Computer science major Patrick Beekman ’18 uses an Oculus virtual reality (VR) headset in the Media Lab of Appalachian’s Department of Computer Science for his research on creating VR science labs. Photo by Marie Freeman
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University encourages undergraduate research, which gives students the opportunity to work side by side with their professors on meaningful research or creative endeavors and then present their findings at regional, national and international conferences.
Students have said the experience raises their skills in critical thinking, writing and collecting and analyzing data — while also boosting their confidence and improving their time management and work accountability.
All this can give a leg up in applying to graduate school or seeking employment, according to university officials.
Alumni Holly Skinner ’17, left, and Devin Alewel ’17 examine samples of rat brain tissue to discover which neurons in a variety of brain regions are active after the rodents have performed social preference tasks. Photo by Marie Freeman
“Student-faculty engagement in research, scholarship and creative expression is a hallmark of the Appalachian undergraduate student experience,” said Provost Darrell Kruger. “These high-impact academic experiences are truly transformational. They prepare our graduates to enter the workforce or graduate school equipped to improve the world.”
Working directly with a faculty mentor “prepares them to hit the ground running in a graduate program, or as a new hire,” said Dr. Susan McCracken, director of career development and economic engagement.
Alumnus Chris Eubanks ’13, who is working on his Ph.D. in chemistry at Duke University, said “having three years of research before coming into a graduate program was very helpful.” The opportunity to apply for grants through Appalachian’s Office of Student Research also helped him develop his scientific writing, he said.
Eubanks and his mentor, Dr. Michael Hambourger in the Department of Chemistry, explored new ways to produce hydrogen for fuel cells.
Creative endeavors in the arts and humanities are also part of Appalachian’s student research emphasis. Photo by Marie Freeman
Emma Jones ’17, foreground, along with other students in Dr. Andrew Heckert’s Finding Fossils on Friday research group, in Appalachian’s Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, look for microscopic vertebrate fossils in sediment. Photo by Marie Freeman
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About student research at Appalachian
Appalachian State University encourages faculty-mentored student research, which provides students with the opportunity to work side by side with faculty on meaningful research or creative endeavors. These projects often result in presentations, performances or exhibitions at regional, national and international conferences and events. Students who engage in research are able to apply knowledge from the classroom into real-world experiences and learn how to problem-solve, effectively communicate and analyze complex issues. Appalachian’s Office of Student Research (OSR) was established in 2005 to expand the opportunities necessary for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in research and creative activities at Appalachian. Learn more at https://osr.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
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