University of Massachusetts Amherst

Search Google Appliance

Links

UREP offers students hands-on research experience

UREP students spring 2015Seven undergraduate students spent the spring semester working as research fellows with Professor Libby Sharrow, Assistant Professor of Political Science and History: Ariel Dickerman ‘17, Diego Fellows ’15, Chanel Glasper ’15, Nick Fernald ’15, Rebecca Kwakye ‘15, Tenzin Thargay ‘18, and Greta Wilt ‘17.

As fellows, the students were exposed to several aspects of Professor Sharrow’s research agenda regarding public policy and Title IX.  “They helped collect data regarding the current status of implementing Title IX at colleges and universities across the country, the presence of internationally recruited college athletes in the U.S., and the recent coverage of Title IX in newspapers and other media,” she says.

For many of the students, this fellowship was their first experience conducting social science research. “I have heard of research assistant positions at the graduate level, but I was not aware that research opportunities existed for undergraduate students,” says Wilt. “When I saw UREP on the Political Science website, I knew that it was something that I wanted to be involved with. I wanted to develop my research skills while working with a professor who is well established in the field of social science research, and hopefully learn research skills along the way.” 

Indeed, the fellowship offered a way for students to learn about the realities of research process – from developing a hypothesis to collecting and analyzing data – that sometimes cannot be taught in a large classroom setting: "UREP was a valuable experience for me because it allowed me to gain one-on-one research experience with a professor while also giving me more insight into the research process," says Fernald. “It gave me the opportunity to work with a professor I have never work with before and allowed me to partake in the research aspect of the university," echoes Kwakye.

UREP Students Spring 2015The fellowship also taught skills that will serve the students well in other classes and after graduation: “I learned how to code in Microsoft Excel which is something I had no prior experience with,” says Wilt.  “Also, I learned that research isn’t as simple as putting a search term into Google and accepting the first result.”

The fellowship positions were made available through the department’s Undergraduate Research Engagement Program (UREP), which seeks to partner undergraduate majors with faculty and advanced graduate students for hands on experience conducting research. Thirty-six students participated in the program with eighteen faculty and advanced PhDs this academic year.

Students interested in applying for a UREP fellowship for the upcoming academic year should visit the department’s webpage for a list of positions and application procedures. New fellowships will be posted throughout the summer.

News Type: 

  • Student News