UNC Charlotte’s Charlotte Research Scholars (CRS) program provides undergraduate students the training and experience to be successful in research, a critical component for graduate education. Sixty scholars have been selected for the research program’s second year. Starting Tuesday, May 28, they will conduct original research during a 10-week program in collaboration with a faculty member.
“Undergraduate research through CRS enhances the student learning experience and expands the intellectual vitality of the University. Undergraduate researchers tackle important, real-world questions ranging from how to improve K-12 education to improving disease prevention and from enhancing the livability of urban communities to understanding and protecting the environment,” stated Tom Reynolds, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School.
Each scholar will be trained and guided through the research process. “We are privileged to be at a University filled with renowned scholars and researchers—and CRS allows students to truly benefit from this expertise,” said Scott Fitzgerald, associate professor of sociology. “Our students work one-on-one with UNC Charlotte faculty on important problems within our fields, while simultaneously being trained as the next generation of scholars.”
Ryan Kilmer, professor of psychology, participated in the inaugural program last year; he said it was a great success. “My colleague Jim Cook and I co-supervised three students who readily engaged in the research process, took initiative, sought to develop new skills and tussled with the complexities of our community research efforts. They not only learned a great deal but enjoyed themselves as well.”
The Charlotte Research Scholars program partners with other summer research programs at the University to provide training in the skills critical to professional success, including sessions on responsible conduct of research, professional communications and writing, research fellowships and an overview of the graduate school experience.
The program will culminate with the Summer Research Symposium at 9 a.m., Wednesday, July 24, in the Student Union, where the undergraduate researchers present their results. This event is free and open to the public.
UNC Charlotte is North Carolina’s urban research institution, so having the CRS program demonstrates the University’s commitment to encouraging discovery, according to program organizers. Participants in the inaugural program experienced significant benefits that led to unexpected outcomes.
“The scholars’ CRS experience proved to be an impetus to go further and build on what they had done,” added Kilmer. “For instance, two scholars proposed work and later presented projects as lead authors at a professional conference. For another, her CRS experiences helped her gain admission into a graduate program overseas. Overall, the students benefitted tremendously.”
The Charlotte Research Scholars program is supported by UNC Charlotte's Division of Academic Affairs, the Charlotte Research Institute Duke Endowment and the Graduate School.