/undergrad-research/ en /undergrad-research/blog/2026/03/how-why-broaden-your-research-experiences-beyond-unh Broadening your research perspective is one of the best ways to stand out to industry professionals, graduate schools, and prospective mentors. Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/266 /undergrad-research/blog/2026/01/finding-perfect-fit The first hurdle a student must overcome to get involved with research is almost always the biggest—finding a mentor. Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/263 /undergrad-research/blog/2025/10/finding-research-transfer-student If you’re a transfer student trying to find your place at 91ÖÆƬ³§, research could be the perfect way to connect and develop professional skills. Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/260 /undergrad-research/blog/2025/09/day-life-mechanical-engineering-researcher This summer, I got to do something super exciting: build a flying spacecraft simulator. Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/258 /undergrad-research/blog/2025/05/one-small-step-one-giant-leap-how-approach-your-first-research-experience As a second-year student at the 91ÖÆƬ³§, undergraduate research has been the most transformative experience of my academic career. Wed, 28 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/236 /undergrad-research/blog/2025/04/hamel-center-researchers-urc-part-2-tyler-brock Tyler Brock ’26 is a chemistry major who has completed multiple INCO courses through the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research as well as a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) in 2024. Mon, 21 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/233 /undergrad-research/blog/2025/03/personal-crash-course-how-survive-academic-burnout-through-research Everyone has a different response to the inevitable academic burnout that plagues so many undergraduate and graduate students. Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/230 /undergrad-research/blog/2024/12/why-am-i-sweating-my-learning-experience-public-speaking The sweats: a presenter's worst nightmare and a close second place to forgetting your well construed script. When it comes to presenting research... Tue, 03 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/226 /undergrad-research/blog/2024/11/my-experience-semester-research-photocatalytic-methane-conversion Conducting research as an undergraduate during the semester can be challenging but is ultimately manageable with discipline and time-management. Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/225 /undergrad-research/blog/2024/05/survival-guide-summer-research Let’s face it. The idea of conducting research for the first time can be simultaneously one of the most terrifying and exciting prospects in one’s college career. Mon, 13 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/211 /undergrad-research/blog/2022/08/one-piece-puzzle Sometimes you may wonder, why am I studying a topic in the first place? What is its piece in the larger puzzle of solving a specific problem? Certain topics seem so abstract and far-removed from everyday life that it’s very difficult to easily identify their greater purpose. Fortunately, the opening few sentences of many scientific articles or book chapters outline why the research described is important, but they do not always easily demonstrate when or how the reported findings will be implemented for real-world applications. In time, maybe they will or maybe they won’t, it is hard to say. So, why conduct research? Thu, 25 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000 Samuel Mercer /undergrad-research/171 /undergrad-research/blog/2022/04/back-plan-becomes-passion When I decided to attend 91ÖÆƬ³§ as an undergraduate in 2018, I had no idea that I would eventually end up being accepted to some of the top chemical engineering PhD programs in the country. Although I already had the goal of getting a master’s degree, a PhD seemed unattainable in my mind. Originally, as a first-year student I wanted to focus on joining student organizations and research was my back-up plan. However, after viewing presentations in my introduction to chemical engineering course about the research being conducted in the chemical engineering department, I reached out to Dr. Nan Yi to discuss research opportunities. Dr. Yi recommended that I apply for the Research Experience Apprenticeship Program (REAP) through the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research. I did not know it then but REAP was the spark that ignited my path to applying for PhD programs. Fri, 29 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/159 /undergrad-research/blog/2021/12/week-catalysis-lab As with most research, building an understanding of ideas and theories begins long before you enter the lab. This was true of my research in the catalysis lab last summer. Wed, 01 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/165 /undergrad-research/blog/2021/08/searching-holy-grail-catalysis Methane conversion, the process of converting methane to desirable products such as methanol or syngas, has garnered the title as the holy grail of catalysis. As the primary component of natural gas, the complex chemistry of methane has limited its potential for sustainable utilization, perplexing researchers for over a century with countless methods and experimental approaches attempted to develop an economically viable process for chemical production. Mon, 30 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +0000 /undergrad-research/169