To be a Summer Researcher

Goodbye SURI 2008!

2008-08-19T13:52:00.002-04:00

It’s hard to believe that the summer quarter is over this week. We have really enjoyed meeting many of you and getting to know a little about your research efforts. We hope that you were able to attend a program, meet a fellow researcher or gain some helpful information from our website, blog or emails. If you have not already done so, please complete a SURI evaluation today. This is the first year of what we hope will be an annual effort, and your feedback will help us to learn and improve.

Remember, you can continue to stay in touch with the Undergraduate Research Office and what’s happening on and off campus at our website: http://ugresearch.adm.ohio-state.edu.

Lastly, here are a few reminders:

Wednesday, August 20, SURI Closing Ice Cream Celebration, in 100 Page Hall. You can stop by any time between 6 and 7:30 p.m. to grab a bowl of ice cream and say goodbye.

Apply to uro@osu.edu by August 22 to present a poster highlighting your summer research (progress report or final results) at the Fall Undergraduate Research Day Poster Forum on October 19th.

Journal of Undergraduate Research at The Ohio State University (JUROS), accepting submissions for the premier issue NOW!

Adieu! Sayonara! Adios! L’hitraot! Goodbye and Good Luck!

Approaching the Finish Line

2008-08-13T14:21:00.005-04:00

The end of summer quarter is fast approaching and some of you may have preliminary results only, while others have completed your summer research projects and are writing up your final results. Wherever in the research process you may be, we hope that you are thinking about publicizing your summer research at a conference, poster forum or in a professional publication. Please consider one of the following campus opportunities for OSU students:

JUROS, the Journal of Undergraduate Research at The Ohio State University, is now accepting submissions for its first-ever online publication. All undergraduate students involved in any area of study are encouraged to submit their work to the appropriate sections: Arts & Humanities, Science & Technology, and Social Science, Business & Education. Papers are accepted on a rolling basis and are judged in a double-blind peer review.

Submission requirements can be viewed online at http://www.jurosonline.com/. Manuscripts must be tailored to the section's requirements, including page length, citation style and format. Papers are typically 15-20 pages in length. A submission to JUROS requires an electronic manuscript as a Microsoft Word document, completed author-agreement forms for each student-author and a faculty-agreement form; all submission materials must be sent as attachments by e-mail to juros.submissions@gmail.com. Both the faculty advisor and student-author(s) will be contacted personally to validate authorship before the manuscript is considered for review.

All other necessary forms, formatting information, upcoming events, contact information, and answers to other questions are available at http://www.jurosonline.com/. Questions should be forwarded to Olga Borodulin at juros@osu.edu.

Undergraduate Research Day Poster Forum on October 19th
The URO is currently accepting applications to present a poster highlighting your summer research (progress report or final results) at the Fall Undergraduate Research Day. Apply to uro@osu.edu by August 22nd. Your application should include a brief letter explaining why your participation in the poster forum would be beneficial, as well as name, major(s), advisor’s name, project title, and an abstract describing your goals, methods, findings and significance of your project in 200 words or less. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your research and gain valuable experience communicating your results.

There are many other opportunities to publicize your research. Check out the URO website at http://ugresearch.adm.ohio-state.edu/ for more ideas.. Visit the Present at Forums and Present in Journals pages specifically. Good luck!

Coming up next week:
SURI Closing Ice Cream Celebration
Wednesday, August 20, 6-7:30pm
100 Page Hall
RSVP to uro@osu.edu so we know how much to order!

SURI events this week: 8/4-10

2008-08-04T16:33:00.001-04:00

Hope you are getting into the Olympic spirit! Opening ceremony begins Friday night at 7:30pm on NBC. Interesting tidbit: in China, the ceremony will begin at 8:08pm, 8/8/08. Eight happens to be a very lucky number in Chinese because it is a homonym for "good fortune."

We'll be having our weekly vittles at the Brown Bag Lunch on Wednesday at noon on the Oval. Come even if you haven't been able to join us yet this whole summer! Also on Saturday evening will be our Ultimate game (sadly, not yet an Olympic sport) at 6pm on the Lincoln turf fields.

In other news, Helene is out of the office this week, and Wednesday is Michael's last day as he is moving to Boston on Thursday. Suzanne will be at the URO during our office hours (8:30-3:30) this week.

