There are a number of initiatives which seek to retain engineering students early in their college careers, but what affects their career decision after graduation? Some go into the workforce, choosing from a variety of positions related to their chosen discipline, while others pursue graduate school. Although there are many contributing factors, undergraduate research may be the deciding factor as to where they ultimately end up.
Undergraduate research experience has proven to be a game changer for many students. A major emphasis in undergraduate retention involves providing meaningful engineering practice earlier in the curriculum. That type of experience is just as important for those who are already committed to the profession as well.
Undergraduate research opportunities enable students to gain valuable skills in problem-solving and produce confidence when working independently. Undergraduate research allows for applying engineering principles where there is no well-defined or “right” answer.
Undergraduate research opportunities may be provided through a home institution or elsewhere through programs such as Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). REU programs are typically conducted during the summer, but to stand out, starting research early and continuing it until graduation is beneficial.
There are a number of reasons undergraduate research is important. Among these is the ability to test drive the job before graduation. Going through the process of finding and reading scientific articles, writing reports and iterating experimental design is not for everyone. Like internships, it gives students a different perspective on engineering and aids in refining choices.
Because research work is often more open-ended than coursework, there is a need to draw from a diverse knowledge base. Gathering information from other disciplines can be an eye-opener. Exposure to new topics can bring about new and sometimes unexpected interests.
These are results which I can attest to. I had no direct interest in pursuing engineering or science until I participated in two opportunities. The first was a semester-long transfer program to study nanofabrication and the other was an REU program the following summer.
Both were at other institutions, and both were well out of my comfort zone. Because of those experiences, however, I decided to pursue engineering in graduate work and had experience which helped me get accepted.
Undergraduate research is not all roses. Productivity is limited by the students’ lack of knowledge (having only completed a few engineering classes), the lack of time due to demanding course load, and high turnover as the students typically graduate within a couple of years rather than staying on for four or more as with Ph.D. students.
Undergraduate research opportunities can provide many meaningful experiences for students and can help hone their interests and get them work experience. Even where there are no established research programs, short-term opportunities at external facilities can be valuable.
Although expectations for undergraduate research will typically be lower due to a lack of skills and time, the outcomes for the students shouldn’t be underestimated.
Image courtesy of Norris