idlaunva

When I went for orientation, the advisors kept stressing the importance of research to an engineer. They told us where we could go and why its important but they never said how to get started.

Is there a guide to how to go about doing research? How did you guys do it? Did something in one of your classes interest you and you decided to research it further in a lab?

I know I probably sound stupid but basically, WHAT IS RESEARCH!!?

sky

Research, in the engineering sense, is the application of engineering methods to solve real world problems (or a development of the methods themselves). The exact things involved will depend on what field you're in. Research in sciences is a bit more straightforward, because you've had exposure to that in high school with things like biology and chemistry labs. In engineering, research can take on different forms. For a field like industrial engineering, it could mean making simulation models of processes. For mechanical engineering, it could be testing the vibrational properties of a composite material. It material science, it could mean testing the corrosion resistance of a new material coating. The list can go on forever. However, the process is still based on the scientific method.

At the undergraduate level, it's primarily going to be setting up and running the experiments, collecting and organizing data, coding programs, making charts and helping write the report.

As far as how to get it, there are several ways. The first will be postings in your department, either online or on bulletin boards looking for undergraduate research assistants. Often, professors will post any research openings they have on their websites as well. The other way is self initiated. Once you discover a topic you are interested in, go see those professors and talk to them about your interest. If they have the need, they might consider you for a position.

Don't worry about getting into research immediately. It can (and probably should) wait until your junior and senior years. You might not even know if engineering is for you. However, you might be extremely motivated and bright, and could handle research after your freshman year. Also, you don't have to go into research. Perhaps getting an internship would be more beneficial for you. It depends on what you want to do with your career and what type of job you want. They are also not mutually exclusive, but realize that "research" isn't the only way to success.

RejectedFromMIT

well i'm trying to get involved in research in my first semester as a sophomore transfer in UPenn, I want to do that because I already found some projects that maybe interesting, although I may not qualify for most of them because I'm still a sophomore, I also want to get involve in research just for the idea that I want to take advantage of everything in UPenn, regardless of if it's research, internship or something else, is that reasonable enough? and what if i'm really interested in a project but don't have all the qualifications, should that prevent me from choosing a certain project?

steevee

Talk to profs and see if they have some spaces for you in the lab.

cherrybarry

research is spending countless hrs searching through ISI web of science trying to separate the good from the bs

idlaunva

Thanks Sky