Are you ready for Research?
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Participating in scientific research can be a
highly valuable and rewarding part of your undergraduate education
here at CU. Many students develop their interests, skills and contacts
by working on one or more projects during their time at university.
Working in a research program can also be a
significant help in ensuring success in your post-graduation
plans. Research experience is highly recommended for those who are
considering post-graduate academic programs, and can help you decide
whether this is the right path for you. For any career path, a
research advisor can provide letters of reference and valuable
contacts. Being able to describe your research accomplishments can
make your resume a standout when applying for nearly any type of job
after graduation.
Students typically start to acquire useful skills,
solidify their understanding of foundational math and physics
concepts, and hone their interests after at least a year in our
major. Below is a list of things you should consider, and steps you
can take to help you get started.
You should keep in mind that finding research work
may be competitive, and that resources may be tight (time for
supervising your work, as well as pay). You will likely have to be
patient and persistent to find a good match to your skill set and
interests.
- Is your academic record solid? If your GPA (either
cumulative or in your math and science classes) is less than about
2.7-3.0, we STRONGLY suggest that you postpone an extracurricular
activity like research until you can improve your grades. We offer
free homework help rooms and other tutoring and mentoring
support. Please talk to your academic advisor AND your APS mentor
about resources you can access to boost your academic
performance.
- Do you have useful research skills? Many research jobs require
computer programming and data analysis skills, and so we highly
recommend taking ASTR 2600 (Computational Techniques) or an equivalent
programming class before you start looking for a research
project. ASTR 3800 (Data Analysis and Computing) can also build
relevant skills, as can ASTR 3510/20 (Observations and
Instrumentation), engineering and writing classes. Pre-professional
work can also take the form of being a Learning Assistant or
participating in the wide range of outreach, teaching and tutoring
opportunities here at CU. Beyond Boulder is a program to help you
explore the many career paths you might make, and help you identify
the skills you should master in college. The schedule for this weekly
series is here, and is also emailed to all majors.
- Polish your resume. A good resume can serve as an
introduction to a potential supervisor and you should have one handy
when starting to look for a project. Make sure your skills (above)
are highlighted, as well as the relevant classes you’ve completed and
your grades in them.
- Get to know people. We strongly recommend attending the
weekly Faculty Research talk series, which is held every fall semester
(find the schedule here.) Faculty members
in APS describe theirresearch in an informal setting, and you can see
if these topics excite you, ask questions, and find out about the
sorts of things undergraduate students might do. While you will
probably have a faculty member oversee your work, you may work more
closely with a non-faculty scientist on their specific projects.
- Follow up. You’ll almost never get someone to say “Yes, I have the perfect
project for you!” on your first introduction. If you are truly interested in an
opportunity, make sure your potential supervisor knows this and give them a
copy of your resume. Ask if you can attend their research group meetings to
learn more. Research projects have been created by students who have learned
about a field during these meetings, and then came up with a good question to
explore, or were able to offer a needed skill.
- Participation in research takes many forms. Some students
will want to work towards completing an independent project for
publication or for an Honors Thesis. However, there are many other
opportunities: data assessment and analysis, systems operations,
programming, and building instruments are some examples. Learn about
the methods used in different research programs and work towards
developing the needed skills. Consider working as an apprentice for a
while, to get to know the people and the work, and build these
skills. Figure out how you can become essential- and then you will be
essential!
- Getting academic credit. Completing a 1-credit independent study (ASTR
4840/4841) can be a great way to explore a research topic. You will need to
make a written agreement with your supervisor about what work should be
completed during the semester, and what criteria will be used to assign you a
grade. In general, 1 credit should be equivalent to about 5-6 hours of work a
week and more than 1 credit per semester will require a very strong justification.
Then you need fill out the relevant forms at the APS office. Your supervisor does
not have to be a faculty member, but one has to sign your paperwork and agree
to submit your grade at the end of the semester. Note that while ASTR 4840/41
are technically upper-division classes, you cannot use them for the required
upper-division courses for our major.
- Getting paid. There are sometimes paid positions
available to support funded research programs. Keep your eyes open and
check your CU email for these opportunities. Other positions are not
advertised, and arise when you and a potential supervisor work out a
plan that supports research covered by a grant. You can also apply
for CU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) funding for
your research- both salary and research expenses. There are
application deadlines several times a year for both academic-year and
summer funds. You can find more information here.
- Writing a thesis. Students who are eligible can get Latin
Honors upon graduation if they complete an Honors Thesis, usually
during their last year of studies. More information can be found here.
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