1. Enabling Students to Join a Research Collaboration
Sue Cardinal
Upstate NY Science Librarians Meeting
October 28, 2016

2. Challenging Path to Doing Research
 “The problem was that as a freshman,
I had no idea where to start.” Mackenzie Lee, ‘19 
Forrest H. Dutlinger Natural Area

4. Taking Control of Your Research Path 8 week workshop (1hr/wk)
You and Your Interest in Research
Research at UR/ Research Fair
Understanding Research
Informational Interviewing and Career Services
Planning your Path using Peer Networking
Paths to Research: A Faculty & Student Discussion
Researching Faculty
Celebrate and Reflect
Karnowski's notebook

6. Paths to Research Panel, Fall 2015
Fall There were 6 Freshman interested in science One joined a group, and then there were five. Three got busy, and then there were two. One joined a group. It wasn’t for him, joined another group One made headlines when he obtained a grant.

7. Spring 2016 Spring 2016 – Expand to any discipline, any class level
Paths to Research, Spring 2016
Spring 2016 – Expand to any discipline, any class level
Added a Social Science Librarian.
24 registered, 17 came to first session
Attendance dwindled as the semester went on.
5-6 regulars with 1 attending all sessions
One joined a group (need to follow up with others).

8. Fall 2016 – Student go for Badge
Kickoff at the Research Fair
Pop-up programming
Elevator Pitch
Informational Interviewing skills
Peer Advising
writing & review
Continue programs
Passport to Research: A Faculty & Student Discussion
Getting into Research
“On Your Own” activities
Meet with Career Services
Write reflections on new articles about research
Meet with librarians to investigate a faculty research advisor.
Photo Credit: Popcorn by Jim Howard at

9. Lessons Learned For Students, courses come first.
We have content & a process worth sharing!
Libraries have a role:
Teaching about researching faculty
Getting background on new topics
Connecting experts and support across campus
Providing space
Photo Credit: Run Away by Varun Suresh

10. Thank you for Listening
Questions?
Thank you for Listening

11. Abstract
What skills and network do undergraduates need to successfully join a research collaboration that matches their abilities and interests? During the academic year, librarians at the University of Rochester River Campus Libraries prototyped and refined Taking Control of Your Research Path, an eight-week/one-hour-per-week workshop. This workshop series covered a process for success: identifying one's own research interests, learning about the work of researchers and research groups, building skills in elevator pitches and informational interviewing, networking with peers advisors and finally interviewing with potential research groups. The Libraries can't provide a full perspective on undergraduate research alone. Experts across the University provided participants with critical information at each stage of the process. We worked with the Office of Undergraduate Research, the College Center for Advising Services, the Career & Internship Center, and academic departments. In the end, the workshop resulted in several students joining research groups at an early stage. The rest left with clear direction and acute knowledge of their goals.