The Office of Undergraduate Research offers educational events on topics of interest to undergraduate student researchers and their faculty mentors. These events are open to all and are designed specifically with undergraduate students in mind. For a flier with the full schedule, please click HERE.
August 28
3:30 - 4:30
Imposter Syndrome
Presented by Pearl Sandick in **UNION THEATRE**
Have you ever felt like you don’t belong at the University, in your lab, at your job? Do you feel like one day everyone will figure it out and you’ll be exposed as a fraud? You might be experiencing imposter syndrome. In this session, you will earn more about imposter syndrome and a few ways to help combat it.
Student feedback from this session:
"This presentation is the best one I've been to. Dr. Sandick thoroughly analyzed imposter syndrome thoughts & feelings. She pinned my thoughts + worries exactly. Also the tips + exercises at the end were great + spot on. I feel motivated, she did a good job!"
"Imposter syndrome, implicit bias, and stereotype threat has or will affect all of us at some time. Acknowledging this and realizing it helps us to realize why we have these insecurities and how we can help both ourselves as well as our peers to best optimized performance."
"This talk came at the perfect time in the semester when all the pressures of the semester hit hard and make one feel they don't belong. It's good to be reminded how common Imposter Syndrome is and to see who it affects the most."
August 30
10:45 - 11:45
Doing Library Research
Presented by Donne Ziegenfuss in Sill 120
In this session, you will learn how to navigate the Marriott Library’s online resources and how to efficiently do library research. You will be introduced to many library resources relevant to your individual field of research including field-specific journals and citation management tools. This seminar is useful for students at any point in their project and can be revisited as online resources continue to develop.
Student feedback from this session:
"Being able to research a library and online databases is incredibly important to any student or professional who is doing research. The speaker does very well in showing the variety of tools that exists in our local library alone, as well as all the online tools that one can use to find information about topics of various levels of specificity."
"Extremely informative, I used to work in the library + I didn't know some of the content covered in the session. its great for non-UROP students as well because its applicable to all research."
"Even if there are parts of conducting library research that you are already aware of, it's helpful to see a concise way to get to those specification options. I've spent a lot of time figuring things out on my own & I could have saved a lot of time & confusion if I had been to this session earlier."
September 4
2:15 - 3:15
Mentorship Workshop
Presented by Alexis Christensen in Sill 120
A variety of topics related to building a strong relationship with your mentor will be covered. Some topics include:
what to expect from your mentor, boundaries, problem solving when issues with your mentor come up,
what you need to know about lab structures, & differing responsibilities
Come prepared to ask questions and engage in a conversation about mentorship!
Student feedback from this session:
"Lot helpful advice on how to better the relationship of mentor-mentee. The contents of the workshop directly apply to my situation and will be useful for me get more out of research."
"Although me research experience has been positive thus far, I recognized areas in which I can improve. I am excited to go into the lab and strengthen my relationship with my PI."
"Educational. Brings light to how mentor-student relationships can be successful. It's important to know how to get the most our of your research experiences throughout school, prior to entering the professional field. Very insightful workshop."
September 9
11:30 - 12:30
How to Read a Research Article
Presented by Behrad Noudoost in Sill 120
In this seminar you will learn about how to read a research article effectively. You will be given tips and strategies for how to read scholarly journal articles. This seminar in appropriate for any student who needs to read contemporary research in their field.
Student feedback from this session:
"This 1-hour session will save hours spent trying to understand articles."
"This lecture focuses both on how to read the paper as well as the process of how it is written. This is useful to understand points of focus in a paper as well as instruction on how to write a paper is you are working on that."
"Learning how to read research papers and even identify relevant papers is a really daunting task for researchers entering the field. However, it is a crucial skill in becoming a relevant and inquisitive scientist. This talk also helped me understand the process of making figures and writing a research paper which will come in handy as I begin writing my senior thesis this fall."
September 18
noon - 1:00pm
Navigating Research, Race, Gender & Difference
Presented by Annie Fukushima in Sill 120
"Navigating Research, Race, Gender & Difference" will discuss how race, gender, and difference matters in research, working with professors/mentors, and in the dissemination of one’s research. Students will discuss a range of concepts regarding standpoints, racism, and oppression, and how such terms manifest when conducting research, collaborating with mentors, and in the dissemination of research. This workshop seeks to provide a platform for students to openly talk about conducting research while navigating difference.
