
Indeed, most graduate programs will expect to see some record of undergraduate research as a requirement for admissions. All fields of industry welcome students who already have the kind of applicable job experience and training gained through the practice of research.
There are a variety of benefits for undergraduate students who get involved in research. Research experience will allow undergraduate students to
Participating in research as undergraduates leads many students to discover their passion for research and continue to graduate studies and faculty positions.
A direct benefit of research starts in the classroom. When investigating any phenomenon in class, it is useful to know how the original study was performed. By engaging in UGR, students will find it easier to understand the reasoning behind others' research.
Additionally, UGR can provide students with an ongoing source of one-on-one mentorship that is unheard of in the undergraduate curriculum. A less direct benefit, and one that is more difficult to teach in the classroom, is the balance between independence and collaboration.
Research is often performed in collaborative teams, and one must learn to balance a collaborative effort in the laboratory with work that can be accomplished independently. Interdisciplinary work is difficult to teach in the classroom, and on-the-job experience with teams is a bonus for any workplace environment.
The nature of research today is such that interdisciplinary teams are becoming the norm and gaining firsthand experience in teamwork should be encouraged.
Exposure to an area of research can assist students in exploring potential career fields. The earlier students become involved, the more experience they attain, which enhances their career choice. Some undergraduates who are unsure what to do when they attain their undergraduate degree, will proceed to graduate school with the ill-fated idea that it is the next logical step after undergraduate studies.
This will leave them ill-prepared for the strenuous coursework to come. If they have undergraduate experience in research, they are more likely to know if they enjoy research. Through UGR, undergraduate students may discover a passion for research they never knew existed.
After your experience, encourage others to do the same and help them do what you've done.
See departmental websites and offices for more information.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact CSURF (stop by the office or send us an email at CSURF@uncw.edu) for more information and application materials.