Communication seems like a simple task, but thinking about it in the context of undergraduate research makes it more of a complex matter. I partook in the Research 188体育app_188体育在线-平台官网 and Apprenticeship Program (REAP) through the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research and wrote a report on the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank that happened in March 2023. In this blog post, I will talk about my experience with communication and what I learned along the way in hopes that it can help other potential undergraduate researchers.
Communication for my project included communicating with my mentors, writing a proposal, communicating my findings, and now sharing my experience with other aspiring undergraduate researchers. One of my first points of communication came when I started reaching out to potential mentors. I did this through email contact where I needed to tangibly explain my interests in research so they could understand what I wanted to get out of the experience and see if my interests aligned with theirs. My tip for reaching out to potential mentors is to first describe the program you are applying for, because many of the faculty I reached out to were not yet familiar with REAP. I was very fortunate to end up with two mentors, which is rare, but I needed to balance which communications were targeted towards which mentor. One of my mentors specialized in the history section of my project and the other one specialized in the empirical side so when I had specific questions, I needed to know which mentor could best answer them. ?
After finding a mentor it was then time for me to complete the application, which included why I wanted to do undergraduate research, why I chose my topic, and how undergraduate research would align with my career interests. When writing your proposal, relate it back to why you are interested in the topic; yes, it may relate to your major, but why did you choose that major, or why that specific topic in your major? For me, I have always loved aggregating and analyzing information, especially numbers and data, so I chose a topic that revolved around that. Also, because I partook in REAP, which is an apprenticeship program, my mentors were very hands on in the proposal process, so it was important to keep them updated on deadlines. My tip is to connect with your mentors regularly through the proposal process, to provide updates and deadline reminders to avoid any miscommunications or delays.? ? ? ? ? ?
After the application was submitted and I found out I received the grant, I was able to meet with my mentors in person before the spring semester ended to connect on our plans for the summer. I did my research remotely, so the communication that occurred over the summer between us happened through Zoom and via email. I updated my mentors regularly on my progress and all three of us met weekly so that they could introduce a new section of the project and answer any questions I had from the previous week. My tip for meeting with your mentors is to have a list of questions prepared before meeting so you do not forget to ask anything while you have their attention and can get clarification before continuing on with your research.
Communication with my mentors was a very important aspect of my project, but I also communicated in other ways. I wrote a 35-page report on my findings and published a research brief in the fall 2023 issue of UNH’s Inquiry journal, so I needed to know how to communicate an expanse of information in an organized and efficient manner. I learned many of the concepts through my research process, so it was important to accurately represent the information. Furthermore, I needed to communicate in a way that appealed to my intended, more general audience while still maintaining the integrity of the information. Because students of other disciplines would be reading about my research, it was prudent for me to explain concepts at a simplified level so anyone reading could understand. For people writing about their research, it is easy to get carried away in the technical terms of their discipline. My tip for communicating your research is to have someone who is outside of your discipline review your writing, to help see what needs further explanation.
Since completing my research project, I have communicated with employers, other students, and friends and family. In my process of finding internships, I have been able to clearly explain my research in interviews including why I chose my topic, what I learned, and why it relates to the internship I am applying for. My tip for talking about research experiences is laying out the main points of your research process, your key takeaways, and the skills you learned, so that you can convey confidence when speaking with potential employers.?
Communication has been one of the most important parts of my research experience through all steps of the process and will be an important part of my internship this summer at Vigilant Wealth Management where I will be an investment research intern. Through my experience I have learned better communication skills and I hope that the tips I included can help other undergraduate researchers navigate the different ways to communicate undergraduate research.
