To find a research job, you'll have to research

Hopkins is well known for its undergraduate research opportunities. In fact, prospective students regularly list undergraduate research as a motivating factor in applying to the school. Yet many students - freshmen and upper classmen alike - are unaware of how to get involved.

Some students are lucky enough to have such opportunities presented to them. For example, Brian Towne, a sophomore, is participating in a research project through the economics department. When Professor Bruce Hamilton sent a notification e-mail to his students that a position was available, Brian responded. One of the top students in his class, he was a natural choice for the job.

"I thought it sounded interesting and realized I had the qualifications, so I responded. The professor ended up hiring me and another student," said Towne.

Yet despite Towne's easy acquisition of the position, many students feel left in the dark about how to find a research job on campus.

Despite the large number of uninformed students, information is available. One need only know where to look and have the drive to do so. Over half of Hopkins undergraduate students are either currently taking part in research or have previously participated.

The first step is contacting Eaton Lattman, dean of undergraduate research (believe it or not, the position really does exist) for information. When asked, Lattman told us, "We don't have a very good centralized system for finding positions. It takes a large amount of initiative on the student's part."

"The best resources available are the Hopkins Web sites for graduate programs," Lattman said.

Lattman explained that this is because the graduate program sites contain information about the faculty involved and other projects on which they are working - including undergraduate research.

Also, doing research isn't just for those involved in the physical sciences. "Research is something we've always been very proactive talking about at Hopkins. But most students think it's just Petri dishes and test tubes. They don't understand that their 20-page thesis paper on Jane Eyre is research," said Margaret Kennedy, administrative and communications manager in the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Making the effort to get involved is exactly what one student, sophomore Matthias Linder, did. Wanting a college job that would afford him a regular paycheck as well as give him experience in his field, he contacted his professors expressing his interest. When a job opportunity came up, he applied, and got a research position paying fairly well for a college student.

The coolest part about doing research is the feeling that you've actually discovered something, said senior Brian Anderson, who does research in a biology lab. "In a typical classroom lab, you're mimicking someone else's work or learning a technique. You're a part of the scientific community. The idea that you're responsible for your own project, for something large - it's very rewarding."

Another tip from Lattman is to focus on what interests you rather than what would best pad your resume. "Pick out the labs you find interesting. Find as much as you can before approaching the professors, even if you don't know entirely what it is about. When you e-mail the faculty member in charge, you need to sound like you know what you're talking about," he said.

Be cognizant of any chances that may be in front of you. Even if TAs and professors don't send out mass e-mails, they very well may still have information that you simply have to ask for. Your professed interest could even compel them to take you on, even if they are not actively looking for new help.

What does it actually mean to get involved? It certainly does compound the already heavy workload of a student here. "I'm not sure what my classes will be this semester. I thought I had certain hours, but then they got switched last minute, so I might have to shuffle some classes around," said Linder. As with any job, one needs to make sure he is ready for the commitment before taking a research position.