Coming up next week:

Quiet Rage

Research Ethics Dinner, Film, and Discussion

Tuesday, August 12

5-7pm, 110B Page Hall

Please RSVP to uro@osu.edu

Come join us and the Office of Responsible Research Practices for an evening of pizza served up with a helping of controversy. Have you ever wondered why researchers have to be trained and fill out pesky applications for any research involving humans? Curious about how researchers are still running into ethical problems today?

Also mark your calendars for:

SURI Closing Ice Cream Celebration

Wednesday, August 20, 6-7:30pm

Presenting your research

2008-07-31T13:46:00.006-04:00

Tuesday’s workshop, Teaching Your Peers: Poster Presentation Basics with Tsui Yi Cheah and Laurie Maynell from Faculty and TA Development was a great learning experience. Students looked at both the poster content and design, as well as discussed strategies for oral presentations with various audiences. Here are a few pointers that we picked up:

Poster Content:

Why is this important/interesting? Why should I care?
What is the problem/hypothesis that you researched?
What is the rationale/relevant literature? How does this fit into the discipline?
What method(s) did you use?
Did you find a solution/results?
What is the next step/future research to be?

Poster Design:

Key information should be easy to read
There should be an obvious flow pattern
Will you be present to explain? If not, could someone make sense of it without you?

Assessing the Audience/Engagement Strategies:

Assess who they are: expert in your topic? Knowdgeable in your field?
Provide small pieces of information, follow up with questions to assess/confirm clarity, direction
Let your audience guide the interaction
Target information to THEIR interests
Let them move on when they want to
Find the intersection of your goals with your audience’s needs
Practice! Practice! Practice!

Tips for the Big Day:

Name tag on the left
Have business cards
Eat before your presentation
Keep a bottle of water with you
Dress nicely but comfortably, especially shoes
Breathe! Relax!

Becoming an expert poster maker and presenter takes time and practice. There are many resources to help you. Here’s a link to many tutorials and examples for students who want to learn more: http://denman.osu.edu/resources.aspx

You can also access handouts from this presentation:

Want to polish your skills at an actual poster forum? Consider applying for the Sigma Xi Student Research Conference November 22-23, 2008 in Washington, D.C. The deadline for abstracts is October 15, 2008.

Also, as Dr. Snow mentioned, we will be having an exhibition of poster presentations during our 2nd Annual Undergraduate Research Day on Sunday, October 19th. We're moving forward with the planning, and look out for a call for abstracts very soon!

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

2008-07-29T11:07:00.000-04:00

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!

SURI events this week: 7/28-8/3

2008-07-28T14:13:00.005-04:00

Hello, August is practically upon us!

This is your last chance to sign up for Tuesday afternoon's workshop on poster presentations. It's from 4-6pm in 300 Younkin Success Center. Space is limited, so RSVP today.

Wednesday is our staple brown bag lunch. If the weather is wet, come to 60 Page Hall at noon-but we have lucked out all summer so far!

Saturday is our continuing Ultimate Frisbee games outside of Lincoln tower. Meet on the grass fields near Lincoln at 6pm.

Looking for more things to do around Columbus this weekend?

Wednesday is the start of the annual extravaganza that is the Ohio State Fair. It runs through August 10th, and is within walking distance of campus.
Saturday is the monthly Gallery Hop located in the Short North (just south of campus). It's completely open to the public, and there are tons of galleries, restaurants, and bars to visit.
This weekend is the Dublin Irish Festival-one of the biggest in the country. There's plenty of traditional and modern Celtic music and food.

Coming up:
Quiet Rage: a film and research ethics discussion
Tuesday, August 12 at 5pm
110 Page Hall
Dinner is included, so please RSVP to uro@osu.edu

Resumes and Personal Statements

2008-07-24T09:57:00.003-04:00

In the last couple weeks, we have hosted two workshops focusing on two vital parts of any job or graduate/professional school search: the resume/cover letter and personal statements. For those of you rising seniors, now is the perfect time to begin, edit, and polish these. For others, it is always useful to have them on hand if an internship or grant opportunity unexpectedly pops up.

Special thanks goes out to our two presenters Allison Plunkett and Stacie Stormer. Both are from Career Connection at Ohio State, a career services and advising office open throughout the year to any Ohio State student with questions about career planning. This includes looking at and applying to graduate and professional schools. Below are the presentations slides and handouts from the workshops, and we hope that you take advantage of these resources. Lastly, please don't forget to RSVP for next Tuesday's presentation workshop!

