In keeping with The University of Findlay's experiential learning emphasis and advanced academic offerings, many undergraduates and all graduate students participate in faculty-supervised research projects of their own, or assist with faculty-led research endeavors. These studies are rigorous but highly rewarding. Along with adding to the understanding of subjects that range from biology to literature, the findings are frequently published by accredited organizations and used by professionals. Findlay's student researchers, therefore, enjoy additional scholastic advantages that serve them well in their career searches and occupations.
Definition of Research: An original hypothesis or theory that is supported or disproved via inquiry, creativity, and discovery constitutes research. Disciplines that pertain to such projects include the sciences, humanities and arts; and their corollaries, such as technology and medicine. For those who are new to conducting research,
The Council on Undergraduate Research provides more information and assistance.
Starting Point: Students, particularly undergraduates, who are interested in tackling their own topics may propose research ideas to professors, who then mentor them on methodology and scope. Professors, all of whom are required to publish on a regular basis, also reach out to students for help with information gathering.
Benefits:
- Stronger student/faculty academic ties and networking opportunities.
- Improved communication skills, particularly in writing.
- Heightened critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Completed work, potentially publishable, that enhances portfolios and resumes.
- Acquiring marketable and practical skills.
- Public speaking experience at conferences and via on-campus presentations.
- Hands-on learning outside of the classroom.
- The opportunity to challenge oneself and reach beyond required learning levels.
- Reading and viewing primary texts and materials.
- Learning about and discovering personal interests by studying them in greater depth.
Cases in Point:
- UF's annual Symposium for Scholarship and Creativity is the premier annual event for showcasing undergraduate and graduate research projects in oral and poster formats.
- Doctor of Pharmacy students, with assistant professor Dr. Rahul Khupse's guidance, are trying to develop a drug to combat breast cancer and a particular type of brain cancer called glioblastoma.
- Former natural science students are still reaping the benefits of a trip they took to research blue whales.
- Physical therapy students studied the awareness of practitioners regarding the role that physical therapy plays in cardiovascular disease prevention.
- The University is part of a research consortium based at Stone Laboratory, The Ohio State University's teaching and research centerr located on a Lake Erie island. It is the oldest freshwater biological field station in the U.S. and provides important information on areas of concern to the Great Lakes, such as water quality and species health.
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Psychology students are assessing childrens' and adults' nutrition knowledge to eventually create a "Healthy Kids Initiative" for Findlay residents. Individually, students are researching topics such as parental feeding practices, alternative family structures, and female empowerment.
- Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing students have begun to submit theses into a UF depository on OhioLINK, a higher education consortium, and Doctor of Education graduates will soon begin to include their dissertations to this collection too.