About Dr. Annie Isabel Fukushima: Dr. Fukushima is an Assistant Professor in the Ethnic Studies Division at the University of Utah. She is the author of Migrant Crossings: Witnessing Human Trafficking in the U.S.
September 26
11:15 - 12:15
Asking for Letters of Recommendation
Presented by Matt Haber in Sill 120
In this session, you will learn about how to approach your faculty mentor about writing you a letter of recommendation. This is an art all its own and many students are not aware that there are professional parameters for this request. This seminar is appropriate at any point in a student’s education.
Student feedback from this session:
"-Great intro to what a letter is, especially for students who haven't seen letters of recommendation. -Good breakdown of how to ask for a letter. - Important insight on the professor's experience writing a letter."
"This information surprised me & made me feel more comfortable about this new realm. Letters of recommendation have been scary and after talking with Professor Haber I feel like I can navigate this process well. I would like this kowledge to be give to freshman!"
"good advice about who to ask, when to ask... and highlights the competitive nature of application process so that students are aware & know how to get strong letters of recommendation."
October 1
2:30 - 3:30
Personal Statements
Presented by Ann Engar in Sill 120
In this session, you will learn about what content goes into an effective personal statement and how to structure your personal statement. Personal statements are necessary for graduate, medical, and professional school applications, as well as for many job applications. This seminar will be useful to students at any point in their education.
Student feedback from this session:
"I think personal statements are the most difficult things to write with applying. This lecture really broke down the "dos" and "don'ts" and helped to focus on yourself. Great advice and refreshing to hear!"
"I really have never been told how a personal statement should be written before today, and this session will help for applying for graduate school later in my career."
"This presentation took a lot of the intimidation of needing to write a personal statement. It was energizing and motivating to brainstorm as a group."
October 18
1:15 - 2:15
Introduction to the Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Presented by Gary Henderson in Sill 120
In this session, you will learn the basic history of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), what counts as Human Subjects research, and how and when you might need to use the IRB while doing research here at the U. This session is good for anyone who is or is interested in doing research with Human Subjects at any stage of their research.
Student feedback from this session:
"This session gives a great overview to how the IRB works and what their goals/principles are. It also gave insight on when IRB approval is needed which is important when doing research."
"The presenter covered the main goals and duties of the IRB without overwhelming us with bureaucratic details. Also, it was interesting (and horrifying) learning about our country's dark history of human subjects research."
"Learning about the IRB allowed me to understand the broader implications of my research in general. All research has the goal of eventually translating to help humans, and understanding ethical human research and the process involved are very important in study design and implementation. Principles such as respect of persons, beneficence, and justice are things that all researchers should keep in mind while planning and conducting experiments."
October 24
12:30 - 1:30
Writing Abstracts
Presented by Christie Toth in Sill 120
In this session, you will learn about how to write an effective research abstract. You will work on framing your research project concisely and accurately. You will leave ready to write your research abstract. This seminar is most useful for students currently needing to write an abstract. It is also useful for students developing how to think about their project.
Student feedback from this session:
"It was interactive and I feel like I am walking away knowing how to interpret + write an abstract."
"Very interactive and productive learning experience. Even for someone well versed in the realm of writing and analyzing research papers."
"It gives the audience a good idea about abstract writing and why it's important. Also, interactive and well planned. I gained a lot from this session."
October 30
11:30 - 12:30
Literature Reviews
Presented by Jenny Andrus in Sill 120
In this session, you will learn how to conduct and construct a literature review. This will focus on finding, analyzing, and citing relevant sources, but will also address organizing and writing the review. As all students and researchers will have to sift through relevant literature at some point, this will be useful to all researchers.
Please bring three sources for your project with you to this session.
Student Feedback:
"I appreciated the focus on source citations and some tips how to connect ideas together from different sources."
"This session synthesized a lot of other sessions such as finding sources and writing an abstract. This session helped me understand what to look for when finding sources and how to use them the join the conversation in my field."
"I had not been previously exposed to the instruction found in this lecture. It seems applicable to many fields."
November 4
12:00 - 1:00
Leveraging Your Research in Industry
Panel organized by Career and Professional Development Center in Sill 120
This is a panel of local employers who actively seek out employees with research experience. In this panel discussion, you will learn about why research experience is so valuable in industry and how to leverage your own research experience when applying to jobs. This session will be beneficial to any student who is currently seeking or who will soon be seeking employment.