Resume and Cover Letter Presentation
Resume Checklist Handout
Personal Statement Presentation
Personal Statement Handouts

SURI events this week: 7/21-27

2008-07-22T09:12:00.004-04:00

The summer is swimming along... We will be holding our second workshop with OSU Career Connection this Wednesday at 4pm in 240 Page Hall. It will focus on writing effective personal statements. It's not too late to RSVP to uro@osu.edu

Have some extra time this weekend and want to go to Cedar Point for free? Consider donating blood. The Red Cross's new Polaris Donor Center is offering a free Cedar Point ticket to successful donors on the following dates:

Friday, July 25th, 8 AM - 1 PM
Saturday, July 26, 9 AM - 1 PM
Sunday, July 27th, 10 AM - 2 PM

Walk-ins are welcome, but an appointment is preferred and will guarantee you a ticket pending a successful donation. Appointments can be made by calling (614) 253-2740. The location of the center is Polaris Donor Center, 1327 Cameron Ave., Lewis Center, OH 43035

Coming up next week:
Teaching Your Peers: Poster Presentation Basics
in partnership with Faculty and TA Development

July 29, 4 - 6 p.m.
300 Younkin Success Center
Limited to 25; RSVP to uro@osu.edu with "7/29" in the subject line

This is an excellent interactive workshop to help you decide how to arrange and present a poster. Whether you will be presenting at the end of the summer or not for another year or two, it is never too early to get tips about how to talk about your research experience to different audiences.

SURI events this week: 7/14-20

2008-07-15T15:46:00.001-04:00

This week we will be hosting a workshop on resumes and cover letters presented by OSU Career Connection. It is Wednesday at 4pm in 240 Page Hall. It's not too late to RSVP to uro@osu.edu. A second workshop focusing on personal statements will be occurring next Wednesday, July 23rd also at 4pm and in 240 Page Hall. Again, please let us know if you'd like to attend any of the workshops listed on the SURI calendar.

Thursday is this summer's second Wexner Drive-in film featuring The Lady from Shanghai. Like last time, we'll be meeting at 8pm on the stairs to Sullivant Library that face north (NOT the main stairs on High St.). Sullivant is building 106 on the campus map. Free Jeni's ice cream and popcorn will be offered at 8pm with the film starting at dusk around 9 and ending around 10:30. It's best to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. More information about the film can be found here.

Wednesday and Saturday will be our staples: brown bag lunch on the oval and Ultimate on the Lincoln turf fields, respectively. For the lunch, look for us in the shade at 12pm with the URO flag.

We hope that your summer research is continuing well, and remember to drink lots of water!

Communicating Your Research

2008-07-14T10:33:00.004-04:00

Last week's professional development workshop presented by the Digital Union was very exciting as we witnessed how other people are using digital storytelling and website development to present their research results. Through various examples, we learned that digital storytelling helps the researcher to talk about research from a personal perspective, highlighting why the research matters and thererfore engaging the audience in a very different way from the usual poster presentation. Two students participating in Research on Research this summer shared their preliminary results to communicate research using websites. Resources at the Digital Union are available to all students who want to learn more about or utilize the tools to help them with a media presentation.

Communicating research results and sharing information about your research experience in a succinct, effective manner can be a challenge. It is also an important part of the research experience which is why we urge you to attend as many professional development workshops as you can this summer. Scheduled workshops for the remainder of July are:

Resumes and Cover Letters, Wednesday, July 16 at 4 p.m. in room 240 Page Hall
Personal Statements, Wednesday, July 23 at 4 p.m. in room 240 Page Hall
Teaching Your Peers: Poster Presentation Basics, July 29, 4 - 6 p.m. in 300 Younkin Success Center

RSVP's requested to uro@osu.edu! Hope to see you there!

SURI events this week: 7/7-7/13

2008-07-07T09:07:00.009-04:00

We hope you had a great holiday weekend! Here's this week's schedule of events:

Special events this week include an ice skating party this Wednesday (7/9) at the Ohio State Ice Rink (390 Woody Hayes Dr). Meet outside the rink in the walkway between St. John Arena and the ice rink at 7:45pm, and the URO will cover your admission and skate rental. If you arrive after 8:15, the cost is $4 which includes admission+skate rental. Open skate lasts until 10pm, and feel free to invite friends. An RSVP is not necessary to attend, but please let us know if you're planning to come at uro@osu.edu

It is not too late to RSVP to Thursday's (7/10) presentation by the Digital Union titled "Communicating Your Research Using Multimedia." Learn cool tools like podcasting and video editing that you can use in your research and everyday life. It will be from 3:30 - 5 p.m in 060 SEL (located in the basement of the Science and Engineering Library). Please RSVP to uro@osu.edu with "7/10" in the subject line.

