<p>I want to get involved in summer time science research.</p>
<p>How do I even begin? Can I just directly email the professors I want to work with or something?</p>
<p>Yeah you can do that, or you could also go through one of the undergraduate research organizations to get some guidance (ie. CURB, the Cornell Undergraduate Research Board).</p>
<p>You should also look into REUs (Research Experience for Undergraduates)</p>
<p>[US</a> NSF - REU - Search for an REU Site](<a href=“http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm]US”>Search for an REU Site | NSF - National Science Foundation)</p>
<p>You can find them pretty much anywhere</p>
<p>Yep, REUs are a good way, I just submitted applications for 5 different ones in experimental physics. If you’re going to go that route, though, do it quick because a lot of the applications are due between now and March. Although I’ve heard it can be pretty difficult to get an REU as a freshman, it never hurts to try.</p>
<p>I honestly had never heard of REUs until a couple of weeks ago, and that was poking around CC in other forums. do people talk about them at Cornell ever? no one in any summer opportunity or research talks I went to ever mentioned them. </p>
<p>you should probably couple these applications with emails to professors directly anyway. I’m not sure what you’re studying, but I know for biology they encourage you to send lots of emails. as they say in commercials making ludicrous claims “it worked for me!!”</p>
<p>We hear a lot about them in the Engineering school. They are probably the most accessible way to start in undergraduate research.</p>
<p>Once you have done one, and have a track record for research excellence, then that opens the doors to participating in research at Cornell with a professor.</p>
<p>I want to participate in research too!</p>
<p>I heard that it’s not encouraged because of the workload but if you can handle then hey, go for it.</p>
<p>What you said is one way and others are ^up there.</p>
<p>most of these reu programs seem to require 2 letters of rec and resume.
i’m wondering, are freshman supposed to already have 2 faculty members who know them well enough to write letters? can we use high school teachers?
also what kind of things could a freshman put on resume for these summer programs?</p>
<p>The ones I applied for didn’t require any resumes, but they often had research-specific questions like “What math and science courses have you taken?” or “Describe your experience with programming.”</p>
<p>As for the recs, I got one from my high school physics teacher who taught me for two years, and one from my physics assistant professor. I am a freshman too, by the way.</p>
<p>REU is a great program. Other than that there are SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship), SURP (Summer Undergraduate Research Program). Most of them have deadlines by March 1. As a freshman it is harder. I suggest apply to 4 or 5. You can always decline if you get multiple positions. Also, you can apply to schools near your hometown if you plan to be home during summer.</p>
<p>If your interest is Biomedical research then go to [BioMedical</a> Engineering Co-op/Internships](<a href=“BioMedical Engineering Co-op/Internships”>BioMedical Engineering Co-op/Internships)</p>
<p>You can’t find a better list anywhere else.</p>
<p>I’m a bit confused by your post, Fasinro. the OP wants to do research during the summer, so there’s not likely to be much in terms of schoolwork at all.
also, for whom is research not encouraged? freshmen are not rushed into it, but I think that’s because of the transition to college life in general rather than strictly a matter of workload. it could vary among different majors, but in biology everyone knows you have to take some tough courses when you’re an upperclassman, but it’s still highly recommend that students are research during that time as well.
I hope this is not sounding harsh, I just wanted to make sure you’re clear on what’s going on in this thread! :)</p>
<p>the English major might have been it. I honestly don’t know how research in the humanities works, which I admit is a shortcoming in my ability in my ability to give advice about Cornell. I am looking at the undergraduate section of their department website and there isn’t any great promotion of research.</p>
<p>in biology, which is really the only one I can speak for directly, it’s very reasonable to seek employment or for-credit experience in a lab during your sophomore year. I knew some people who started freshman year, but they also had research experience during high school. if you’re not ready sophomore year because of workload then starting when you’re a junior would be appropriate and normal as well.</p>
<p>it sounds like things are a bit different in engineering, where you’re better off approaching a professor when you already have outside experience. </p>
<p>as for work during the summer, if you’re not taking a summer class, there should be no schoolwork.</p>
<p>^^ at my old school, i just asked one of my profs if i could join her lab since i was taking summer classes and would be around anyway. then i got to cornell and i started the first week of class in a new research lab and i got picked over other people because of my experience at my old school. if you’re staying here, ask a prof you have now if you can join them. if you’re going to be at home and there’s a school near you, look up profs there and just e-mail them and see if they have any openings.</p>
<p>Direct is best. Email them, they would love it.</p>
<p>.Thanx! :D</p>