{"103031":{"#nid":"103031","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Undergraduate Research: Learning by Doing","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EChristopher W. Reaves, Ph.D.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nDirector, Undergraduate Research and Student Innovation\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf your student wants to apply what they are learning in the classroom to gain practical experience, then they should look into doing undergraduate research. It is one of the many opportunities that Georgia Tech offers students as a leading research university. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMisconception:\u003C\/strong\u003E Undergraduate research is only available if the faculty advertises an opening.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003EThe reality:\u003C\/strong\u003E Few undergraduate research opportunities are initiated by a professor posting an opportunity. The best way for students to get involved is to review faculty webpages and see who is doing research that they find exciting. Then contact the professor, tell them you are really interested in their research, and request a meeting to discuss their research. If students want more guidance on this, they can talk to their school\u00e2\u0080\u0099s undergraduate coordinator. \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.undergradresearch.gatech.edu\/students\/research-opportunities\/undergraduate-coordinators\u0022\u003EClick here\u003C\/a\u003E to locate a coordinator.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMisconception:\u003C\/strong\u003E Students don\u00e2\u0080\u0099t have time for undergraduate research because of classes or jobs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003EThe reality:\u003C\/strong\u003E Undergraduate research is extremely flexible and can be done for course credit or pay. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* Course Credit: In nearly every major the research credit counts toward the degree, and it can also be extended to allow a student to graduate with the \u00e2\u0080\u009cResearch Option.\u00e2\u0080\u009d \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.undergradresearch.gatech.edu\/research-option\u0022\u003EClick here\u003C\/a\u003E for more information.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* Pay: Most faculty have funding through grants to pay students a stipend, but Georgia Tech also has the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.undergradresearch.gatech.edu\/funding\/pura\u0022\u003EPresident\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Undergraduate Research Awards\u003C\/a\u003E (PURA). Students can apply for this award. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E* Time: Students can do research for 9 hours\/week or 40 hours\/week. All this is up to the student and the faculty member. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMisconception:\u003C\/strong\u003E Research is only in labs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003EThe reality:\u003C\/strong\u003E There are opportunities in every field. Students have worked with faculty on research in a broad spectrum of topics: designing robots that explore other planets, collecting coral samples to look at past climates, or analyzing the desegregation of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMisconception:\u003C\/strong\u003E Students can\u00e2\u0080\u0099t do research until they are juniors or seniors.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003EThe reality:\u003C\/strong\u003E Students can begin research at any time during their undergraduate career. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMisconception:\u003C\/strong\u003E Only a few undergraduate students are involved in research.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cstrong\u003EThe reality:\u003C\/strong\u003E Last year there were approximately 2,500 undergraduate students doing research with faculty. There are plenty of opportunities. Encourage your student to explore!\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor more information on Undergraduate Research at Georgia Tech, visit \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.undergradresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Ewww.undergradresearch.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\n\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"If your student wants to apply what they are learning in the classroom to gain practical experience, then they should look into doing undergraduate research. It is one of the many opportunities that Georgia Tech offers students as a leading research university.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Students gain practical expereince with undergraduate research."}],"uid":"27164","created_gmt":"2011-11-01 00:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:11:17","author":"Rachael Pocklington","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2011-11-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2011-11-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1298","name":"Parent and Family Programs"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1020","name":"counseling center"},{"id":"9024","name":"depression"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cstrong\u003ERachael Pocklington\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EParents Program\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/contact\/index.html?id=rpocklington3\u0022\u003EContact Rachael Pocklington\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E404-385-3920\u003C\/strong\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["rachael.pocklington@vpss.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}