Research Connecting Experiences can be a research assistantship or an independent research project. To have a successful research experience, make sure to:
- Plan ahead so you can meet deadlines
- Keep in touch with your BDP advisor to discuss your plans
Self Assessment
- Clarify your interest and objectives relative to your BDP topic and strand
- Use our self assessment worksheet (PDF) to guide you
Address Ethical Questions
No matter what type of project you do for your Connecting Experience, make sure to consider the potential challenges and rewards of engaging with a new community. What does it mean to be responsible in your research? See our handout on responsible community engagement (PDF) for more information.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Are you working with human subjects? If so, please contact the IRB office to find about steps you need to take.
Examples
Connecting Experiences give you the opportunity to customize your BDP certificate. From formatting video clips for an Attractiveness Study to investigating the effects of biocorrosion on desalination plants in Singapore, BDP students are bringing their interdisciplinary skills to a wide variety of research projects.
To learn about what other students have done in the past, read these Connecting Experience spotlights.
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Research Assistantships
A research assistantship is an opportunity for students to work with faculty on a research project. Most research assistantship positions are created because students ask professors about helping them with their work, so be proactive and ask!
Explore the resources below for potential assistantship positions and ideas:
Examples
Connecting Experiences give you the opportunity to customize your BDP certificate. BDP students have worked as research assistants in labs at UT and even abroad. From helping to create videos for sociological studies to examining air quality and energy efficiency for a novel air-conditioning design concept, BDP students contribute to all sorts of research projects. To learn about what other students have done in the past, read these Connecting Experience spotlights or schedule an appointment with your advisor to search our in-house BDP Opportunities Database.
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Independent Research Projects
Use the tips below to help you develop an independent research project.
Choose a topic or idea
- Brainstorm topics related to your BDP
- Explore your ideas through writing or journaling
- Consider using current events as the basis for formulating a topic
- Think about issues or articles you’ve explored in course discussions
Develop a research question
- Narrow your focus by considering What would be the first step in solving a problem? For example, if you are interested the problem of glacial ice melting, you may want to research current theories on chemicals that speed up this process.
- Define your purpose and develop a question. A research question is the primary question you want to answer by the time you complete your project.
- Adapt your narrowest focus into a question you want to answer.
- Consult with an advisor, faculty, or the Office of Undergraduate Research to further develop your research question.
Examples
Connecting Experiences give you the opportunity to customize your BDP certificate. From examining the ways that science museums have embraced digital experiences to researching the policy implications of NAFTA on the re-integration of immigrants in Mexico, BDP students are taking charge of their research interests. To learn about what other students have done in the past, read these Connecting Experience spotlights for more ideas.