Pondering Over Research and Campus Connections: A Look Back at the Princeton Group for Undergraduate Research Correspondents
The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) at Princeton University operates a blog that encourages attention to research across disciplines and creative manifestations. This platform, co-founded by Dr. Amanda Irwin Wilkins and Dr. Pascale Poussart, aims to expand students' view of what research could be.
The focus of the OUR blog on students writing in community and for the community aligns with the goals of the Writing Seminars. Stacey Huang '16, Assistant Research Scientist for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and University of Maryland Baltimore County, wrote a blog post on imposter syndrome after listening to a talk by Professor Sarah-Jane Leslie. This post remains among the top 15 most viewed contributions on the blog.
The OUR blog serves as a platform for sharing research experiences, disseminating research findings, and highlighting the achievements of Princeton undergraduates in various research fields. Participating in such a platform can provide valuable opportunities for networking, building academic and professional credentials, and career preparation.
Engaging in research helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are beneficial in a wide range of professional fields. Moreover, students learn to analyze complex issues, design research projects, and present findings, skills highly valued in academia and industry.
Research projects often involve collaboration with faculty and peers, providing opportunities to establish valuable professional networks. Participating in the OUR blog offers peer feedback and revision practices that have been beneficial to correspondents in their current work.
Caitlin Larracey, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Research, introduces the OUR blog, which began in September 2014, the same year as OUR. Princeton first-years through juniors are encouraged to apply to join the OUR blog next fall.
The key to successful research communication, according to Alec Getraer '19, a doctoral student in earth sciences at Dartmouth University, is feedback and revision. At NASA, scientists are consistently encouraged to communicate their research results in an accessible way. Getraer found the OUR blog an exciting way to share authentic student experiences, including the successes and challenges, with an audience that understood because they were navigating the same things.
Melissa Parnagian '17, Senior Manager for Player Programs and Culture Initiatives at the National Hockey League, appreciated the prevalence of research across Princeton's campus through the OUR blog. Nicholas Wu '18, a congressional reporter for Politico, found valuable experience in writing about complex issues for a broader audience on the OUR blog.
This seasonal series on the OUR blog, titled "The Project That Made Me A Researcher," highlights the different ways that students can find their footing in the research world. The blog values starting with individual experience and seeking to expand out to share why unique experiences connect to others before and after us.
In conclusion, the OUR blog at Princeton University provides an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in research, develop essential skills, and communicate their findings effectively. It encourages applicants to join and become correspondents, fostering a community of researchers and communicators.
The Writing Seminars at Princeton University share the OUR blog's focus on students writing in community and for the community, aligning with their mission for education-and-self-development and personal-growth. Undergraduate research experiences on the OUR blog can aid in learning critical thinking and problem-solving skills, essential for both academia and industry.
