Why Get Involved?

Why should you get involved in undergraduate research? The benefits of conducting research and pursuing scholarship and creative activities are boundless, but they can vary from student to student; what you get out of it depends on what you put into it. Engaging in undergraduate research is an excellent way to:

• Gain experience and skills that benefit you academically and professionally.
• Develop as a critical thinker with experience solving complex problems.
• Boost your résumé.
• Test drive a career.
• Define your own future.
• Engage more deeply in your discipline and even contribute to it.
• Learn and use techniques, methods, and practices that are appropriate to your field.
• Sharpen skills that are useful across many types of jobs and valued by employers.
• Communicate your results in professional ways to others in your field and beyond.
• Prepare for the rigors of graduate or professional study.

Why People Love Research

Are you a curious person? Do you like tackling challenges? Are you driven to seek out the truth? Do you enjoy working with others who are—and aren’t—like you? Do you thrive on sharing and getting constructive feedback on your efforts? Do you like being recognized for your accomplishments? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then chances are you are the kind of person that will love engaging in undergraduate research!

Timing

Now that you are interested, the next question is when is the best time to engage in undergraduate research with a mentor at Lincoln University? You can:

• Start as early as your Freshman year or at almost any point in your baccalaureate program!
• Work with a LU faculty member throughout the academic year, and/or over summer.
• Apply for summer research opportunities beyond Lincoln University.
• Conduct an independent study as a Junior or Senior and publish your work.