Undergrad Research: Overcome Intimidation & Enjoy

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the experiences and feelings of undergraduate students seeking research positions in physics. Participants share their concerns about intimidation and perceived inadequacies in knowledge, while exploring the nature of undergraduate contributions to research teams.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses intimidation about approaching professors for research positions, noting a common feeling among peers regarding their readiness to contribute.
  • Another participant suggests that undergraduates are not expected to have extensive knowledge and emphasizes the importance of enthusiasm and interest over expertise.
  • Some participants question the feasibility of undergraduates assisting in research when they have not yet mastered foundational concepts from their curriculum.
  • Concerns are raised about the nature of tasks assigned to undergraduates, with one participant suggesting that much of the work may be menial and not intellectually demanding.
  • A participant shares personal experience from multiple undergraduate research projects, indicating that while some tasks can be meaningful, they often require significant time investment for relatively simple outcomes.
  • There is a mention of variability in mentorship styles, with some professors providing clear, manageable tasks while others may have less structured projects.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the feelings of intimidation and uncertainty regarding their contributions as undergraduates. However, there is no consensus on the value of undergraduate research roles, with differing opinions on the nature of tasks and expectations from professors.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the balance between learning and contributing in a research setting, highlighting a potential disconnect between undergraduate education and research expectations.

w3390
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Hi guys,

This summer I am looking to get involved in research at my university. I am eager to go and meet with a professor to see if I can hold a position for him, but I am very intimidated and I sometimes feel like I don't know enough to contribute to a research team. I have been told, however, that everyone else in the physics program is in a similar situation and I shouldn't worry so much and just apply for a position and have fun.

Have any of you guys been in a situation similar to mine and, if so, how did you get past the intimidation and how was your experience?
 
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Don't worry, you're not expected to know anything. Keep in mind that they're doing you a favor if they take you on; undergrads are almost never actually useful as research assistants but do take up a ton of time. However, that's not to say you shouldn't plan to slack off or not try at all. They expect you to be interested and enthusiastic - nothing's worse than a sullen research assistant who never shows up on time or accomplishes what they're asked to do.
 
Yeah that's what I don't get. I'm also an undergrad looking to do some research. It doesn't make sense for us to try to uncover something new when we haven't even learned what is known (i.e. the undergrad curriculum) but how do we go about trying to "assist" someone?
 
Doe anyone have any actual research experience? Like the guys above said, what can you actually do with only a couple years of undergraduate education?
 
WatermelonPig said:
Yeah that's what I don't get. I'm also an undergrad looking to do some research. It doesn't make sense for us to try to uncover something new when we haven't even learned what is known (i.e. the undergrad curriculum) but how do we go about trying to "assist" someone?

Because the professor has better things to do then mix a chemical for 4 hours straight when they can just trick an undergrad into doing it for free.

And I'm serious. Not every single thing that needs to be done in a research program requires a phd in physics to do. There is a lot of mindless busy work that has to be done sometimes.
 
I did 4 undergrad research projects as an undergrad. One of them ended up with an acknowledgment in a paper, the other as co-author (2nd of 3). If the professor has something very specific planned out for you, a piece of a project which it is possible to complete in a few months and learn all that's necessary to do it and you work hard, it is possible to be somewhat useful. However, that part of the paper that took me two months to do could have been done by my adviser in about a day. I find the same thing is true when I have students working for me (in grad school and into my postdoc). Some mentors will have something specific for you, some will have vague project ideas that never amount to anything, and someone might just have you doing lab work (from growing samples to cleaning).
 

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