Research Flashcards
What are your plans for your research program?/ What are your research plans?
My research goal at Purdue University is to explore the complex relationships between plant-soil feedbacks and the provisioning of ecosystem services.
(i) build a database of below ground traits of species found in prairies and savannas in northwest Indiana through literature review and field research; (ii) assess how acquisitive (fine roots) and nonacquisitive (thick roots) belowground compartments relate to aboveground plant biomass and how this relationship changes in response to extreme climatic events and different management strategies, and (iii) model the dynamics of storage compounds at the individual and community level (type and concentration of carbohydrates) in response to environment and management strategies
How do you see your research fitting within our
department and what we already do?
How would you incorporate others in your research?
What plans do you have for future research?
With whom might you collaborate in our department?
What types of interdisciplinary research might you do?
In what ways might you include undergraduates in your research?
My project (several small projects)students. I want them to experience all parts of the research process
I follow some steps to engage students with research
1. Encourage active reading in the classroom
2. Discuss my research with students
3. Involve students in my research (offer opportunities for students to work with academic staff on a research project over the course of their studies)
4. Highlight co-curricular research opportunities (summer research internship)
5. Participate of seminars, conferences, field work activities, courses.
6. To develop their own research project and share results with the scientific community (conferences and publications).
7. Apply for grants and international short-term scholarships ->network of collaborations internationally
The optimal context for students to engage in undergraduate research and creative scholarship is one that combines the settings outlined in student development theory with the structure described in the research skills development framework.
- > Foundation: Get the students involved in research programs, activities, and courses. In the beginning it would be highly structured by me and guided by disciplinary standards.
- incorporate inquiry based learning (see Justice et al., 2007)
- frequent and consistent feedback
- clear directions and guidance
- assessment of student performance that rewards effort along with outcomes
- break down the activities into smaller components so students can understand how each step build towards a greater project
-> Intermediate
At this level, students should be ready to take more responsibility for their own learning and need less guidance, structures, and scaffolding. The role of faculty transitions to that of facilitator when it comes to research programs, activities, and courses. Some modeling of behaviors and activities will be needed, especially when new knowledge and techniques are introduced, but the mentoring role will be to answer questions, offer appropriate challenges, remove overly-burdensome roadblocks, and ask the right questions.
We have a structure in place that helps maintain organization and enhance productivity, including scheduled weekly and monthly meetings, and selecting undergraduate and graduate team leaders to lead each research project. We discuss how it is important to encourage students to aim high and have a good attitude toward learning and problem solving. We emphasize that both initiative and teamwork are important in a large research laboratory. We also discuss the importance of giving students responsibility in connection with research projects—our undergraduate researchers engage in data analysis, interpretation of results, and have a high-level understanding of theory.
- summer research internship
- regular research internship
- find financial support ( US National Science Foundation offers a Research Experiences for Undergraduates programme. Universities, foundations and academic societies might also offer grants to cover your travel expense to various conferences.)
What are your research strengths/weaknesses?
Strengths: I am experienced in all stages of the research process. Since developing and testing new hypothesis, thinking about the sample design, perform the field and lab samples and analysis, to do the statistical analysis and share the results to peers and society. I am proficient in R and have experience with data analysis and data management. It allowed me to be part of many collaborations.
Weaknesses: Knowledge on Indiana Plant biodiversity, Don’t know the ranchers and field sites in Indiana.
What funding sources are you aware of that might support your future research?
North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Program grants (develop research-based methods that support sustainable agriculture in the Midwest).
What would be your first extramural grant proposal, including the target agency?
What funding sources are you aware of that might support your future research?
In my first extramural grant proposal I aim to explore the complex relationships between root traits and the provisioning of ecosystem services, particularly carbon storage. Our current knowledge of the mechanisms behind below ground carbon allocation and changes in the environment and management strategies falls short of policy and management needs and stands out as a research priority. This project has potential for funding because of the novelty of the proposal and its focus on climate-ready and sustainable agricultural practices.
Target agencies would be:
NSF (Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER))
HFSP (Human frontier Science program) Research Grants (Research Grants - Early Career)
