<p>Could someone run through the program, its benefits, etc.?</p>
<p>Not sure exactly what you want to know… </p>
<p>It is intended to give you exposure to research and better understanding of how it works. It is a 2 semester program. The first semester you are in a classroom setting and various speakers are brought in to discuss their research. These people will be from many areas, some that match your interests and some that don’t. There is also time spent discussing research methodoligies, process and procedures. From what son said this semester was not a large drain on time. Towards the end of this semester Dr. Webb will work with you to match you with a faculty member for the second semester.</p>
<p>During the second semester you will be assigned to the research lab of your faculty mentor. The time committment and effort of this semester will vary by area and mentor. At one point in the year there is a research week where all ES students present their research. </p>
<p>Benefits: Small book scholarship (but not enough to really matter), exposure to various types of research and research areas, the research itself.</p>
<p>Depending on your intended major the research time in the lab is the big thing. Son is a ChemE and Biology major for premed, he eventually wants to go into medical research. While freshmen at many schools can’t get into a research lab or are in a lab assigned to washing beakers and sweeping floors he has added months of real research to his resume. Son was in a Biology lab doing nanoparticle drug delivery research with a grad student. In the long run that will be priceless.</p>
<p>Could this program work for the social sciences, like econ or poly sci?</p>
<p>Research is done in most every department as UA is a Tier I research institution. I know many people who’ve done research in the social sciences. Note also that one can also do research in a department outside of their major. For example, an economics major could do research in computer science, civil engineering, education, etc.</p>