TITLE: A Student Asks About Pursuing Research Projects
AUTHOR: Eugene Wallingford
DATE: July 13, 2016 11:19 AM
DESC: 
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BODY:
 Faculty in my department are seeking students to work on research
 projects next.  I've sent a couple of messages to our student
 mailing list this week with project details. One of my advisees,
 a bright guy with a good mind and several interests, sent me a
 question about applying.  His question got to the heart of a
 concern many students have, so I responded to the entire student
 list.  I thought I'd share the exchange as an open letter to all
 students out there who are hesitant about pursuing an opportunity.

 The student wrote something close to this:

<BLOCKQUOTE><EM>
 Both professors' projects seem like great opportunities,
 but I don't feel even remotely qualified for either of
 them.  I imagine many students feel like this.  The
 projects both seem like they'd entail a really advanced
 set of skills -- especially needing mathematics -- but
 they also require students with at least two semesters
 left of school.  Should I bother contacting them?  I
 don't want to jump the gun and rule myself out.
</EM></BLOCKQUOTE>

 Many students "self-select out" -- choose not to pursue an
 opportunity -- because they don't feel qualified.  That's too bad.
 You would be surprised how often the profs would be able to find
 a way to include a student who are interested in their work.
 Sometimes, they work around a skill the student doesn't have by
 finding a piece of the project he or she can contribute to.  More
 often, though, they help the student begin to learn the skill they
 need.  We learn many things best by doing them.

 Time constraints can be a real issue.  One semester is not enough
 time to contribute much to some projects.  A grant may run for a
 year and thus work best with a student who will be around for two
 or more semesters.  Even so, the prof may be able to find a way
 to include you.  They like what they do and like to work with
 other people who do, too.

 My advice is to take a chance.  Contact the professor.  Stop in
 to talk with him or her about your interest, your skills, and your
 constraints.  The worst case scenario is that you get to know the
 professor a little better while finding out that this project is
 not a good fit for you.  Another possible outcome, though, is that
 you find a connection that leads to something fruitful.  You may
 be surprised!

 ~~~~

 <EM>Postcript</EM>.  One student has stopped in already this
 morning to thank me for the encouragement and to say that he
 is going to contact one of the profs.  Don't let a little
 uncertainty stand in the way of pursuing something you like.
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