Why do research?
Some degrees and programs at Stockton have a formal requirement for students to complete an undergraduate research project. However, regardless of whether research is an official requirement, you will find many benefits to doing an undergraduate research project. Participating in research will enhance your educational experience at Stockton by giving you the opportunity to apply what you learn in your classes. Conducting research involves discovery, problem-solving, and critical thinking that goes beyond the typical classroom experience. Having a research project on your resume signals to employers and graduate schools that you are a person who is motivated to explore and ask new questions.
How to get involved in undergraduate research
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Check out past research projects by Stockton students: See what other Stockton students have accomplished in their research by viewing Student Research Experiences.
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Find a faculty advisor: To do undergraduate research you need a faculty advisor with expertise in the area or topic that you wish to focus on for your research. Faculty take different approaches to advising student researchers, depending on the nature of the research that they do and their personal mentorship style. Your faculty advisor may have on-going research that you may get involved with by taking responsibility for one component of a larger project, or you may be asked to come up with an original research idea to develop from start to finish. You may want to talk to multiple advisors before settling on a project, to make sure that you are interested in the research and will work well with your advisor. You can learn more about specific faculty research by viewing Finding a Faculty Advisor.
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Get started early: Undergraduate research is not just for seniors, you can start a research project as a freshman if you like! Faculty do not expect you to be an expert already and will provide training to help you get started. If you are interested in a topic, but haven’t taken a course on the subject yet, you may still be able to do a research project. If you get started with research early, you can do multiple research projects to explore different specializations within your area of study, or you may continue your research on one topic over multiple semesters. The earlier you get started the more deeply you can delve into the research, explore, and generate results. The results of your research may be shared with your professional community in the form of a written report or a presentation at a professional meeting or campus event. These types of outcomes are valuable to add to your resume, but usually require more than one semester’s worth of research results.