Undergraduate Research Information
Performing research as an undergraduate is highly recommended by the department. This hands-on experience will not only increase the student's understanding of their coursework, but will also benefit them when they seek employment or continued education. Research provides them with experience and skills that employers desire. Also, having done research will aid them should they decide to apply to graduate school. Students interested in gaining research experience should simply look at the webpages for faculty in our department (and related departments if applicable, such as Microbiology, Zoology, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or Physics ). The faculty webpages should have descriptions of their current research projects. Students should make a list of faculty performing research that they find interesting, and then contact the faculty to ask about possible openings in their labs. There is no formal application process. Students performing research in our department can receive academic credit by enrolling in Chem 3990 or Chem 4990. Other local options include checking with the OU Health Sciences Center (http://www.ouhsc.edu) and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (http://www.omrf.org/) for openings. Note that it is very difficult to receive academic credit for off-campus research. Students can also take part in one of the many Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) programs offered at schools all around the country. SURE announcements are emailed to our undergraduates in the advising email newsletter. A listing of summer research programs is also available on our website at http://chem.ou.edu/Research/Summer-Research-Programs.html Students enrolling in CHEM 4913, Senior Thesis, must complete two to three semesters of research (10-25 hours per week) before enrolling in CHEM 4913. Research hours may be completed by enrolling in CHEM 3960 (Honors Reading), 3980 (Honors Research), 3990 (Independent Study, S/U grade) or 4990 (Independent Study, letter grade). |
