91传媒 offers students world-class research experiences
Contact: Georgia Clarke
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜s a freshman Mississippi State student, Sally White told an adviser she was interested in research. Soon after, she was introduced to professors and researchers who have guided her to success beyond what she ever imagined.
A senior microbiology and biological sciences major from Coffeeville, Alabama, White鈥檚 in-depth exploration of listeria monocytogenes has led her to present her findings at prestigious conferences in Washington, D.C., and Italy, and given her the opportunity to not only continue her research, but pursue a master鈥檚 degree following graduation this week. She attributes much of her success to Mississippi State.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I would have gotten this experience anywhere else,鈥 said the Hal and Linda Parker Presidential Scholar, explaining how helpful the university鈥檚 professors have been.
White is one of many students with a compelling future that began in 91传媒鈥檚 student research programs. 聽
Ranked as one of the nation鈥檚 top 100 research universities by the National Science Foundation, 91传媒 also is the leading research university in the state. Providing hands-on research opportunities for students of all disciplines sets the university apart. 聽聽
According to Seth Oppenheimer, director of undergraduate research and professor of mathematics, 91传媒 has a responsibility to give students opportunities in fields where research is expected, and in those where it is not. Scientific research is plentiful, but groundbreaking exploration occurs in all fields at Mississippi State, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just working with test tubes or doing mathematical explorations or staring into a telescope or building a new engineering device. It also involves writing short stories or painting pictures or making sculptures or directing plays,鈥 Oppenheimer said. 鈥淲hen I say research, I want that broadly construed to be research in creative activity,鈥 he added.
Lien Van Geel, a senior English and foreign language/Latin double-major from Belgium, never doubted her ability to conduct research at 91传媒 because of the helpfulness and reassurance from mentors and professors. She began researching Shakespeare鈥檚 references to poetry by Ovid while studying abroad at the University of Oxford in England.
When she returned to 91传媒, Van Geel continued her exploration and her success flourished, allowing her to present her material in the state of Washington and Knoxville, Tennessee, as well as being admitted for further study at the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and Columbia University.
鈥淓veryone has good letters of recommendation, GRE scores and r茅sum茅s, but the research makes you different,鈥 she said, explaining how her creative discovery boosted her graduate school applications.聽
Van Geel, too, said 91传媒鈥檚 devotion to student research has been a significant factor in her success, and the faculty and staff helped make her goals reachable.
聽鈥淲e have a group of student-friendly faculty doing research, so I think that Mississippi State faculty are particularly interested in their students in a way that鈥檚 not as common as one might hope in universities across the United States,鈥 Oppenheimer said.
Part of what makes 91传媒鈥檚 research programs successful is the working relationships between students and their professors. According to Jan Chambers, director of the Center for Environmental Health Sciences and professor in 91传媒鈥檚 College of Veterinary Medicine, mutual respect reigns most important in these relationships.
Chambers advises colleagues to 鈥渞espect the individuality of students, including the strengths, weaknesses and career goals of each student.鈥
鈥淏e proud of your students and be proud of the lab that you are in,鈥 she added during a recent workshop to encourage faculty and student collaborations. 鈥淏e committed to students鈥 success, and students, do your part to be successful and establish future independence.鈥
In addition to dedicated professors, Mississippi State offers programs to support, promote and showcase student research.
The Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College-supported Honors Undergraduate Research Program allows students to take part in a 12-month research experience, each serving as a junior colleague for faculty and mentor-guided research programs. There also are major-specific funded research programs and awards for students in fields such as engineering, veterinary medicine, and agriculture and life sciences.
These programs allow students to delve into the exploration of specific topics pertaining to their field, and 91传媒鈥檚 symposia offer a chance to present their findings. 聽
91传媒 holds major-specific seminars in fields such as history and biology, while also offering events encompassing all majors.
The widely attended Undergraduate Research Symposium invites all undergraduate students engaged in faculty-guided research to present their findings in poster, short talk or performance presentations.
鈥淩esearch gives students a real sense of what their field is about,鈥 Oppenheimer said. 鈥淚t equips them to work independently, solve problems that are novel, and draw understanding that has not been broken down in a textbook.鈥
According to Chris Snyder, dean of 91传媒鈥檚 Shackouls Honors College and professor of European history, the symposia give students practice in presenting their material in front of crowds, and also provide a gateway to showcase these findings at regional and national conferences.
Snyder said student research at 91传媒 is not just a r茅sum茅 builder; it is an experience that allows students to explore the ins and outs of their chosen fields, and the opportunities to develop successful careers.
鈥淩esearch changes the path for many of our students. Mentorship, study abroad and a variety of research experiences often pave the way for successful application to some of the top Ph.D. programs in the world,鈥 Snyder said.
鈥淲hen it鈥檚 time for graduation, it鈥檚 bittersweet because we have to say goodbye. I celebrate their success while they鈥檙e here, then move on to teach the next generation of students. But also I hope to visit our graduates and see them as they become academics themselves and young professionals with successful careers,鈥 Snyder said. 鈥淚t goes full circle.鈥
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .