<p>I'm going to be going to college next year as a freshman and I am very passionate about engaging myself in research opportunities. My question is that, of all the engineering courses, which subject in engineering is the most beneficial and worthwhile doing research in (ex. mech e, physics, chem, etc.)? When I asked "which professor I should ask for research participation", I meant which professor from all the engineering courses is the best to ask for research. I hope I cleared up any confusion and I would really appreciate someone's help. Thanks.</p>
<p>P.S. Currently, I plan on majoring in Mechanical Engineering</p>
<p>You do research with a professor in your department studying something that interests you. There are no such things as subjects that are inherently more beneficial or worthwhile. It’s all about you.</p>
<p>I say ask any professor whose research you are genuinely interest in. Establish a relationship with this professor, express your goals with them, and see where it takes you. </p>
<p>I’m doing the same next semester. My university has a program that matches professors with students. You should check if your university has a similar program. </p>
<p>I say any research is worthwhile if you take something from it whether it be professionalism, writing, knowledge in specific lab equipment/processes, etc.</p>
<p>Physics isn’t a branch of engineering. If anything, it’s t’other way 'round!</p>
<p>Since you are going to be a mech major, I’d start by going to your college’s mech department website and looking for a link marked “research.” Then look through the different research groups–it’s okay if it all seems way above your head and you don’t know squat–find something that seems most interesting to you, and email one of the professors who heads that group. Introduce yourself and give any qualifications you have (LabVIEW, programming, Matlab, grades, electronics, machining, anything) and ask if he (…or she…) has an opening for you. Ask as many professors as you find interesting. If there is nothing in mech research that tickles your pickle, look in other areas of engineering or science or anything really. Though STEM tends to stick with STEM.</p>
<p>I see what you’re saying, but if in theory there were such a thing as “boob studies” I’M BEING HYPOTHETICAL HERE!!! then maybe this would break that rule.</p>
<p>I see what you are saying, but what if you were a gay male or a straight female? I don’t think that class would be terribly worthwhile or beneficial then. So then, it still all comes down to you. ;-)</p>
<p>Personally I would wait until the beginning of the semester or a couple weeks beforehand to start sending out these emails. Unless you live close to the campus, you won’t be starting until you get to school. Also it will be easier to follow up on emails in person on campus, which is often important in establishing a connection. </p>
<p>Aside from what has been mentioned here, I would also stress getting to know the graduate students in the lab some before you join. More than likely you’ll be working with/for one of them because professors often don’t have time to guide their own graduate students in the lab, let alone undergraduates. And you probably won’t get an independent project from the start, so your relationship with the graduate students is very important as they are who you’ll be working with the majority of the time.</p>
<p>Well, since you are doing mechanical engineering, your research will probably be in mechanical engineering. Unless it is extremely important to start research freshman year, I would wait until you get a taste of the different engineering classes and what it’s like to work with the material. Then, if you think you might like to do research in that area, ask the professor or ask the department head if there are other professors doing research in those areas. </p>
<p>Mechanical research often integrates well with electrical engineering research and biomedical research, which you might not get a taste of too early in your undergrad education, so try studying those outside of your class if you think you might want to research in mechatronics or biomed</p>
<p>…and aerospace research and materials research and chemical engineering research. Yours is a narrow view of mechanical engineering. I’d agree that it would be valuable to determine what are his or her interests within the field prior to trying to get a research position, however.</p>
<p>True. I’ve always sort of considered aerospace and materials to be a part of the mechanical engineering umbrella. I have little experience with mechanical engineering so I’m not aware of all of the different fields of research.</p>
My university has a program that matches professors with students. You should check if your university has a similar program. </p>