I don’t know about everyone else, but I sometimes find it difficult to apply knowledge I learn in class to real life. Sure, learning about DNA purification might be interesting, but I can read twenty books and see a hundred lectures on it and still not be able to purify DNA from a solution all by myself.

While fundamental knowledge for many subjects is learned in the classroom, opportunities to practice the specific duties performed by professionals in a given field are few and far-between.
The skills required by professionals can be learned and practiced by joining research groups as an undergraduate.

I have been conducting researching for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for over three years; sometimes for class credit while other times for financial compensation. I have learned exponentially more career-applicable skills in the research labs than I ever will by sitting in a classroom or by reading a textbook.

A chemistry major has to read hundreds of literature articles written by professional scientists, but they will not have the chance to help write one themselves if they do not join a research group. Similarly, one learns basic instrumental techniques in lab classes, but the classes often use outdated equipment and methods due to time or cost factors. Being a part of a research group allows students to gain hands-on training with modern instruments as well as learning current protocols and methods which are often more efficient than those taught in a lab class.

“I joined a research group during my sophomore year with the prospect of contributing to a publication,” said Bobby Gallo, a senior chemistry major. “I was able to accomplish that goal during my first semester.”

Being published as an undergraduate is an accomplishment which is highly sought after in graduate schools or research institutions. I’ve heard through the grapevine that having a publication under your belt can make up for lower GPAs or below average GRE scores when applying for grad school. If nothing else, it would be something to hang up on the fridge back home for mom and dad to see.

Hands-on training gained from doing undergraduate research is not only stimulating, but most techniques employed in professional research projects require a great deal of practice before you become apt enough to perform them correctly and efficiently. Undergraduate research projects provide students with the opportunity to learn and practice those techniques in order to better prepare themselves for future careers or in order to appear more desirable to employers.

“I love undergraduate research because you really get a feel for what professionals in your field of study actually do on a day-to-day basis,” said Kate Baker, a senior biochemistry major.

Research is a great way to sort of “test the waters” so to speak. Some students may find that research is simply not their cup of tea, but it is still a good idea to try it out to simply expose yourself to a group project with real-life implications while working alongside people who really care about the material. Classroom projects get you working with others, but far too often classmates are uninterested in the project or slack off and leave you with most of the work.

Undergraduate research projects allow students to become part of a team with a central goal in mind and who truly enjoy the project they are researching as well as the daily work involved. Not to say that classroom research projects aren’t an effective way of learning team skills, but a research group can be a better environment to develop team skills and professional techniques since you are working alongside experienced professors and grad students.

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