Undergraduate Research – Students
What is Research?
Research is inquiry or investigation that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.
Undergraduate researchers at Missouri Western are doing work in a variety of disciplines that span the social, life, and physical sciences as well as health care, education and engineering. As Missouri’s applied learning university, undergraduate research is a big part of what we do. MWSU student researchers frequently present, publish, travel, and win awards and scholarships related to their efforts.
Why Get Involved?
Participating in undergraduate research prepares you for the future by expanding your academic experience and giving you the opportunity to not only explore an academic discipline more fully, but to contribute new knowledge to it.
There are many benefits to becoming a researcher, including:
- Preparation for Graduate and Professional School Undergraduate researchers are more likely to move into graduate and professional healthcare programs.
- Improve Academic Achievement Undergraduate researchers demonstrate higher achievement and are more likely to stay in school.
- Define Career Goals Undergraduate research can help you clarify your choice of degree program, career interests, and post-graduation plans.
- Develop Transferable Skills Undergraduate research strengthens written and oral communication, critical thinking, technical skills, and information literacy.
- Become Part of a Community Undergraduate research provides opportunities to build a learning community with faculty and fellow students.
- Increase Confidence Undergraduate research builds confidence in your abilities within the discipline, and improves your overall perception of the discipline.
When should you get started?
You can get started as soon as you are ready, even as early as your first or second year. If research is required in your degree program, then you will work with your academic advisor to identify the best time to get started. You shouldn’t wait on them though. If you’re interested, let your academic advisor know or reach out to the Griffon Office of Applied Learning so you can get connected with an opportunity.
Who Should Do Research?
You should. Sometimes a degree program requires it, sometimes it’s an option, and sometimes it’s an elective. Students can even get paid for their work as research assistants. If you are interested in doing research then you should give it a try. You can do research in your discipline, one that’s closely related, or even one that’s completely different.
How to Get Started
Learn more about becoming an undergraduate researcher
- Attend research presentations and events.
- Speak with faculty members in courses you are taking.
- Speak with students who are doing research.
Find a faculty mentor
- Send an email to contact potential faculty mentors and request an appointment to speak about their research and potential opportunities to get involved. Faculty members love to speak about their work and will be happy to meet with you.
- Speak with your academic advisor about getting involved in research. They can help connect you with opportunities and faculty mentors.
Find the grants, programs, and experiences that are right for you
- Submit an Applied Learning Connection request.
Connect With an Opportunity
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