Showing posts with label undergraduate research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label undergraduate research. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Student's Story: Dabney discusses undergraduate research opportunities at VT

By Dabney, a junior majoring in Psychology

Video (below):
Michael, Hokie Ambassador
Michael is a fourth year student majoring in civil engineering. In this video, Michael discusses undergraduate research.

Virginia Tech, being a innovative research university, offers many research opportunities for undergraduate students. This is an excellent aspect of the many things Virginia Tech offers. Not only does undergraduate research expose you to hands-on experience of textbook concepts, but you also gain valuable resume builders for graduate school. As a psychology major, the Center for Applied Behavior Systems (or CABS, for short) was the perfect opportunity for me to become involved in undergraduate research. CABS is incredibly unique in that it gives both graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to research under current projects and be able to create a research project yourself.

Currently, CABS has several projects running but one of particular importance for me deals with a movement on campus called "Actively Caring." The movement is an attempt to create a more compassionate culture throughout our community by encouraging people to actively care with a green wristband. Essentially, the idea is to see an act of kindness, thank the person for actively caring and pass the wristband to them. It's analogous to the idea of "paying it forward." Through the "Actively Caring" website and research conducted on campus, CABS works towards creating a more empathetic and positive world. This and other CABS projects on things such as pedestrian safety, bullying, and gossip can help create prosocial behavior and change our world dynamic. The whole reason for research is to find new ways to make the world a better place. It's amazing that Virginia Tech undergraduate research actually gives students that opportunity. Being a part of the Actively Caring movement with CABS at Virginia Tech is one of the many ways students may become engaged in the awesome undergraduate research offered.

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Michael, Hokie Ambassador
Michael is a fourth year student majoring in Civil Engineering. In this video, Michael discusses undergraduate research.


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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

College of Science Insights


Virginia Tech's College of Science is one of seven colleges that offers majors for incoming freshman and transfer students.


Within the College of Science (COS) there are many student organizations in which you can get involved - from Astronomy Club to the Math Club, you are sure to find an organization that peaks your interest.

In addition, COS offers undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities.

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Friday, December 3, 2010

College of Natural Resources Insights

Visit www.inventyourfuture.vt.edu and watch Gabriela's story. Gabriela, a Wildlife Science major in the College of Natural Resources, tells us about her undergraduate research experiences at the Center for Bear Research, which is one of only two places in North America that does significant captive bear research.



Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment is one of seven colleges that offers majors for incoming freshman and transfer students.


Within the The College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) there are many student organizations in which you can get involved - from The American Fisheries Society to the Pre-Vet Club to the The Wildlife Society and much more.

In addition, CNRE offers undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities. Fiji, Belize, Dominican Republic, Antarctica anyone? If either of those locations strike your interest, then you should check out the study abroad opportunities. In addition, there are many student organizations in which you can get involved - from The American Fisheries Society to the Pre-Vet Club to The Wildlife Society and much more.

If studying abroad is not your thing, then there are many opportunities to on campus. CNRE students have access to a state-of-the-art research laboratories and facilities.

Cheatham Hall houses fully equipped laboratories for studies in the physiology, nutrition, and genetics of trees, fish, and wildlife. Wood chemistry laboratories are also maintained for the analysis of wood and its components.

The Thomas M. Brooks Forest Products Center is one of the most sophisticated forest products labs in the United States. Dedicated to national and international research needs, it houses research laboratories, an experimental dry kiln, facilities for composites manufacturing, and advanced testing equipment for wood physics, mechanics, and processing research.

The Center for Bear Research, which is one of only two places in North America that does significant captive bear research. It is an approved site for research on captive black bears.

The Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Center is the leading facility for research and production of imperiled freshwater mussels.

The Reynolds Homestead Forest Resources Research Center is a 780-acre research and education center located in Virginia's Piedmont region less than two hours away from campus. It is equipped with a laboratory, greenhouse, shade house, aquatic research ponds, and field sites.