Our weekly staples will also be happening. This week's brown bag lunch on Wednesday at 12pm will be hosted by Kevin Giriunas, a civil engineering major researching building collapse. Also, come play Ultimate Frisbee this Saturday (7/12) at 6pm on the grass fields between the RPAC and Lincoln Tower where the Kickoff picnic was held.

Check out our calendar for future events and workshops including newly-scheduled resume and personal statement workshops, and please RSVP as early as you can to uro@osu.edu; thanks!

Nuts and Bolts

2008-07-02T14:20:00.010-04:00

Last night was our student presentation on the Nuts and Bolts of applying to graduate and professional school. Special thanks to our panelists Anjali, Jessica, and Megan!

Applying to graduate schools is a long and intensive process that includes standardized tests, writing personal statements, requesting letters of recommendation, and much, much more. Undergraduate research can have a big impact on your application process. Faculty, advisers, and students you have met through your research work and conferences will be best pool of knowledge to help you through the process. This is especially true of your faculty advisers. They are most likely the most knowledgeable about the process for your specific discipline and will probably be more than willing to help, not least of all writing your recommendation letters. Ultimately, the application process is a huge investment of time and effort, but it is also a growing experience that helps you realize what you actually want to do with your education.

Handouts that were developed by our panelists and the URO are available here for graduate, medical, and law schools. We will be hosting workshops on resumes and personal statements during the weeks of July 14th and July 21st so keep a look out for announcements here and via email.

SURI events this week: Independence Day edition 6/30-7/6

2008-06-30T10:30:00.001-04:00

It's hard to believe it's already July and the start of week three of SURI. We've got a full slate of activities this week:

Tuesday evening, 6pm in 60 Page Hall we will have a student panel to talk about the nuts and bolts of applying to graduate and professional schools with particular focus on how to use your research experiences.

We will continue our brown bag lunches this Wednesday at noon either on the Oval or in 60 Page Hall depending on the weather. The numbers of students have been increasing, and we hope you join us.

In celebration for Independence Day, please join us for a viewing Red, White, and Boom (Columbus' fireworks show, and one of the biggest in the Midwest) on Thursday evening starting at 8pm. We will meet at the top of OSU Hospital Garage located at 1585 Westpark Street. Please remember to bring blankets, lawn chairs, outdoor games, and a radio/boombox to hear the fireworks show soundtrack. If you are planning to attend, please let us know at uro@osu.edu just so that we can get a better idea of numbers. Feel free to bring friends to this event.

Lastly, tonight is the famous Columbus Clipper's Dime-a-dog night. The game starts at 7:05pm.

We hope that you have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

Coming next week: Ice skating, and how to use multimedia to present your research.

The first two weeks

2008-06-27T11:43:00.000-04:00

For many of you whom this is the first exposure to research--congratulations on making it through the first two weeks!

By now you've probably been introduced to everyone in your lab group, and you're finally getting acclimated to your new space--whether it's a lab bench, computer station, or studio. Hopefully, you are excited to be getting your hands dirty (both figuratively and literally) in your research.

But this excitement is undoubedtly paired with at least a little anxiety. Stress that could come from being overwhelmed with dense research papers full of jargon or complicated tasks involving expensive equipment and reagents. Or you could be faced with writing code for a statistical program for the first time or just trying to remember who's who in your research lab or office. Or it could have been hearing tornado sirens for the first time in the middle of night on Wednesday.

Research is tough, but don't worry--you are not expected to be perfect. It's not the end of the world if you break that flask or find that the trails of literature related to your topic seem to drying up.

The best advice we have to offer is to continue asking questions and seeking advice from your faculty advisers, graduate students, and other undergraduates about your work. Do not be afraid to make genuine mistakes. We're also here if you need a listening ear (email jaung.1@osu.edu). Yesterday, Dr. Snow posted a guide to mentor-mentee relationships that hopefully will help you think about your interactions with your faculty advisers. We will continue to post similar entries here through the summer, and we hope that you will join in the discussion.

For those of you who have already been involved in research, perhaps you can post a few of your own pointers or stories here?

How to interact with your research mentor

2008-06-26T14:49:00.005-04:00

A message from Dr. Snow:

Student researchers and their mentors often have different expectations about what their collaboration should be like. We encourage you to discuss the following points with your mentor. Some of these expectations are easily met, while others are not. It’s good to have a clear idea of which of outcomes are most appropriate for your situation.

What is a research mentor?

