<p>Can anyone comment on how difficult it is considering the size of Ohio State to find and participate in research activity? DS has been accepted as biology major (including Biological Sciences Scholars program). We asked this question of a biology dept. counselor and frankly, where given the impression that there are opportunities, but in the next sentence went on to tell us she had several students that were trying to get in touch with the department that deals with this and were finding nobody was returning their calls. Since research experience is needed in this major as well as many other science majors as a prerequisite to going on to grad school, this is a very important consideration for his college choice. I realize like anything, the student has to be motivated to get out there and make the connections, but with the sheer size of Ohio State, concerned about the actual availability of opportunities. Any comments/insights?</p>
<p>There is plenty of research available. If you can’t get in touch with someone in your department then try contacting the University Research Office or a Peer Research Contact.</p>
<p>D is a Psychology major and was invited to participate as a 699 (the undergrad research course #) by a department professor the 1st quarter of her freshman year based on her grade in the class. I am not sure if it works the same way in the other Sciences, but if you enter ‘699’ in the OSU search, the following info is found:</p>
<p>[Undergraduate</a> Research FAQs | Microbiology](<a href=“http://microbiology.osu.edu/http%3A/%252Fmicrobiology.osu.edu/students/FAQs_Research]Undergraduate”>http://microbiology.osu.edu/http%3A/%252Fmicrobiology.osu.edu/students/FAQs_Research)</p>
<p>“You will need to do some preliminary work determining what type of research is being carried out by each professor. Once you find a lab that is involved in research you are interested in, contact the professor to see if he/she would willing to take you as an undergrad research student.”</p>
<p>You can find more information about how to go about this at: </p>
<p>[Undergraduate</a> Research | Microbiology](<a href=“http://microbiology.osu.edu/students/ugrad-research]Undergraduate”>Undergraduate Research | Department of Microbiology) </p>
<p>There are plenty of opportunities - they just need to be assertive, apply themselves and follow-through.</p>