By getting involved in research, you can

• learn new skills
• strengthen your resume
• explore possible careers
• make new friends and colleagues
• work closely with a faculty mentor
• take advantage of being at a leading research university.

Completing a meaningful research project entails a large time commitment, and you should have a GPA of at least 3.0 before you branch out into research. Framing a novel question, figuring out how to answer it, and communicating your findings to others are the three basic components of a successful research project.

• Start thinking about research options as freshmen and sophomores. You can do research during the summer and/or during the academic year, and you do not need to be an honors student or an E&E or Zoology major. 
• Some students start by volunteering, working as a paid research assistant, or taking an independent study course with an EEOB faculty member. 
• Once you are ready to begin, sign up for EEOB research credits, apply for funding, and carry out a project that can be presented at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum.

• Check out the campus-wide Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Office for undergraduate research postings, news, workshops, advice, funding opportunities, listserve sign-up, and other resources.
• For general advice about undergraduate research and honors theses in EEOB, you can contact:
  • Dr. Ian Hamilton -- Evolution and Ecology Honors Coordinating Advisor
  • Dr. Lisle Gibbs -- Zoology Honors Coordinating Advisor
• Some organizations offer the chance to sign up for a summer research project and receive a paid fellowship or scholarship: 
  • Stone Lab on Lake Erie 
  • University of Michigan Biological Station 
  • Search the National Science Foundation website for information about Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs in ecology and evolution nationwide. Most deadlines for paid summer fellowships occur in February and March.

• Find a faculty mentor at OSU: 
  • Check out the EEOB faculty laboratories page to see which faculty members are investigating topics that interest you and set up an appointment to ask if they would be able to help you plan a research project. If the professor is not able to serve as your mentor, ask for advice about other possible mentors.
  • Professors will work with you to explore possible projects that are feasible for the time you have available. 
  • Students often work closely with a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher in the professor’s lab, where everyone is focusing on related research questions. It’s good to be flexible about what you do for your project so you can take advantage of your mentor’s expertise and contribute to their research program.
  • You don’t need to know what you will investigate before meeting with a potential mentor, just keep in mind that the process of doing research is ultimately more valuable to you than the exact topic of study. Most important, your project should be stimulating, doable, and rewarding. With luck, it will also end up being a lot of fun! A good initial goal is to be able to present your “work-in-progress” or final product at the annual Denman Undergraduate Research Forum that takes place in May.
• The Undergraduate Research Laboratory (U-Research) in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology is established to provide opportunities for undergraduate students to conduct supervised independent research in behavioral ecology. It is especially suitable for undergraduates who consider careers in basic scientific research, secondary education, and graduate programs in biological and behavioral sciences. Students in U-Research also participate in a variety of outreach activities by going to local grade schools and engaging grade students in hands-on activities.