This page provides:

1. Links to departments and faculty members who have given the Center for Research and Learning permission to post their research interests specifically for undergraduates interested in research.

2. Advice to students about finding a mentor

3. Some advice to faculty about mentoring resources and posting to this page.

 

Faculty mentors available to contact through this page:

Faculty who are willing to mentor independent research and creative projects for undergraduates at IUPUI are listed below. This is a very short list, which will grow as more faculty members become aware of the ability to post here. A few keywords or a short description of the project(s) are listed with the faculty member's name. The list is organized by school or unit. An undergraduate need not be registered in the faculty member's school or unit to work with that faculty member. Also a student should not feel tied to his/her own major when searching for a mentor. However, students should be cautious about accumulating research credits outside their major if research credits in the major are required for graduation by the student's the major department. Nevertheless, some of the most successful mentoring partnerships have been between students and faculty members outside of the student's own major or unit. Undergraduate research can be a very effective means of exploring other interests and broadening knowledge and skills.

School and Departments

School of Science

Department of Biology

Martin Bard

Steve Randall

School of Medicine

Marc Mendonca

Joseph Dynlacht

Joseph Bidwell

School of Social Work

Lorraine Blackman

Some Important Advice to Students - Finding a Mentor:

On the web page listed for the faculty member on this site you will find a description of the faculty member's project(s) and contact information. You may also find contact information for faculty by exploring departmental web sites. If you are contacting a faculty member not listed here it is better to start with an email that identifies who you are, your major, and why you are contacting the faculty member (ie - you are exploring whether or not he or she may be willing to mentor undergraduate research). Be direct about your interest. You may contact a faculty member listed here either by telephone or by email. When you reach a potential mentor you should identify yourself as an undergraduate interested in doing an independent research or creative project. Ask the mentor whether he or she is taking new students presently. If the answer is yes then discuss your interests and tell the mentor about your academic background. Be prepared to give information about yourself, including your availability to participate in a project (time commitments). If the mentor is not currently taking new students do not be discouraged. You might ask if there might be a spot available in the future. Also, you may find that your interests do not really coincide with the demands or subject area of the project the mentor offers. Do not be afraid to be completely open about your interests, your time availability, and your general academic goals. Establishing a successful working relationship with your mentor requires openness and honesty and some certainty that your interests coincide with the project.

If your initial interview does not establish mutual interest then call another mentor. Be sure to ask each mentor you speak with if he or she knows of a faculty member with whom you may have closer interests or who is looking for students like you. Faculty members differ widely in their interests and in what they require of new students beginning projects with them. Even faculty members in the same department will vary in their expectations and interests.

Once both you and the faculty mentor have established that you might like to work together, arrange a meeting face to face to discuss your possible project in further detail.

You may obtain further guidance and suggestions for mentors through the Center for Research and Learning by contacting the Director, Kathryn Wilson (kjwilson@iupui.edu, 278-1028).

Advice about mentoring students can be found online at www.nap.edu/reading room/books/mentor . Advisor, Teacher, Role Model, Friend: On Being a Mentor to Students in Science and Engineering , published by the National Academy Press, is a book intended for faculty members, teachers, administrators, and others who advise and mentor student. The material is applicable to mentoring in any field.

If you would like to have your project posted on this page and made available to undergraduate researchers contact the Center for Research and Learning (Kathryn Wilson, kjwilson@iupui.edu). As new potential mentors are posted the Center can also post the new opportunity on the UROP home page.