The Fishburn School Forest is a 1,353-acre teaching and demonstration forest close to campus.


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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

College of Engineering Insights: Sigridur's story

By Sigridur, a student in the College of Engineering

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Minor: Spanish

Vice Chair, VT American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Director of Recruitment, Hokie Ambassadors

Dean's Team, VT College of Engineering


Video (below):
Michael is a fourth year student majoring in civil engineering. In this video, Michael discusses undergraduate research.

First of all, being a part of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech definitely gives you a confidence boost. I am proud to be a part of the nation's 13th best Engineering College. Coming in as a freshman, I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to take, luckily our engineering program is very organized. We have two different paths you can take: the Digital Track and the Design Track. The Digital Track includes Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. The Design Path consists of all other disciplines.

You don't have to decide on a specific department until the end of freshman year, so by sophomore year you will be in one of the 13 engineering departments. I chose Mechanical Engineering because I would like to work in the energy industry; the Mechanical Engineering department has the most to offer within that field. Regardless of the path you take, you will have access to supportive faculty and great undergraduate research opportunities within the Virginia Tech College of Engineering.

Being a research institution, all of our professors are required to do some kind of research, so getting involved in a project is very simple. Talk to your professors to see what they're working on. You might find yourself interested, and more than likely, they would appreciate your help (not to mention it's a great resume booster). In most departments, in our senior year, we are required to do a senior design project. Senior design projects are a great way to incorporate the "hands on, minds on" training received during the first years.

My experience here at Virginia Tech has shown me how far you can take your learning. Freshman year I wasn't involved in many things, but starting sophomore year I decided to make the most of my time. I joined the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a professional organization within my major. Slowly, I started to understand how many opportunities there are here. Hopefully you will find whatever suits you best and make the most of it as well!

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Michael is a fourth year student majoring in Civil Engineering. In this video, Michael discusses undergraduate research.



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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

College of Architecture & Urban Studies Insights: Megan's story

By Megan, a second year graduate student in CAUS

Major: Public and International Affairs


In 2009, I officially became a Hokie and have not left Blacksburg, Va., since. The reason for this is not because I have nothing better to do, but because I have found a new family and a new home at Virginia Tech. It is hard to explain the bond that comes with being a Hokie. In fact, I don't think it can be put in words. It's something along the lines of seeing someone wearing a VT shirt in the Dominican Republic when your flight is cancelled and knowing you can spend the whole day with them and they will look out for you. This did, indeed, happen.

The reason I have had opportunities such as these to see how far the Hokie Nation truly does extend across borders, is because of Virginia Tech’s many opportunities. Clubs, groups, sports, arts of all sorts are at Tech. Therefore, diversity of our students, and subsequently alumni, means that there are service projects, like Cailin McHale’s ('06) Project Esperanza in the Dominican Republic aiding Haitian refugees or Emily Barry’s ('09) community development partnership with El Porvenir, Honduras.

There are also ample research opportunities, like College of Architecture and Urban Studies'student initiated research grant that helped, along with funds from the School of Public and International Affairs and programs managed by the Office of International Research, send me to Ecuador this summer to research women in agriculture and funded Andrew Puhl ('10) to research historic pole-barns in New River Valley and create illuminated fine art photographs of them. Additionally, opportunities for academic competition and conferences, most notably the Solar Team that built a solar house, LUMENHAUS, and competed in, and won, an international Solar Decathlon this summer in Madrid, Spain.

All of the above mentioned relate in some way, whether that be guidance or class participation or student participation or funding, to the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and represent just a small portion of the many opportunities offered for real world education and collaboration across academic fields.

Because Virginia Tech is focused on research, this allows students to have opportunities to learn outside of the class and put their book knowledge to work. Students from every major have the opportunity to work on research and projects that are current and innovative. The College of Architecture and Urban Studies has four schools: the School of Architecture + Design; the School of Visual Arts; the Myers-Lawson School of Construction; and the School of Public and International Affairs. There are plenty of opportunities to work with leaders in the field and cooperate in interdisciplinary research to broaden your horizon.


