Pursuing Research Through CURO

What is CURO?What does CURO offer?How do I get started?

The Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities

R1=?“research”

sustained,progressive,mentored research in any discipline

existing research project

vs. independent

study

What does CURO offer?

Course Credit for undergraduate researchOpportunities to share & publish your research Funded Summer Fellowships Graduation distinction

“CURO is only for Honors students”

False! CURO is for all UGA undergrads.

Faculty Approval + 15 resident credit hoursNo minimum GPA requirement

Honors students: enrolled in 1000H

“Research is only for science majors.”

False! CURO is for all disciplines.

4%

24%

72%

Humanities/Fine Arts Social Science Science

Fall 2013Category # of courses %

Humanities/Fine Arts 10 4%Social Science 57 24%

Science 169 72%Total 236 100%

How Do I Get Started?

First:What are you passionate about?

Choose interests over majors.(Consider Gateway seminar.)

How can research enrich your undergraduate experience and help you

meet your goals?

Then:Find a faculty mentor.

Look for faculty conducting researchin your area of interest.

Resources for finding faculty mentors– Faculty you already know (classes)– Department websites• Faculty pages (profiles and CVs, list of publications)• Research listings• Lab pages

– CURO Symposium and Summer Fellowships books of abstracts

– UGA’s Faculty Research Expertise Database (F.R.E.D.)

See CURO website for these and more

Contact potential mentorsSend e-mails to 3-5 faculty of interest

– Don’t be intimidated!– Use your UGA or a professional e-mail account– Be respectful and succinct; shorter is better– Address the faculty member as Dr. or Professor– Be patient, but also persistent (allow a week, then send follow-up)

Let the faculty member know– Your name– Your year– Your major– Why you are e-mailing– A time you are available to meet (consider office hours)

Remember: Initiating a meeting is the student’s responsibility

Example e-mail• “Dear Prof. /Dr.__, My name is ____and I am currently

a ____ year student studying____. If possible, I would like to schedule a time to talk to you about [your research focus]. I am available [day and time]. Sincerely, ___”

• Don’t send: “I want to do research, do you have a spot?

Important: seek information, not openings

Meet with potential mentorUnderstand the research• What, in layman's terms, do you research? How do you do that type of

research? Why do you do this research?Mentoring philosophy• Have you ever mentored undergraduate students? If so, how would you

describe your mentoring style?Expectations• Expectations for those he or she mentors? What level of commitment

would he or she expect from you? Goals• Discuss your goals and ask how your involvement in the research can

help you achieve those goals. Consider how mentored research can promote academic, professional and personal development.

Now:Apply to take a CURO course.Application available on CURO

website.

Application requirements– Pick course (4960H, 4970H, 4980H; thesis 4990H); prefix &

credit hours determined by desired credit and research project– Attach syllabus drafted in collaboration with mentor– Attach CITI report (only if research involves human subjects)– Collect necessary signatures

• Mentor• Department (e.g. BIOL 4960H= Biology Department)• CURO Associate Director (once you drop-off the form)

Submit paperwork to CURO (203 Moore College) by third day of drop-add

Keep in mind:Finding a mentor and project takes time

so get started early

go step by step

What else does CURO offer?

SymposiumEvery spring

March 31, 2014Apply online (by

Feb. 14)

Open to all UGA undergraduates

Summer Fellowship

Requirements: 15 resident credit hours, application (due Feb. 14), Symposium participationPerks: earn research credit over the summer, receive stipend, present at two forums

Also:

• Learn about other summer opportunities on our website

• CURO Scholar graduation distinction: 9 hours of Honors undergraduate research Honors thesis (can count towards 9 hours) CURO Symposium participation

What is CURO?What does CURO offer?How do I get started?

CURO is faculty mentored research in any disciplineCURO offers course credit & other opportunities (Symposium, JURO, Fellowship, Graduation distinction)get started early by reading our website

Additional Information

www.curo.uga.edu 203 Moore College, Monday-Friday

8am-5pm, 706-542-5871ecwhyte@uga.edumartyr@uga.edu