<p>Hey all, I'm a sophomore transfer to WU and I am interested in becoming involved in undergrad research. Are there many options for those interested exclusively in the humanities and/or social sciences? It seems that bio/chem boast many offerings, but the sciences are not a part of my major.
Has anyone here had any experince themsleves, or heard from his/her child?</p>
<p>Willamette has set aside endowment funds for undergraduate research grants available in all fields: [CLA</a> Catalog: Academic Overview: Programs of Special Interest: Carson Undergraduate Research Grant | Willamette University](<a href=“http://www.willamette.edu/cla/catalog/overview/programs/carson/index.php]CLA”>http://www.willamette.edu/cla/catalog/overview/programs/carson/index.php). This page discusses the Carson grants, but there are others as well. The best avenue is to talk with a Willamette professor and discuss your research interests.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. I had been reading Cal Newport’s “How to Win at College” and the importance of undergradute research was heavily emphasized. Since my previous university was more “teaching” versus “research” oriented, the process of carving out opportunities on and undergraduate level was a bit foggy. </p>
<p>On another note, how does one approach the professor to ask about assisting in reaserch? Will the student aid in the professor’s personal research or in a joint program?</p>
<p>Has anyone here had an experience which they wouldn’t mind discussing?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m a tenured professor at a liberal arts university in California, and my son is a rising sophomore at Willamette. When we visited Willamette for campus preview week, Seth Cotlar, a professor in the history department, talked about some of the research projects he had conducted and ways that Willamette students had been involved. History is my field as well, and the way he involved students was very similar to my own process, so I was very interested.</p>
<p>If you have your own idea about what you want to research, then you could develop a proposal for a Carson Grant at Willamette. Or, you could do some digging to find a professor or two with interests similar to yours and go talk to them.</p>
<p>If you don’t have an idea for a project but want research experience in a particular field, then you can start by exploring the current research projects in which various professors are involved. Visit during their office hours and talk about your desire to gain research experience…ask about opportunities. Be ready to show that you’re knowledgeable about their research (in general terms) and talk about some skills you could bring to work in their area. </p>
<p>Everyone at Willamette is very friendly and supportive, so you have absolutely nothing to lose by proceeding this way.</p>
<p>Wow, I just made this account and already someone asked and responded to what I was thinking before I could even post the question!
Side note: 50% of my fall classes are taught my visiting professors. I believe one is normally teaching at PSU. I’m assuming this means that I cannot ask to be involved in their research. Are there exceptions?</p>
<p>^ A position as visiting professor can last one semester or one full year or even a couple of years, depending on the terms. You can ask anyone about research opportunities. You can drop by the office hours of the department head and explain your interests and ask if he/she can suggest individuals who might help. Someone teaching at Willamette as a visiting professor might have external grant funding to cover research and may be able to use some of that funding to support a researcher. And if you’re just beginning research and are will to work without pay, your options widen considerably.</p>