Dr. ERNEST BEHRINGER
ADVICE ABOUT RESEARCH
First
things first -- what is research?
One
common definition is the discovery and creation of new knowledge.
If one accepts this definition, then it is clear why research
is hard work: it takes a lot of effort and thought to do something
that is original or new. A lot of the effort initially goes
into learning the base knowledge as well as the standard techniques
and practices in a particular field of study; a lot of the thought
goes into creating a new extension to existing techniques or
a new physical system to be studied. Research requires the ability
to be fairly independent, too, which can develop at different
times for different people. If you are unsure, at least consider
giving research a try -- there is no other way to really find
out whether you like doing research.
If
you are interested in doing research, I suggest that you start
as soon as you can: probably during the spring and summer after
your first full year at EMU. It takes a while to adjust to a
new place, and it's reasonable to make that adjustment without
burdening yourself with a research expectation that isn't realistic.
In addition, you and any potential research advisors are likely
to have more time during the Spring and Summer to really get
something accomplished.
To
find out what kind of research is going on, find out whether
the department has a booklet or web pages that describe its
research activities. Look at the web pages of instructors to
find out what kind of research they do. If the research sounds
interesting, talk with them during their office hours or make
an appointment to talk with them. You should probably seek research
opportunities in the department that contains your major program
of study. If you are interested in doing research, but aren't
interested in doing research in the subject of your major, then
you might consider changing majors.
Do
not expect to get paid. Although a number of faculty are able
to obtain funding to pay undergraduates during the Spring and/or
Summer, there are several faculty who do not have funding but
who are interested in advising student research projects.
The minimum time commitment to achieve something substantive
is about 10 hours each week. In the Spring and/or Summer, that
is an achievable amount of time, even if you're working 40 hours
each week to support yourself. (This is an extreme case, and
does not apply during the academic year when you will typically
have a full-time load of courses.) Keep in mind that by doing
research, you'll be learning skills and concepts through direct
experience - and experience is the greatest teacher. Doing research
is an investment in your future, and can distinguish you from
other students when it comes time to applying for jobs or graduate
school.
