Undergraduates can do research

Maybe you want to find cures to cancer, protect the North Carolina coastline or explore technological advancements.

Bob Pleasants

Or perhaps you want to beef up your resume, go to graduate school or make connections with world-class faculty.

For both aspirational and practical reasons, conducting research as an undergraduate can be a valuable experience. And the Office for Undergraduate Research is a great place to start.

“My biggest hope is that we can make research more accessible to you,” said Bob Pleasants, the office’s director. “Our job is to make it more approachable and help break down the steps.”

Pleasants and four of his office’s student ambassadors offered tips last month at Undergraduate Research 101: How to Get Started, a University Research Week event.

1. Don’t wait to get going — but it’s not too late if you haven’t.

Junior Clara DiVincenzo has worked in Karl Castillo’s lab since the spring semester of her first year at Carolina. She studies how coral reefs respond to climate change and has even traveled to Australia for field work.

“I knew I wanted to study corals, so I searched ‘Coral UNC,’ and the first search result was the lab website,” she said.

Her initial inquiries about conducting research went unanswered, so she followed up with graduate students and made a connection. The process took several months, but taking the initiative meant she still got an early start.

“There’s no such thing as too early,” Pleasants said. “There can be a too late — but you don’t have to get started your first year by any stretch.”

2. Reach out in different ways.

Senior Rashmi Ramanujam conducts research on plant development in Jason Reed’s lab, work she discovered by emailing her faculty adviser.

Talking with a friend in a student group helped lead junior John Boniberger to the lab of Jose Rodríguez-Romaguera, where he does neuroscience research. Kendra Honey’s been researching underlying causes of metabolic diseases in Rob Dowen’s lab all four of her years as a Tar Heel. Talking with an OUR ambassador set her on her way.

Pleasants recommended that students express why they’re interested in a particular lab when reaching out. “It’s a lot of cold emailing. A lot of connecting with people who are already in the lab. A lot of being persistent in sending more than one email,” he said.

OUR student ambassadors Clara DiVencenzo (top left), Rashmi Ramanujam (top right), John Boniberger (bottom left) and Kendra Honey (bottom right) offered advice on finding undergraduate research opportunities.

3. Don’t be afraid of inexperience.

Students might fear not knowing enough to do research.

“Don’t feel like, ‘Oh, I don’t have these skills, so I shouldn’t even try,” Boniberger said. “Showing you’re willing to learn and willing to work hard” is what’s valuable, he said.

Honey said she didn’t know what she was saying when she interviewed to work at her lab. But she proved she had done her homework and made a good impression.

“They’re willing to train you and help you figure it out,” Pleasants said.

4. Figure out what you’re passionate about.

If you know you want to research but haven’t homed in on a focus, cast a wide net and proactively explore. The OUR website includes a database of research opportunities. Typing in any research topic plus “UNC” in search engines has helped numerous students. Talking to your professors about their research or that of their colleagues can be fruitful.

“Meet with as many people as you can, and don’t be afraid if you realize after that their research interests aren’t aligned with yours,” Ramanujam said.

Research is supposed to be rewarding and fun — but it’s still work. Make sure it’s a worthwhile experience.

“Look into everything,” DiVincenzo said. “Try to find a lab that is actually interesting to you.”