How's it going? - A message from Dr. Snow

From Dr. Allison Snow, Director of the OSU Undergraduate Research Office

By now, Summer Quarter is more than half over – a good time to take stock of how your research is progressing.

1. Expect Delays

If you are right on schedule, doing exactly what you proposed (or more), this is quite unusual!

It often turns out that the devil is in the details and things take much longer than anticipated. Problem-solving is supposed to be good for you, especially if you have to work independently, but running into too many delays and dead-ends can be frustrating. So, in case you are getting a case of the research blues, here are a few words of encouragement. . .

• If you’re disappointed by the slow pace of your research, consider getting advice and changing your plans so you will have at least a few solid results by the end of Summer Quarter. Most of us are too ambitious and overly optimistic when planning a research project.

• If this applies to you, maybe one of your sub-questions should be elevated to your main question.

  Or maybe you can find a new line of inquiry that will lead to faster progress.

• Keep in mind that when you read a research paper or see a presentation, you rarely find out how much preliminary work led up to the finished project (thank goodness, because this could be dull for the audience!).
• Somewhere, I heard that publications represent the salvaged remains of a major shipwreck, all tidied up to tell a coherent story! This often happens with my own research in biology. To keep from going crazy, I have come to view this experience as “normal.”
• Sometimes, you may not even have a story to tell when your time runs out, in which case you could change your final report to a “progress report.”

Whatever happens, it’s important to persevere, be strategic, and make the best of your situation.

2. Getting the Job Done

Research that is never presented to an audience – as a paper, poster, talk, exhibit, or the like – is not really complete and will not help you nearly as much as presented work. As an undergraduate, you probably have much shorter time period for research than a graduate student or professor, who might take several years to complete a project, often working as part of a team. For you, it’s important to make sure your research is completed and presented to a broader audience before you graduate, ideally before you need letters of recommendation from your professors.

Speaking of presentations, there are many outlets for your work, starting with informal presentations for your peers and professors. Check out the URO website for information about Fall Research Day (October 19th), the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum (in May), and the new student-run online, research journal, JUROS (Journal of Undergraduate Research at Ohio State). Consider writing a thesis and graduating “With Distinction” to add this impressive accomplishment to your academic transcript.

In conclusion, I hope you find your summer research experience to be worthwhile, regardless of how closely it matches your original expectations. You should be very proud to be part of the world-renowned research community at Ohio State!