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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Insights: Amber's story

By Amber, a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Major: Animal and Poultry Sciences



I am currently a sophomore, enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Virginia Tech. My major is Animal and Poultry Sciences with a pre-vet emphasis, for I wish to become a veterinarian. I love being enrolled in CALS for several reasons. For one, it gets me involved in a lot of activities related to animals, for which I have a strong passion. Secondly, it links me to other students who enjoy participating in the same events as me.

By being enrolled in my major, I am able to apply for many volunteer opportunities in subjects that may spark my interest. For example, I applied to work at one of Virginia Tech's horse barns last semester and was actually chosen to help out. I went to the barn twice a week and volunteered my time to take horses in and out of the fields, feed them, clean their stalls,
organize the barn, and administer medicines and supplements when needed. Being a volunteer there opened more doors for me. Now, I work at a horse barns on a regular basis and am getting paid to be around and take care of animals that I love.

This semester I applied again, and am now a volunteer in the research field in the CALS. Currently, I report to the laboratory twice a week for about three or four hours. There I sterilize, wash, and organize equipment, as well as help any of the professors or graduate students with their research projects. With time and involvement, I soon hope to be able to perform my own research.

Were I not enrolled in the CALS, I probably would not have had the opportunity to be involved with animals and research at Virginia Tech. I love learning about animals and the environments that they live in, and if you are anything like me, you too may find that you love the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and feel at home there!


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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Insights: Allyson's Story

By Allyson, a junior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Major: Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise



It's freshman year and after a class period packed with bonds, electrons, and the periodic table of elements, I settle into my seat in my Introduction to Foods and Nutrition class. I breathe a breath of fresh air because this is my favorite class. This is a class that I love to come to, interact in, and a class where I don’t mind studying for tests or doing homework assignments. Introduction to Foods and Nutrition is where my fascination with nutrition began. Before I knew it, I was a Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Agriculture and Life Sciences is a great college to be in (although I'd have to say that you are in a great place anywhere if you are at Virginia Tech, but I may be slightly biased). The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has provided me with many more classes, besides just the introduction class, that are fascinating and enjoyable rather than a chore. Food Selection and Preparation is teaching me not only how to follow a recipe and cook, but the reasons behind why food is prepared the way it is and how sometimes recipes need to be altered based on altitude, ingredient substitution, and other factors. My Athletic Injuries class gives me the inside view of what it is like to be in sports medicine from the mouth of the actual Athletic Trainer, who we trust with the health of our beloved Hokies.

Being in this college has opened my eyes to countless opportunities that I didn't even know were available. I receive weekly updates from the department concerning events on campus having to do with our college; clubs and organizations that are geared toward my interests; service opportunities on campus; and numerous other ways to get involved. And all of us students have the opportunity to get our hands dirty by getting involved in undergraduate research or getting a job that goes right along with our major. A close friend of mine actually puts what she's learned in class to use when she goes to Virginia Tech's barn, where she works, and obtains samples, makes observations, and takes care of a lot of the livestock. That's just one of the many great things about Virginia Tech, and about the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in particular. So I encourage anyone that may have an interest in this particular college at Virginia Tech, to check it out. Who knew that an interesting nutrition class could open up so many doors? But it did, and it could for you too.


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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Innovation and Discovery at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech is one of the top 50 research universities in the United States. As a result, our students and faculty are busy being innovative! Check out some of the things students at Virginia Tech have been up to:




Learn more about some of the exciting things our students are up to in the Summer 2010 Research Magazine.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Innovation and Discovery: from autonomous vehicles to malaria, find a research topic that interests you

At Virginia Tech, we encourage our bright and creative students to participate and initiate undergraduate research.

Check out some of the student research projects at Virginia Tech:


These are just a few of the many undergraduate research projects at Virginia Tech. From autonomous vehicles to malaria research, there is a research project out there waiting for you.

More info:
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