Student feedback from this session:
"This session provided a clear perspective of the differences between working in industry + academia. This is a question that I am considering right now. Great opportunity to hear from an individual who worked in both spheres."
"I loved how informal and informative this discussion was. I felt like I wasn't just being lectured to and really enjoyed coming here for this. the presenter was very clear and really helped me feel like this could go beyond research and into my life."
"This talk was great for students trying to decide if industry is for them or is research is thier passion. In addition, Anthony gave great tips on how to learn to translate research into the world."
November 5
10:30 - 11:30
Research in Resumes & Cover Letters
Presented by Crystal Cory, Career and Professional Development Center in Sill 120
In this session, you will learn which parts of and how to highlight your research experience on an academic resume. It is all about marketing! Please come prepared with a draft of your resume so that you may workshop it in the session. This session will be helpful to students at any point in their research, as keeping up a resume is a constant project.
Student feedback from this session:
"Very helpful in organizing one's resume & how to make your resume stand out to employers since they first glance at it for only 6 seconds."
"It provided helpful insight on how to effectively organize your resume in order to give yourself a better chance for employers to recognize you and hire you."
"Valuable information on how employers go about hiring process, good time to practice your ability to write accomplishment statements. Nice that the presenters were undergrad age, so they get it."
November 6
1:00 - 2:00
Entrepreneur Your Research
Presented by Kathy Hajeb in Sill 120
In this session, you will learn about the entrepreneurial mindset and understanding the potential impact of your research, as well as about value creation.
November 15
12:00 - 1:00
Contextualizing Your Research
Presented by Shane MacFarlan in Sill 120
In this session, you will work to identify several perspectives outside of the immediate perspective of the lab or project from which you can view your work, how your work fits in with those viewpoints, and how to explain those larger perspectives of your work to an audience (in a paper, presentation, or to a community member).
Student Feedback:
"Great talk on how niche research applies to larger scale audiences."
"-Yes. - Super interesting (great speaking skills and interesting content. Incredibly passionate.) Universally applicable to research and life, in general. "Why do you do what you do," a looking forward approach that is relevant to student experience in many ways. Urged students to think beyond money and find legitimate reasons for actions and motivations."
"I didn't think this session would be applicable to me in an arts area. However, the information was very universal & applicable. Important information about communication."
November 20
11:00 - 12:00
Reflection as Part of the Research Process
Presented by Robyn Moreno in Sill 120
Reflection, though a necessary part of the research process, is not often explicitly discussed or taught. This session will help you intentionally incorporate reflection into to your daily research and at the end of an experience. This session is useful for any student at any point in their research experience.
Student Feedback:
"I felt that the discussion about the reflective process helped me pinpoint how my mentors and I have already employed the process and made me more aware of how I can more actively apply it to improve my research & writing."
"Reflection is crucial to grow personally + intellectually! Its a huge part of the program I am doing my UROP project with (Bennion Scholars) and has helped me learn + improve my project a lot."
"This workshop helped by making me think of my research from a different perspective, gave me ideas on how to improve my process, improving the communication of my research."
November 26
1:45 - 245
Creating Effective Research Posters
Presented by Taylor Sparks in Sill 120
In this workshop, you will learn about the characteristics of effective research poster design and how to use some tools to use to prepare a research poster. This session covers the content and aesthetics of research posters. This seminar is most useful for students currently needing to create a research poster but is also helpful for students thinking about how to talk about their project. This session will also be useful for students who are ready to start creating images for their posters.
Resources for this session will be shared in a designated Box folder. Please check this folder before attending this session!
Student Feedback:
"Dr. Sparks was a very engaging presenter. I appreciated that this was so subject-nonspecific. I also liked that the emphasis was one getting people interested in your research because I know how to talk to people in my fields, but now how to bridge them without getting technical."
"Dr. Sparks was very engaging, honest, & extremely helpful in both introducing helpful software, discussing ways to refine work, & how to interact a more approachable & interesting way at conferences."
"This is single-handedly the best URES I have been to. Dr. Sparks provides lot a detailed, descriptive tips with lots of examples and very useful software is made known. I have learned a lot!"