Broadly defined, a mentor is “someone who takes a special interest in helping another person develop into a successful professional.” (http://www.nap.edu/html/mentor/)

What both the mentor and the student should expect from each other:

Respect and collegiality.
Commitment and enthusiasm for the research project.

What students often expect from their mentor:

Guidance on how to plan and carry out the research. Some students also expect to be given a detailed, pre-planned project.
Timely feedback and frequent meetings.
Constructive criticism.
Assistance with presenting a poster at a research forum and writing a thesis or report.
Co-authorship with the mentor on a peer-reviewed publication.
Career advice and strong letters of recommendation for scholarships, grants, awards, jobs, graduate school, and other programs (submitted prior to deadlines).

What mentors often expect from students:

Participation in planning and revising the research plan (original ideas welcome).
Regular updates on progress; good time management skills.
Understanding of the general research topic (be curious, read background materials).
Ability to recognize and solve problems.
Ability to ask for help when needed.
Ability to accept criticism and learn from it.
Presentation of the project’s goals, progress, and conclusions at a poster forum and/or in a written report or thesis (worth doing even if the research did not go as planned).
Co-authorship on a peer-reviewed publication typically requires that you make a major intellectual contribution to the project, with original findings that are of interest to others in the discipline.
For letters of recommendation, the mentor needs advance notice and information about your academic record, your general career goals, and the specific program requesting letters, provided well in advance of the program’s deadline.

Adapted from the 2008 National Conference of the Council on Undergraduate Research and the National Academy of Sciences (http://www.nap.edu/html/mentor/).

SURI events this week: 6/23-29

2008-06-24T12:39:00.007-04:00

Thanks to everyone who came to the Wexner Drive-in film last week (big thanks to Lindy and James for helping plan)! Hope you guys enjoyed it, and look for the second installment of the series in July.

Tomorrow is a weekly Brown Bag Lunch at 12pm out on the Oval. Hopefully, the weather will be as beautiful as last week, but if it is wet, we will meet in 60 Page Hall instead.

Thursday evening will be an Ultimate Frisbee game on the Oval, beginning at 8pm. Feel free to bring a friend or more!

Looking forward to the weekend? There are quite a few campus and downtown events including:

OSU Dance Summer Festival:
The highly ranked Department of Dance is hosting the first Columbus Summer Dance Festival on campus concluding on Saturday with a festival performance, with works by Ulysses Dove, Barbara Mahler, Teena Custer and others at 8 p.m. in Sullivant Hall Theatre. Tickets are available at the door. Contact: 292-7977
ComFest in Goodale Park Friday-Sunday. Admission: Free
Tartuffe Outdoor Play in Schiller Park runs Thursday-Sunday. Admission: Free

Finally, keep a lookout for details about a panel next week on "Undergraduate Research and Applying to Graduate/Professional Schools."

Things to do in and Getting around Columbus

2008-06-18T16:33:00.004-04:00

At the first Brown Bag lunch today, we enjoyed the sun on the Oval and discussed topics as diverse as the Research on Research program, crossing the Canadian border, and cool things to do in Columbus. To that end, this entry is dedicated to various events and places in the city. It is by no means exhaustive, and feel free to post other points of interest here!

Getting Around

First off, how does one get to these great places? The predominant mode of transporation is via car, but certain places are easy to reach using the COTA bus system. If you have a BuckID, COTA is free, otherwise it is $1.50 per ride. The #2 line runs consistently up and down High St. with limited service in the evening and the weekends. Here's a nifty tool that shows you bus routes and the real time location of buses on that route. The bus is all we have until a proposed streetcar system is passed and built.
There are also a few cab services: Yellow cab (614) 444-4444 and Acme (614) 299-9990

Festivals

This Friday is the Festival Latino downtown. Admission is only $1, and there are tons of food vendors and shows.
Next Weekend, June 27-29 is ComFest in Goodale Park. Admission is free, but parking is extremely difficult to find. There are dozens of musical acts, and this is a unique event, to say the least.

Sports and Animals

The Olentangy Bikepath is part of the Ohio greenway system and runs along the river from Worthington all the way downtown passing through campus. It is a great trail for jogging and cycling, but it does sometimes flood after heavy rain (but that makes it all the more fun, right?).
The Columbus Clippers is a AAA minor league baseball team that plays at Cooper Stadium on the west side. Regular admission is $6, and there are food/drink promotions throughout the week.
The Columbus Crew is a major league soccer team just northeast of campus. They're currently 2nd in the Eastern Division of the MLS, and games go through October. Tickets are between $14-$24.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is known worldwide for its animal collection, most notably its mountain gorillas. It is located north of Columbus, and admission is $10 to the zoo, and it can also be reached by COTA. Admission to the new water park adjacent to the zoo is $29.99 and includes admission to the zoo.

