Thriving research culture leads to better science. Below you'll find resources, guidance, and tools to help build a better research culture, leading to greater scientific success and more impactful mentoring experiences for students.
Below are suggestions for recruiting undergraduate researchers that will promote a diverse and inclusive research environment.
Below are suggestions for recruiting undergraduate researchers that will promote a diverse and inclusive research environment. The recommendations below are based on our experiences with recruiting students, resources from the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), and the article “Evidence-Based Strategies for Improving Diversity and Inclusion in Undergraduate Research Labs."
The best way to find undergraduate researchers with research interests and skill sets that match your needs while simultaneously promoting diversity and equity in engineering research is to 1) be transparent as to whether your group is currently open to undergraduates and 2) post undergraduate research positions when they are available.
To let undergraduate students know that your group is open to undergraduates you can indicate on your ForagerOne profile (available for all faculty!) that you are currently accepting students and consider including a section on your website describing how undergrads should approach joining your group (often this is limited to graduate students and postdocs).
If there is a specific project available to students, post the project to ForagerOne and/or advertise the position in the Sundial (sundial@cornell.edu). Advertising positions, rather than depending on students to contact you independently, both encourage a more diverse applicant pool and show potential applicants that they are the target audience, thereby fostering a sense of belonging before students apply.
If you are posting a paid position, please coordinate with your department’s account representative who manages student appointments. All paid student positions are required to be posted to the Workday Student Job Board. Steps for setting up these appointments will vary by department. Consider crossposting ForagerOne and Workday links on each platform to ensure students have all the information they need to determine if the project is the right fit and the information they need to apply.
Below are suggestions for writing a research advertisement that will promote a diverse and inclusive research environment. The recommendations below are based on our experiences with recruiting students, resources from the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), and the article “Evidence-Based Strategies for Improving Diversity and Inclusion in Undergraduate Research Labs.”
I am grateful to have found the Hanrath Lab, and to be able to work with an advisor and graduate students who understand that making mistakes is part of learning, who care that I am excited about my research, and who challenge me to conduct research in a rigorous, creative and thoughtful way.
Several departments (see course list below) have chosen to use a common enrollment form for research for credit. Other departments continue to use independent systems. Prior to submitting an enrollment form, research mentor(s) and students should meet to discuss 1) the research objectives for the semester, 2) learning outcomes for the semester, 3) and what is expected to earn a B or S in the course and an A in the course. Faculty and students enrolling in the courses listed below will use the Cornell Engineering enrollment form available through experience.cornell.edu. The faculty mentor must approve the submission, and once approved, students are automatically sent an enrollment PIN which they can use to register for the course via Student Center. You can view detailed instructions for students, including advice on learning objectives and research objectives.
Courses:
Meet with your student before they complete the enrollment form to discuss your expectations for the semester including the number of credits/hours, research goals, learning outcomes for the student, the final assignment, and what is required for the student to receive an A or B/S in the course. This mentoring agreement is a tool that your student can use to ensure they have all the required information, and easily update each semester they work with you. Detailed guidelines for students on enrollment, including writing research goals and learning outcomes, can be found here.
Any Cornell undergraduate can receive academic credit from Cornell Engineering for conducting faculty-mentored research with faculty based at the Ithaca campus and Cornell Tech. For students enrolled in Cornell Engineering, these credits might count towards Advisor-approved or Major-approved Electives. Students should direct questions about graduation requirements to their Undergraduate Coordinator or Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Each department has their own research credit courses. The department of your primary affiliation can create a section of that course(s) with you as an instructor. Ask the Director of Undergraduate Studies or Undergraduate Coordinator from your department for more information. You can also serve as an instructor for other research courses on campus. For example, BIOG 4990 allows instructors from any department on campus.
One credit of research equates to 40 hours of work per semester (approximately 3 hours per week for 14 weeks). For compliance with the Department of Education, students can not be expected to work more or less than this requirement.
Students cannot receive both pay and credit for the same time spent doing research. However, some faculty have split total time into both credit and pay. For example, a student who spends 6 hours per week in the lab could receive 1 academic credit and be paid for 3 hours a week.
No. Faculty members must be the instructor of record for research credits. However, graduate students, postdocs, lab managers, or other research group members can serve as day-to-day mentors for undergraduate researchers. Undergraduates will submit the names and contact information for any additional research mentors on their enrollment form.
Yes, it is possible to enroll in research through the Cornell School of Continuing Education. Students will be required to pay for the credits, which for many is cost prohibitive. Faculty are encouraged to offer paid research experiences over the summer. Limited funding is available from the Engineering Learning Initiatives Grant Program.
Yes! Cornell Engineering recommends the 10 Best Practices for Undergraduate Mentors listed to the top of this page.
