Students who engage in research and creative activities as undergraduates have higher learning gains, such as problem solving and critical thinking skills, and increased self-confidence and independence. Good problem solving and critical thinking skills are highly valued in today's workplace - no matter the field of study you decide to pursue!
Is undergraduate research for you? There's only one way to find out! Look through our site, find a faculty member in your department, and contact him or her about engaging in research and creative activities. Or, contact us and let us help you find a research mentor!
Conference Travel Grants FUSE Annual Research Conference
Research Spotlight: Madison Bunch
I have been participating in microbiology undergraduate research with Dr. Bialonska and Dr. Johnson since my sophomore year, and I have had the opportunity to research quorum sensing inhibition, biofilm formation and inhibition, identifying bacteria isolated from KT tape, and investigating antimicrobial resistance with the pathogenic species that were isolated from the tapes.
I have always been interested in the medical side of biology, so I love research because it gives me a way to investigate some of the most recent and pressing issues in modern medicine (such as antibiotic resistance) outside of the traditional hospital setting. I also love the research process as a whole, specifically being able to have my hands in every part of the process from starting with a research question, to experimenting with different methodology, and finally fine-tuning those methods and achieving results. Research has also allowed me to work closely with professors that I greatly admire and learn research techniques from them. Participating in undergraduate research allowed me to see that I am interested in pursuing a research-related career, and I hope to go to graduate school to achieve this goal.
