Recent graduate Bailey Thompson, who majored in English with a minor in chemistry, writes about her undergraduate research experience below. While at UNCG, Bailey conducted chemistry education research with Dr. Maia Popova, presented her work at multiple conferences, and co-authored a scientific article in the Journal of Chemical Education. She is currently writing another publication based on her undergraduate research, this time as a first author. Bailey also worked in the university writing center and was part of the Ashby program. Next, she is pursuing a career in journalism, with a particular interest in science writing.
Do things you never imagined yourself doing
Last year, I found myself in Puerto Rico, giving a talk at a conference in front of a room of chemistry education researchers. I was presenting our literature review on research related to chemistry textbooks. I had conducted two years of hard work in Dr. Maia Popova’s research group, and the opportunity to share my results at the American Chemical Society’s Southeastern Regional Meeting was my chance to demonstrate the skills that I had been developing.
It was an amazing experience. My talk was the first on the schedule, which surprised me greatly. It was very well-received and I got to answer questions about topics such as the ways in which textbooks reflect our classroom experiences. I was also able to see the work of people from all kinds of chemistry backgrounds and learn from them. I would never have believed that I would get to open a symposium in Puerto Rico, but through hard work – and with funding from a UNCG Undergraduate Research and Creativity Award – I was able to do so.
Get out of your comfort zone
Joining a research group was not always something I imagined myself doing. I first joined my research group in an attempt to get some experience, as my advisor at the time was recommending I do so. I chose a chemistry education research group because I’m passionate about education and wanted to learn about how this research could help improve both instruction and student learning.
I was nervous about what doing research meant and how much work it would entail. As a full-time student, I had already been balancing my schoolwork, my writing center work, and my personal life. However, my fears were not justified. I have found that others are willing to accommodate you if you tell them what you need. My professor’s research group – which, during my time there, included 2 postdocs, 4 PhD students, 5 post-baccs, and 5 undergraduate students – was a great community that offered flexibility, support, and guidance when needed. When the semester got tough, we would even have get-togethers – nature walks, bowling, coffee and board games, etc. – where we all could unwind and get to know each other even better.
Explore your options
I was lucky with my research group as it was a great fit for my career interest and also a supportive community of like-minded people who care about each other. It is important to know, however, that you are not locked into your first choice when it comes to doing undergraduate research. Sometimes, you might end up in a situation where the work isn’t the right fit for you, and that is okay. You have the ability to pivot, work on other projects, work with different researchers, and find the things that fit you best.
New environments can be nerve wracking, but it just means that you are growing. I was very scared to join a research group or to travel out of the state to present research, but doing these things allowed me to learn a plethora of new skills, such as the ability to communicate about research through presentations and publications. I felt myself grow as a person, a researcher, and as a learner.
Hard work pays off
There are many steps that go into generating and carrying out a research project. However, all of the hard work that you put in will pay off. For example, I had the opportunity to help write a research article on the effectiveness of organic chemistry textbooks for promoting student representational competence – the ability to reflectively use a variety of visualizations to think about, communicate, and act on scientific phenomena. As part of this project, I helped with the review of previous research related to this topic. I also assisted in writing the introduction section of the paper where I had to ground our study in prior literature and highlight how our work fills existing research gaps. Both this journey and the destination were gratifying, as I now have a published scientific article on my resume.
Presentations and publications are rewarding ways to show your research community what you’ve done. In addition to my experience in Puerto Rico, I also had the opportunity to help present at virtual conferences and will soon be presenting at the UNCG’s Undergraduate Research and Creativity Expo. These experiences open the doors to new opportunities. You meet people in your field and beyond, network, learn about possible career opportunities, and build experience.
Before I joined my research group, I felt like I didn’t have a sense of direction. Two years later, I’ve learned a lot about myself, my skills, and my interests. I might not know exactly where I’m going yet, but thanks to the support of my faculty mentor and my research group, I have some good ideas.
Written by Bailey Thompson
The URSCO blog helps UNCG’s undergraduate scholars share their work and impact with the world. Interested in sharing your work? Contact URSCO Director Lee Phillips at plphilli@uncg.edu or Office of Research and Engagement Communication Manager Sangeetha Shivaji at s.shivaji@uncg.edu.
