Support from Expert Faculty Mentors To be successful in presenting and publishing their research, students need faculty who are both expert scholars and caring mentors to lead the way. At HPU, they collaborate with professors on cuttingedge projects with major scientific impact. They work with physicists on research for NASA, support children and the elderly through narrative medicine with Allison Walker, develop new approaches to STEM education using Lego bricks with Dr. Shirley Disseler, conduct research with pharmacy faculty on regulated substances and antibiotic resistant bacteria, and the list goes on. All of these experiences are relevant to real challenges in a student’s field, and the opportunities are abundant. Last year, HPU was the leading institution nationally in the number of research positions available to students through ScholarBridge, a website that connects students and faculty with shared research interests. Visit scholarbridge.com to learn more about HPU’s faculty research and creative works. Crofton, who received HPU’s Ruth Ridenhour Scholarly and Professional Achievement Award for her research and its application in the classroom, explains the importance of the faculty-student connection. “Professors who are themselves active researchers are better teachers of research techniques and skills,” says Crofton. “Also,
professors who are actively engaged in research are more likely to be known in their fields and the community, and thus are likely to be able to help students more as they seek employment in their field or as they apply for graduate schools.” Crofton also says savvy students seek to know the breadth and impact of professors’ research. In fact, HPU’s growing undergraduate research program has attracted both talented students and stellar faculty to campus. In 2015 –16, more than 388 students engaged in undergraduate research and creative works by working on projects, presenting at symposiums, attending conferences and publishing in HPU’s scholarly journal.
Leveraging Your Credentials Last summer, 55 students stayed on campus to work with faculty during three intensive summer research programs — Summer Research Institute (SuRI), open to students in all disciplines, Summer Research Program in the Sciences (SuRPS) for biology, chemistry and physics majors, and Congdon School of Health Sciences Summer Research Fellowship (SuRF) for the health sciences. While engaging in a research project with faculty, students in these three programs also practice those sought-after skills. In particular, they learn how to talk about their research in a way that effectively demonstrates their knowledge and passion, a skill that later will help them share their work with potential employers. Through a speed dating-style event, many students practice explaining their research to others. They give their elevator pitch and then answer questions while being evaluated on their presentation style, enthusiasm, eye contact and ability to speak to a lay audience. When students are passionate about something, it shows. And it helps them stand out. “The research process is evidence that a student has the relevant skills,” says Altman. “They’ve shown great depth of knowledge, that they have grit, and that they can talk about something no one else has done in an exciting and impressive way.” ▲
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