At the University of Rochester, we take great pride in being a research-oriented institution. When I was still a high school senior, Rochester’s heavy emphasis on research was one of the biggest factors in my decision to join this community. I wanted to be involved in research in college, and I was thrilled that the college I chose offered so many opportunities to do so.
Back in high school, I had a limited understanding of what research meant. To me, research was limited to the natural sciences, meaning I had to be in a white lab coat with big goggles in a science or medical laboratory. I often saw LinkedIn posts from friends and colleagues sharing their research experiences with a professor in a lab. Since I wasn’t particularly interested in the medical field, these posts made me wonder: Is it even possible to conduct research in the field of political science, the arts, or fields outside the natural sciences?
During my first week in Rochester, I met a friend who already secured a research position. She was a pre-med student who reached out to professors the summer before my freshman year and was fortunate to land a research opportunity right away. Seeing her success encouraged me to start exploring my options since I wanted to be involved in research throughout my time in college.
I discovered JobLink, a job listing website for University of Rochester students. To my surprise, I saw a multitude of available paid research positions from across different departments! There were openings from the Public Health, Economics, and even departments outside the natural sciences. Despite the many opportunities, I decided to wait before applying, wanting to first adjust to college life my freshman year.
By my sophomore spring semester, I finally landed a research position through word of mouth! A senior posted an Instagram story about a Political Science professor looking for research assistants. Intrigued, I expressed interest and soon realized that the professor in question was one I was already taking a class with! I reached out to my professor, and we scheduled a meeting. Within a few minutes of our conversation, I got my first research position!
Throughout my time as a research assistant, I gained insight into what Political Science research looks like. My work involves proofreading lengthy papers regarding my professor’s ongoing research, compiling extensive bibliographies, reviewing proposal funding, and summarizing numerous political science papers. While I’ve always been drawn to analytical thinking, I knew I didn’t want to be behind a microscope in a lab. Rather, I found my place by engaging with scholarly literature and contributing to ongoing political research!
Talking with my friends about our research experiences has been truly eye-opening. Each of us approaches research in different ways. My pre-med friends trek to the Medical Campus to conduct research with their principal investigators, while my engineering friends spend hours in the lab interacting with complex chemicals. Meanwhile, my economics friends spend a lot of time reading academic journals to help write literature reviews for ongoing research.
With over 77% of our undergraduates participating in research at the University of Rochester, a research position is available for you at the University of Rochester! You don’t have to be a student in the major to conduct research in a specific area. Keeping an open mind is key since research takes many different forms across disciplines. That’s the beauty of it: Different approaches, but all leading to discoveries that contribute to society.
If you’re a student at Rochester, I encourage you to explore research. You might just find yourself on an unexpected and exciting academic journey, just like I did!