Research Opportunities for Students
Consider the top 10 skills Employers wanted in 2015 Graduates (Forbes.com)
- Teamwork
- Decision making and problem solving
- Verbal communication skills
- Planning, organizing, and prioritizing work
- Obtaining and processing information
- Analyzing quantitative data
- Technical knowledge related to the job
- Computer software skills
- Creating and/or editing written reports
- Salesmanship
Undergraduate research helps in the development of most, if not all of these skills.
- Have you ever wished that you could take more time investigating an intriguing topic a teacher brought up?
- Do you anticipate needing letters of recommendation from professors?
- Are you unsure about the career path you want to take or eager to learn more about the career path you chose?
- Do you wish you had more practice in the lab, other than the opportunities you had in class?
- Do you wish you had more practice with software you used for a class project, or to practice your math and statistics skills?
- Are you worried about what to put down on your resume that will be attractive to potential employers?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, consider getting involved in a research project with a professor. It is a great opportunity to explore and pursue your interests at your own pace, interact one on one with your professors, and hone skills that take time to develop (such as lab or technical writing skills).
How do I get involved?
Talk to a faculty member and tell them you want to do a research project. The faculty member can suggest a project for you based on your interests, or help you refine an idea you may have.
Check the listings on the Penn State page on Research Opportunities for Undergraduates. You can search by campus, faculty name, or keyword. Talk to individual faculty members for more ideas.