Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Students can find out about research opportunities by watching for emails from faculty members prior to registration each semester, contacting faculty members to inquire about their current projects, and visiting the web pages of faculty members’ labs. Undergraduate students can also assist graduate students with their research for independent study or internship credits.
There are a number of ways that undergraduate students can be involved in research at UW-Madison, and it is excellent preparation for students who intend to pursue graduate studies.
Research Internships
Within HDFS: Several faculty members in HDFS regularly offer research internship experiences in their labs, including Dr. Lauren Papp, Dr. Janean Dilworth-Bart, Dr. Linda Roberts, and Dr. Julie Poehlmann. Topics are diverse and include couples interaction, child development, school readiness, intervention programs, observational methods, high risk infants, and other topics related to development within family and community contexts. The best way to arrange a research internship is to contact the faculty member directly, as the student typically registers for the faculty member's section of HDFS 601. Students spend a total of 150 hours per semester focusing on research. Some faculty members require a 2-semester commitment. Some students may be able to conduct a senior thesis for credit with faculty permission.
Outside of HDFS: Students can also earn internship credit by working in the lab of faculty members outside of HDFS, such as Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, the medical school, or other departments on campus. To arrange this type of internship, students should speak with the supervising faculty member to make sure that the requirements are similar to internships offered through the HDFS internship coordinator’s office. Students may then register for an independent study with the supervising faculty member. Students then complete a course substitution form through the SoHE SAA office so that the experience meets the internship requirement on the student’s DARS.
Research Experience Courses
Each semester, one or more faculty members in HDFS offer an experiential course that involves students in the research process. There courses are generally listed as HDFS 501. The following example was offered during the 2008-9 academic year:
HDFS 501, Lecture 1: Observational Research with Young Children
This course focuses on observational and longitudinal research with young children in the family context. In addition to relevant readings and presentations, students assist with data collection for and NIH- funded study of children born preterm; data entry and management using SPSS; and coding videotapes of infant temperament, toddler self-regulation, parent-child interactions, and child attachment interviews. Students work in a positive environment with a group of highly motivated and skilled undergraduate and graduate students. The course can be used as a substitute for a variety of requirements in the FS and CD options (e.g., HDFS 471, HDFS 601, FS professional or content skills; CD core area 2 or 3 or professional skills).
School of Human Ecology Honors Program
http://www.sohe.wisc.edu/new/undergraduates/u-honorsprogram.html
Students gain research experience by completing a Senior Honors Thesis as part of the Honors Program. Students typically work with a faculty member to plan and complete the research across 2 semesters.
Undergraduate Research Scholars Program
http://www.lssaa.wisc.edu/urs/
The Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URS) helps first- and second-year undergraduates get hands-on experience in research or other creative endeavors by working closely with UW faculty and research staff.
Undergraduate Symposium
http://www.learning.wisc.edu/ugsymposium/
The annual Undergraduate Symposium showcases undergraduate creativity, achievement, research, service-learning and community-based research from all areas of study at UW-Madison including the humanities, fine arts, biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences.
Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship
http://www.provost.wisc.edu/uaa/awards/hilldale.html
The Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowships support undergraduate research conducted in collaboration with UW–Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff
The McNair Scholars Program
For students in the McNair program, research that is mentored by a faculty member is mandatory. This provides McNair Scholars with direct participation in research projects and other scholarly activities (e.g. presenting research).
Questions that students interested should ask themselves:
1. What would you hope to gain from a research experience?
2. What types of work, volunteer, or professional experiences have you had that relate to the research project under consideration?
3. How would your organizational skills and motivation contribute to the reserach project?
4. What specific research topics interest you?
