2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

A Departmental Research Methods Course to Support New Undergraduate Researchers

Presented at Laboratory and Research Skill Development

Many universities promote experiential learning opportunities for students to apply their learning outside traditionally required coursework. As one type of experiential learning, mentored undergraduate research opportunities are common across engineering. The experiences of individual undergraduates in their first research experience may vary widely based on the mentorship and training provided. Our department developed a research methods course taken in common by all new undergraduate researchers across chemical engineering labs to provide consistent training in a common set of research-specific professional skills and to build a cohort culture amongst undergraduate researchers for mutual support. The course is offered in fall and spring semesters and has been taught since 2009. Course topics in the undergraduate research methods course include basic research terminology, choosing research areas that resonate with personal interests and values and that impact society, library tools, reference management software, reading research papers, crafting poster and oral presentations, writing technical reports and statements of purpose for applications, and practicing technical communication. This paper disseminates the resources from the class for reuse in similar courses or for training cohorts participating in summer research experiences for undergraduates.

Authors

Dr. Ashlee N. Ford Versypt http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9059-5703 University at Buffalo, The State University of New York [biography]

Dr. Ashlee N. Ford Versypt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological
Engineering at the University at Buffalo (UB), The State University of New York. She is also an Affiliated Faculty in the Department of Engineering Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.
Dr. Jeffrey R. Errington University at Buffalo, The State University of New York [biography]

Dr. Jeffrey R. Errington is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University at Buffalo (UB), The State University of New York. He also serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Dr. David A. Kofke http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2530-8816 University at Buffalo, The State University of New York [biography]

Dr. David A. Kofke is SUNY Distinguished Professor and holds the Walter E. Schmid Chair in Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University at Buffalo. He is the Department's Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Dr. Maura Sepesy http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9027-4982 University at Buffalo, The State University of New York [biography]

Dr. Maura Sepesy is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University at Buffalo where she teaches undergraduate laboratory courses, transport, undergraduate research, and oversees internships.
Dr. Mark T. Swihart http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9652-687X University at Buffalo, The State University of New York [biography]

Dr. Mark Swihart is SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University at Buffalo (UB) and a co-author of Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, 9th Ed (Smith, van Ness, Abbott, and Swihart).

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