Entering Research: A Facilitator's Manual

Book excerpt: The Entering Research workshops offer a mechanism to structure the independent research experience. These workshops introduce students to the culture of research, teaching valuable research skills, and alleviating some of the work of faculty and lab personnel associated with mentoring novice researchers. For students whose experience with science has been primarily in the classroom, it can be difficult to identify and contact potential mentors, and to navigate the transition to a one-on-one, mentor-student relationship. This is especially true for those who are new to research, or who belong to groups that are underrepresented in research. The Entering Research workshops can assist you in helping students overcome these challenges. The materials in this manual can easily be adapted for a number of venues, including individual, one-time workshops; intensive summer research programs for undergraduates or pre-college students; professional development workshops for beginning graduate students; or as a way to support students working in an individual faculty member's research group.