Undergrad Research

Problems:650 undergraduate majorsunrealistic student expectationsstudent uncertainty about how to enter researchno central student contact for questionsfaculty time constraints

Undergrad Research Readiness Portal

Goals:1. Communicate to students how to prepare

for research (and that they aren’t ready as freshmen)

2. Give students a way to track their progress3. Document safety training4. Give you a tool to determine if a student is

ready for research and appropriate for your group

(URRP)

Students make a profile in my.physicshttps://my.physics.illinois.edu/undergrad/urri/

Demographicinformation automatically prepopulated

Safety training documented

Student fills in this information

Students can upload statements of purpose and CVs

You can check their communications skills

And previous research experience

Students can decline to have their grades shown (FERPA)

Students can add to or update their profile at any timeWe’ll send email reminders at the beginning of each semester so you don’t see outdated information

Students can provide additional information

Adding a research area brings up a listing of faculty working in that area

Adding a research area brings up a listing of faculty working in that area

Some anti-spam protections

<Student’s name automatically inserted>

Hyperlink to student’s profile

Message will not be sent unless the student includes a personal message in the “Tell this faculty member…” field

Built-in checks if a student is not ready Documented safety training

Required courses

Minimum GPA

It looks like your most recent PHYS|MATH GPA of 1.67 does not meet the minimum requirements; therefore, we recommend that you not try to undertake undergrad research at this time.Please be sure to check back next semester to see if you meet the minimum requirements.

It looks like you have not taken/registered for the following required courses; therefore we recommend that you not seek undergraduate research opportunities this semester.PHYS 325 (Credit required)PHYS 326 (Concurrent/future registration required)

It does not appear that you have taken your basic safety training!Please go to https://www.drs.Illinois.edu and take both the General Laboratory Safety Training and the Electrical Safety for Laboratories Training before joining a lab.

Built-in checks if a student is not ready Documented safety training

Required Courses

PHYS 225 (completed)PHYS 325 (completed)PHYS 326 (or concurrent registration)

Highly Recommended Courses

PHYS 401 (or concurrent registration)PHYS 403 (or concurrent registration)PHYS 404 (or concurrent registration)

You can opt out of the system at any time, and opt back in later.N.B. Opting out just removes you from the list of faculty displayed to students within URRP; you’ll still appear on the public Physics profile pages, so you may still be pestered.

You’ve seen the student side—here’s the faculty interface*:

*https://my.physics.illinois.edu/undergrad/urri/search.asp

Search by student name, interest, keyword

What we need your help with:1. What should the minimum GPA be?2. What courses should be required?

recommended?3. What did we forget? overlook?4. Tell us if you want to opt out, and we’ll

remove you. 5. Do you want to be able to post projects?6. If you receive an email from a student

through the portal, please reply.

What we’ll be doing next1. Demonstrating the portal at SPS and SWIP

meetings2. Setting up town hall meetings to roll out the

portal to students once you’re satisfied with it3. Providing workshops for interested students

on writing a brief research statement, preparing a CV…

4. Evaluating how useful the portal is to students and whether they are using it

What’s missing1. Documenting responsible-conduct-of-

research training for funding agencies2. Developing a mechanism for faculty to post

and update projects if desired3. ?????

Your URRP team:Celia Elliott cmelliot@illinois.eduRebecca Wiltfong rwiltfon@illinois.eduMerissa Jones majones2@illinois.edu