Summer Research
The undergraduate research program is designed to prepare students as scientists by involving them in an interactive, ten-week session in laboratory and field research. Program objectives include enhancing student skills in: scientific methodology; research design, data gathering and analysis; and in both written and oral presentations. Students will work with Au Sable professors to design and execute their research plan, making them part of an academic community offering scientific collaboration and interdependence among professional scientists and research students. While the full program will only be offered at the Great Lakes site in 2011, student research opportunities may also be available during the summer at the Pacific Rim Institute.
Typically, students will take a one-credit research course (Research Methods I and II) each session where they work one-on-one with a professor on research fundamentals. They will also take one to two regular research credits each session. In addition, students will normally take a related Au Sable course during at least one of the academic sessions. For example, students doing aquatic-related projects will normally take Aquatic Biology or Limnology during their time in residence. The overall summer research program will be led by a faculty Research Leader who is responsible for the two research courses and for assisting each student in developing an appropriate research project. Directed student research will be done in cooperation with the faculty Research Leader and a designated faculty Research Mentor. Generally, research projects will be done in an area of science in which appropriate mentors exist within the resident Au Sable faculty.
In summary, student participants will usually take one regular course; two one-credit research courses (two/sessions) and up to two-research credits/session for a maximum of ten credits over two academic sessions. Scholarships will normally cover up to one-half of the tuition expenses and one-half room and board; however, scholarships for 2011 are contingent upon funder support. A faculty/staff advisory committee will choose research students from among the student applicants. Criteria for the applicants would be: strong academic background; interest in graduate school; quality of recommendations; interest in research; and past participation at Au Sable.
Application Procedure: Students should first contact their college’s Faculty Representative who will nominate them based on their qualifications and interest. Required credentials include a vocational statement indicating research interests, an academic transcript, a resume, and a list of three professional references. Applicants are also encouraged to seek summer research funding through their home institutions.
A student who participated in Summer Research in 2010, sums up the experience in this way:
“High expectations - we were pushed to perform above an undergraduate level. This class was a simulation of grad school. I feel SO much more prepared for graduate level research after taking this class. Papers were criticized harshly, but constructively.”