Undergraduate Research

1. Nancy M. Amato Senior Director of Engineering Honors Programs Unocal Professor, Parasol Lab, Dept. CSE Texas A&M University Undergraduate Research

2. Nancy in Brief • PhD, U. Illinois, MS Berkeley, BS Applied Math & AB Economics Stanford • Texas A&M faculty 1995-present • Asst 1995, Assoc 2000, Full 2004 • CSE Graduate Advisor, Interim Department Head • Engineering Ombuds Officer, Engineering Honors Director , CPI Chair • Group: 3 postdocs, 13 PhD, 5 MS, 4 ugrads, 10+ high school • Graduated 18 PhDs (9 profs, 7 research labs, 2 postdocs, 1 startup) • Major External Activities: • IEEE Robotics & Automation Society • Conference Organization: IEEE ICRA, RSS, WAFR, iSRR • CRA, CRA-W, NCWIT • Research – Applied Algorithms • Motion Planning, robotics, computational biology, computational geometry • Parallel & distributed computing, parallel algorithms, scientific computing • Other Stuff • Bernese Mountain dogs (sequentially) • Enjoy travel, reading on the beach, eating • Last summer finally made bucket trip • to Peru & Machu Picchu!

3. Nancy’s Experiences with Ugrad Researchers • 100+ ugrads have worked with my group in last 21 years • About half in summer programs, half during academic year • More than half have published • Most have gone on to grad school, some at Texas A&M, others at Berkeley, Stanford, CMU, UIUC, etc. • recipients of grad fellowships such as NSF, DOE HPC, etc • They have been a great addition to the group • it’s more fun, the grad students get advising experience, etc. • Administration of REU Programs • co-Direct a national undergraduate research program (CRA-W/CDC DREU program) for underrepresented groups (women, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities) • co-PI on an REU Site Project in my Department

4. and even high school students! • Summer 2012, I had two high school students for the first time – WOW! • Kensen Shi, rising senior at A&M Consolidated High School • Won 2012 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, including $100K college scholarship, • authored paper published in IEEE ICRA 2013 (trip to Germany with minor!), and one accepted for ICRA 2014 (Hong Kong!). • Junior at Stanford. • Daniel Latypov, rising senior at the Woodlands High School • Now junior at TAMU working in my lab and presented a paper at ICRA 2014 in Hong Kong • We had 9 high schoolers lastsummer • it’s fun, the ugrads get advising experience

5. Outline • Undergraduate Research Basics • What is Undergraduate Research • Undergraduate Research vs. Classes • Why you should consider Research • Finding Research Opportunities • Logistics: Location, stipends, etc • Opportunities & Resources 5

6. What is Undergrad Research? Undergraduate research is defined as the inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate in collaboration with a faculty mentor that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline. …..The Council for Undergraduate Research

7. Undergrad Research vs Classes • How undergrad research is different from traditional classes • Gathering and creating new knowledge • Experience active vs. passive learning • Exploring new ways of thinking and entering your field's professional dialogue • How undergrad research is similar to traditional classes • Teamwork • Discipline/ diligence • deadlines

8. Poll Time • Url: • Hashtag: #research2

9. Why You Should Consider Research • Course Credit – use as technical elective • $$ - yes, you can be paid to do research! • See if you like it – grad school • Resume adornment • Get to know professor well (letters…..) • Make new friends (grow your network) • You can have an office! • Travel to exotic places • But most importantly….. It is FUN & EXCITING

10. Questions to think about • Which subject areas most interest you? • Which topics in your classes interest you? • Do you have a specific project in mind or do you want to acquire a set of skills? • Remember: You need to be very excited about working on • a research project, don't do it just to build your resume or • earn academic credit.

11. Finding Research Opportunities • Ask your professors, advisor for opportunities • Visit research groups in your department • Continue a project that you start in a class • Department Summer/Research Programs • Government and Public Sector • National Labs, Office of Naval Research, Department of Energy, IBM, Microsoft, etc. • Organizations • NSF, CDC, CRA-W, Universities • Use the web! • Google: “Undergraduate Research Engine” 11

12. Logistics: location, stipends, etc. • Summer research • Stipends often range from $350 to $700 per week • Housing and meals • Often included, but expect the stipend to be a bit lower • Sometimes not included, but then expect the stipend to be a bit higher • Transportation subsidy • Sometimes provided if you need to temporarily relocate • Academic year research opportunities • Might provide a stipend (typically an hourly amount) • Often provide academic credit 12

13. Summer Research Programs 13

14. Poll Time • Url: • Hashtag: #research1

15. Resources CRA-E Conquer Site: • This site provides resources for undergraduate students, interested in research, graduate school, and research careers in computer science. • http://conquer.cra.org/ NSF REU Site Listing • http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp College Information about undergraduate research • http://engineering.tamu.edu/graduate/undergraduate-bridges 15

16. Resources • University programs • Undergraduate Research Scholars Program • http://hur.tamu.edu/Undergraduate-Research/Undergraduate-Research-Scholars College programs - fall/spring • Engineering Honors Program • http://engineering.tamu.edu/academics/certificates/eh • AggiE-Challenge • http://engineering.tamu.edu/easa/areas/enrichment/aggie-challenge

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19. Thanks again to you and my students! The best thing about this job is my students!

20. Now let’s hear from your peers • Undergraduate Researcher Panel