If this year's Undergraduate Research Opportunity Conference (UROC) at The University of New Mexico is any indication, more first-year students are jumping into research. Mentors hope that through participating in research opportunities at UNM, first-year students will eventually find their lifelong research passions.
UROC is a professional research conference reserved solely for undergraduates to spotlight their research, explain their ideas, and display what they have to offer in their respective fields and majors.
"One of the great outcomes for this year's UROC is the significant increase in first-year students presenting at UROC," said Jennifer Chamberlin Payne, Senior Student Success Specialist for the UNM Undergraduate Research, Arts & Design Network (URAD) whose mission is to guide undergraduates down a path to success. "We went from one student in 2023 to 16 this year and also from 34 majors represented last year to 50 this year. It's really exciting to see all the various disciplines and grade levels presenting this year."
Anjali Mulchandani, assistant professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Communication and Journalism David Weiss, and Jake Greenberg, lecturer at UNM University and Honors colleges, all mentored first-year students at UROC 2024.
"UROC is an amazing way to bring students together to get excited about research," Greenberg enthused. "It is a way for these burgeoning researchers to gain presentation experience without committing to go to a national conference, with all the conference fees and potential travel cost associated."
The mentors hope the increase in first-year students at UROC indicates a trend and that they'll find their research interests they will pursue throughout their lives.
"There are many programs available for undergraduates to start getting involved in research early. URAD has done an excellent job of advertising to undergraduates and working with them through advising to discuss research opportunities. (Shoutout to Jennifer Payne for her work!) UNM is an R1 institution, and one of the values of attending this university as an undergraduate is to participate in undergraduate research opportunities and engage with graduate students and faculty outside of the classroom," Mulchandani said.
"I know University College and our partners, like the College Enrichment Program and Women's Resource Center, are working hard to continue this trend in the future. I am actively applying for funding to support first-year research, and I know this attitude is being championed by many of my colleagues at the Albuquerque and branch campuses," Greenberg added.
The value of UROC
"UROC is an amazing platform and opportunity to showcase undergraduate research," Mulchandani said. "Students get a chance to practice their research communication experience, from designing a poster or a talk, to presenting, answering questions, and engaging with other undergraduates who are also participating in research experiences."
She recalled her own similar experience at the University of California, Los Angeles: "I presented my work at a similar venue called Undergraduate Science Poster Day. I remember the experience being very formative, it was my first time making a research poster. I remember going back and forth with my graduate and faculty advisor taking comments and feedback and editing my poster, nervously standing in front of it in a giant conference hall and talking to faculty and other attendees about my work. It was exciting! It encouraged me to continue in research, and I hope that UROC does the same for our undergraduates here at UNM."
"Preparing their presentations – and my guidance on doing so – gave my students insights into the academic, scholarly life, which they found invaluable. The processes of preparation and presentation opened up a new world to them, one that is usually accessible only to graduate students. It solidified their desires to go to grad school and pursue academic careers," Weiss commented, adding, "My first- and second-year undergrads were so excited about their projects, so willing to learn about how to become scholars, and felt so privileged to get this peek behind the curtain of scholarship and the academic life. They had terrific ideas and smart instincts, yet they recognized that this was essentially a new set of experiences for them and so they were open to new ideas – and to learning about the conventions and traditions of academia."
Following student research interests
Mulchandani, who direct the Grand Challenge Undergraduate Water Science Communication Fellowship, actively recruits undergraduates to work in her research lab. The number of undergrads participating is also trending upward in the program's three years, from 10 students in 2022 to 15 this year, with 19 majors and nine departments represented over the three years. There, they are typically directly mentored by graduate students and get to experience every aspect of the research program, from study design, lab experiments, data collection, data processing, presenting in research group meeting, and participating in conference calls with collaborators or funding agencies.
"I have a growing team of 10 undergraduate students, most of whom were first-year students when they started working with me," Greenberg said. "They have inspired me to become a better researcher and teacher. Everyone brings something special and unique to the table, and I think would also attest that the diversity of ideas makes all of us better critical thinkers."
Students often find one research interest leads to another and the mentors agreed they should follow their interests to find their passions.
"My advice to undergraduates is to have fun, to not be afraid to ask questions, and to just be open to the research experience and see where it takes them... "
- Assistant Professor Anjali Mulchandani
"I always encourage students who are interested in research to be flexible and explore anything that piques their interest," Payne said. "This may be in their major or it may be in a general education required course. The point is to be open to learning new ways of thinking, and to follow your curiosities, wherever they may lead you."
"Talk to the professors or teaching assistants who most excite you intellectually," Weiss advised. "Learn about their interests and their current projects and see if you can work with them. Almost everyone loves having a research assistant or two! At the same time, learn about URAD, UROC, ASSURE, and other undergrad-focused research resources here at UNM."
"My advice to undergraduates is to have fun, to not be afraid to ask questions, and to just be open to the research experience and see where it takes them and hope that it sparks their interest and curiosity to continue within STEM fields." Mulchandani said.
If a student isn't interested in certain research, she continued, "I'd ask them what does excite and motivates them, and what they see themselves working on. Then I'd direct them to find an opportunity that matches their interest, such as an industry internship. There is always something for everyone, you just have to look for the right match and opportunity that fits what you are seeking."
"I hope many of the first-year UROC researchers, my students included, will move on to new projects and groups," Greenberg said. "Ideally, students will perform research in a different field they discover on their educational journey. Collaboration and interdisciplinary research are the future, and participation in more than one research group will give students a variety of skills when moving onto the next step in their life. I expect some will decide to stay with me for their research journey, but I would never hold anyone back from branching out. Actually, I highly encourage it… Get advice from as many people as you can, keeping what applies to you and throwing out the rest. Everyone's path is different, and I feel my role as a mentor is a guide to help my students understand their options and that they can, and should, shoot for the stars."