Neighborhoods, the Arts, etc.

The Columbus Public Library system is one of the best in the country, and its collection includes nearly all popular music albums and films. Membership is free, and the nearest branch to campus is Northside located at High St. and W. 8th Ave.
The Wexner Center for the Arts here on campus has many events throughout the summer including the "Drive-in" film series that we'll be attending tomorrow night. Admission is free and so are walk-in tours on their calendar.
CAPA Summer Film Series is shown in downtown at the Ohio Theatre through the summer. This Saturday and Sunday features Back to the Future! Each ticket is $3.50, but a strip of 10 tickets can be purchased for $20.
German Village is a historic neighborhood south of downtown. It is home to many shops and restaurants. Of particular note are Schmidt's Restaurant and Sausage Haus, The Book Loft of German Village, and Global Gallery Fair Trade Coffee Shop. There are also free outdoor plays on the weekends in Schiller Park.
The Short North is one of Columbus' arts districts located directly south of campus. There are many art galleries located along High St. and you can also find the North Market and Jeni's Ice Cream.

More?
This was just a brief overview of things available in Columbus. If you're interested in learning more, you can visit Experience Columbus or take a look at the Columbus Underground blog. Enjoy!

SURI events this week: June 16-22

2008-06-17T13:06:00.009-04:00

Thanks to everyone that came out to our Kickoff Picnic last evening. There were over 75 students in attendance, and we hope that you had a great time meeting other students, playing outside in the beautiful weather, and being inspired about the summer of research ahead of you.

Based on your feedback so far, we will keep adding social and professional events to our calendar (such as a trip to COSI or info sessions about applying to graduate schools), so please keep checking the SURI calendar and for emails about these events. Feel free to contact Michael at jaung.1@osu.edu if you have any suggestions for future events.

Tomorrow, we will be hosting our first Brown Bag Lunch at 12pm. Instead of in Page Hall, we’ll be meeting out on the Oval along the Long Walk (the brick walkway in the middle). Look for the red URO flag. Bring a lunch, and we will provide snacks and refreshments. If it rains, come to Page Hall, Room 60 (on the ground floor).

This Thursday evening, we invite you to join us at the “Wex Drive-In.” This is a summer series of films at the Wexner Centerfor the Arts, and Thursday evening’s feature is The Mummy, a horror classic from 1932. Snacks are available at 8pm, and the film starts at dusk around 9. We will set a meeting time and place, and feel free to bring a friend or two. Also, bring a blanket or lawn chair for sitting. More information about the film series is available at http://www.wexarts.org/fv/index.php?eventid=2941

Lastly, for those of you living at Ohio State for the first time, this printable map may be helpful for getting around: http://www.osu.edu/map/pdf/map_4color.pdf

Welcome to SURI!

2008-06-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

Hello, and welcome to the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) at Ohio State! We are very excited that you are choosing to spend your summer conducting undergraduate research. SURI is hosted by Ohio State's Undergraduate Research Office in partnership with various summer programs across the university.

Our goals are to provide student researchers with a strong sense of community and purpose by networking, developing professional skills, and having some fun during the Summer Quarter at Ohio State. We are open to students participating in formal, organized undergraduate research programs as well as to undergraduate researchers who are not affiliated with a formal program. While most students involved in SURI activities will be from Ohio State, students from other universities who are conducting research on our campus this summer are welcome to participate as well. You are always welcome to bring friends involved in research to our events!

We hope to use this blog to keep you updated with the most recent SURI events as well as to serve a forum to provide support and guidance as you embark on research this quarter. Please feel free to post comments concerning the helpfulness of posts and what content you'd like to see in the future.

If you have any questions regarding this blog or SURI, please contact Michael Jaung at jaung.1@osu.edu or Helene Cweren at cweren.1@osu.edu

We look forward to meeting you this summer!

Coming Soon

2008-06-12T12:15:00.002-04:00

We are thrilled to announce the inaugural Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) at Ohio State for the summer of 2008! Keep checking here for announcements and articles geared toward any undergraduate pursuing summer research at Ohio State.

Questions about the blog or SURI? Contact Michael Jaung at jaung.1@osu.edu or Helene Cweren at cweren.1@osu.edu

Catch the excitement!