On Oct. 16, I was invited to a panel about undergraduate research. To be honest, before that night, I had no intention of participating in research, but after hearing the panelists speak about how research changed their lives and continues to change others, I realized just how much I had been missing out on.
Research isn’t just for STEM majors. The benefits of participating in research apply to students of all disciplines, and they extend far beyond Penn. Many people see research as just a tool to build credibility, but in actuality, it teaches us a lot more along the way. Reginald Miles — director of Penn’s Veterans Upward Bound Program and a panelist at the event — spoke on the real-world benefits of research, saying, “It will prepare you for success. It will teach you how to be diligent, it will teach you how to communicate, it will teach you how to evaluate.”
Research isn’t just about collecting data and writing hypotheses. It’s about collaboration, learning from your mistakes, and challenging the way you think, all of which are crucial soft skills for life after graduation. Penn research, and Penn itself, has an excellent plural benefit where it teaches both soft skills and hard skills. Participating in research also gives you valuable mentors, whether they’re a supervisor, teacher, or even another student you’re working with; you get the opportunity to network with people who have more experience and want to connect with you. There’s never a downside to learning more about a subject you’re interested in. Conducting or assisting in research gives you the chance to gain more knowledge and experience, which is a great opportunity for any major.
There’s a myth that there often needs to be a separation between passion and academics, especially in research. This is simply not true. Emotions and passion drive research, and this isn’t talked about nearly enough. There’s no point in spending hours collecting data and writing reports for a subject you don’t care about. Leaning into your fascination, anger, interest, and curiosity about a topic will fuel your research and make it worthwhile. Don’t let the idea of what research supposedly is stray you away from what it actually is: a chance to get firsthand experience with a subject you are truly passionate about.
Jumping into research can seem daunting. It’s such a boundless opportunity that it can feel overwhelming. Luckily, Penn is one of the top research universities in the world, and it has countless resources — one of which is the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. While Penn offers these resources, it’s up to you to take initiative. Cold calling research centers, reaching out to professors, finding mentors, and taking any opportunity you can are the steps that will give you a leg up. Research can be competitive, so it’s crucial to be intentional and consistent, even when faced with frustration. As Perelman School of Medicine professor Carsten Skarke said at the panel, “Maybe it takes eight doors until the ninth opens up. But each step you improve.” Staying consistent and focused is the best way to create research opportunities for yourself.
One of the hardest parts about research is maintaining your motivation. It takes a lot of work just to be able to start research, and even more to continue it. Often, it feels like a circular process. But it's important to remember that just because it’s frustrating doesn’t mean research isn’t for you. Shawnna Thomas-EL, director of the Penn Knowledge is Power Program, addressed the familiar feeling of frustration students experience, saying, “You feel like you don’t want to do this anymore, but that’s not true — you do want to do this. You’re just tired. Own that feeling.” Allow yourself to be exhausted and frustrated, but don't let that stop you from continuing your work.
Penn’s research opportunities are truly one of the best things about this University. While it may seem overwhelming, frustrating, and maybe even a bit irrelevant to your major, research is always a beneficial experience. Getting to work with and learn about your passion is such a unique opportunity that paves the way for future success, and is the best gift Penn could offer.
CHARLOTTE PULICA is a College first year from Enoch, Utah studying criminology and economics. Her email is cpulica1@sas.upenn.edu.
