New database connects faculty/grad students with undergraduates
Faculty and advanced graduate students seeking research assistance are being connected with undergraduates looking to gain hands-on research with the help of a new online resource known as CROP (Campus Research Opportunity Postings database) (http://www.binghamton.edu/undergraduate-research-center/crop.html).
Launched in November, the idea for the database came from the students themselves, said Janice McDonald, director of the Undergraduate Research Center, where the database resides. “Students want to do research and don’t know how to get started, where to look or who to talk to,” she said. “It was apparent other universities had an online presence, and it seemed like a good time for us as well.”
The database provides a central location for faculty and advanced graduate students to post information on opportunities for research, scholarly or creative activity, and for undergraduates to find and apply for these positions. Among other information, faculty provide details on the nature of the research or creative work, required qualifications and a description of application procedures. Students can review the listings and apply directly to the faculty sponsor if they are interested.
“We wanted to do it very simply, very directly,” she added. “CROP gives students good information and faculty and graduate students a good place to post if they need a student intern.”
Science departments, for example, might need something translated. Or a humanities department might need statistics work done. “This gives them a chance to look for undergraduates who have these skills and simply don’t know the opportunity exists,” McDonald said.
Ashley Serbonich, McDonald’s assistant, manages the database. The database is already a success, she said. “Within the first week or two, we had submissions from nine faculty or advanced graduate students. One faculty member from the School of Management contacted me after two days to remove the information because of the overwhelming number of e-mails from interested students.”
“One psychology professor wanted two students for proofreading and copyediting,” McDonald said. “He got two students within days and was thrilled. It worked very well.”
Yet another School of Management professor said he was amazed and CROP made the difference in a graduate student’s research being able to move forward.
“CROP narrows things down so someone from one school who is looking for specific skill sets or majors can find it,” Serbonich said.
McDonald and Serbonich are now working to get the word out, reaching out to undergraduate and graduate directors, as well as faculty, to remind them of the resource. Serbonich said CROP will evolve, and in the near future should include information about established procedures many faculty already have for bringing undergraduate students into their research groups
Go online to submit an opportunity to the CROP database. For more information, contact jmcdona@binghamton.edu or aserboni@binghamton.edu.