Undergraduate researcher, Tyler Gunn with faculty mentor, Dr Thomas Peter.
faq
Q: Can I get credit for doing research?
A: Your research involvement can earn you credits toward graduation. Registration for a research course
can also make your experience a more visible part of your academic record. In addition, credit hours earned through
research may also be part of a department's requirements for Graduation with Honors. Course options for research can be
found in most departments and are also available through the University Honors Program (143:100 Honors Research
Practicum). Research registrations are generally variable credit courses (1-3 s.h.) that can be repeated. You and
your faculty mentor will determine how many credit hours you should register for based on how much time you spend
on the project each week; you can continue to do this for several semesters. A rule of thumb for determining credit
hours in research courses is 1 credit hour for each 3 hours of work per week. For example, for a 3 credit hour
research course registration, you are expected to work 9-10 hours per week on the project. Research courses are
generally graded on a Satisfactory/Fail basis. You may not receive credit hours and be paid for the same research
experience.
Q: How do I register my research as an internship?
A: The Pomeranz Career Center is the best place to learn about registering an internship.
Q: How hard is it to do research, with a faculty?
A: Working with faculty is not hard to do. Students who personally introduce themselves to the
faculty, visit their office hours and inquire about their area of study are usually the most successful in connecting
with faculty on their research.
Q: How soon should I start thinking about research?
A: It is never to early to start thinking about research. There are research opportunities for
all undergraduates regardless of class. Email the ICRU office to schedule an appointment to talk about individual interests.
Q: How can I apply for awards?
A: If you need to apply for the awards: Check the date and make sure you don’t miss the deadline.
Work on your application and revisions with an advisor to assure that you have a strong application.
If the award listed requires a faculty application and you haven’t been talking to a faculty member:
1. Identify an award of interest
2. Find a Faculty member who is undertaking research in an area of interest and indicate you interest in helping them with their work.
3. Guide the Faculty member to the ICRU site and offer to help work on the proposal.
Q: Where can I learn more?
A:If you are interested in research, talk to your academic advisor, your departmental honors advisor, and/or the staff
at the University Honors Program. These advisors can inform you about resources to help students get involved in
research. If you are in a program that fosters your interest in the sciences, such as Women in Science and Engineering
or the Iowa Biosciences Advantage program, use whatever assistance is available to you. And most importantly, be
persistent - persistence is essential in research and may be just as important during the process of searching for
the right research opportunity.