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I've been selected for a URO position.
Now what?
Students
Once you've been selected, you can start working with your mentor.
Here are a few things to think about:
1. Mark Chew, an undergraduate researcher with Prof. Pister, has
created a webpage in which he talks about his experiences as an
undergraduate researcher. Click
here to be brought to the page. Also, Dr. Sheila Humphreys of
EECS has recorded Prof. Neureuther's thoughts on getting started
in research. Click here to open this
document.
2. Faculty are very busy, so don't be shy to approach the faculty
mentor to show your enthusiasm and to let her/him know you're ready
to begin.
3. The number of hours that you work per week is something you
negotiate with your mentor. Please confirm with your mentor that
you both have the same understanding about the expected number of
hours of participation. Mentors are flexible and realize that you
may have to modify your schedule during exam times.
4. A few students mentioned in their 2002-2003 feedback reports
that they wished there were definite goals and/or a timeline when
they started their project. A few other students indicated they
were confused over to whom they should report and discuss problems
(e.g., grad student vs. postdoc vs. faculty mentor). Other students
wished they had a timecard. Different mentors and student researchers
have different styles. You may need to approach your mentor to discuss
how you can make the experience work for you both.
5. Keep the line of communication between you and your mentor open
and notify your mentor if you have to request a schedule change
or if you have to talk to her/him about another matter. You will
find that solutions can be reached if a dialogue is started.
6. At the end of each term submission of a completed final
feedback report is required before stipends are released. These
reports are valuable to us because we use your feedback to constantly
revamp the program. (For example, a few years ago a student suggested
that students be notified about how to begin working with the mentor,
and that suggestion evolved into this web page.) More info on the
report will follow in November for the Fall report and in March/April
for the Spring report.
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