SURF Posts

The Importance of Evidence-Based Practice in the Field of Occupational Therapy

Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

As she prepares to graduate, Julia reflects on what research taught her about one of the guiding principles of occupational therapy.

Finding Research as A Transfer Student

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

If you’re a transfer student trying to find your place at 91��Ƭ��, research could be the perfect way to connect and develop professional skills.

Is Philosophical Research Even Relevant?

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

“Is philosophical research even relevant?” Any student who has experience conducting research within the field of philosophy has heard those words.

A Day in the Life of a Mechanical Engineering Researcher

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

This summer, I got to do something super exciting: build a flying spacecraft simulator.

A Day in the Life of an Occupational Therapy Researcher

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

My research uses a GPS-based tracking device to monitor the driving behavior of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia with the hope of reducing caregiver anxiety.

A Day in the Life of a Marine Biology Researcher

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

My summer research focuses on a group of phytoplankton that produces a potent neurotoxin responsible for harmful algal blooms.

Doing Research Remotely: How I Felt Seen for the First Time

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Having the opportunity to do research remotely felt like a silver lining during a time of adversity.

Class of 2025 HCUR Alum: Torin Scalora (Environmental Sciences: Ecosystems)

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this series, we hear from three recent alums about their undergraduate research and what’s next.

Class of 2025 HCUR Alum: Caylin Grove (Genomics)

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this series, we hear from three recent alums about their undergraduate research and what’s next.

The First Lab May Not Always Be the Right Fit: How I Tried Something New and Found My Passion

Fri, 16 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

As he prepares to graduate, Graham Collinsworth '25 shares how finding the right research lab at 91��Ƭ�� led him to a doctoral program at Dartmouth College.

Hamel Center Researchers at the URC, Part 3: Jenna Loporcaro

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Jenna Loporcaro ’25 is a biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology major performing research in Dr. Konstantinos Sousounis’s lab at the 91��Ƭ��, focused on lens regeneration in newts.

Hamel Center Researchers at the URC, Part 2: Tyler Brock

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

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.

Of Mice and Women: How a Genomic Experiment Unveiled Surprising Gaps in Our Understanding of the Female Reproductive System

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In summer 2024, I received a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) from the Hamel Undergraduate Research Center to pursue a project in Dr. MacManes’s genomics and physiology lab, which focuses on the cactus mouse.

A (Personal) Crash Course on How to Survive Academic Burnout through Research

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Everyone has a different response to the inevitable academic burnout that plagues so many undergraduate and graduate students.

From Questions to Answers: The Personal Impact of Research

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The extent of what I do day-to-day is something the younger version of me never would have expected.

Road Trip! My Progression through Undergraduate Research at 91��Ƭ��

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

This experience awoke an itching curiosity that I knew I had to keep exploring. My solution? Find a research lab that would let me learn as much as I could as soon as I could.

My Experience with In-Semester Research on Photocatalytic Methane Conversion

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Conducting research as an undergraduate during the semester can be challenging but is ultimately manageable with discipline and time-management.

The Three Most Important Skills I Learned by Participating in Research

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

While participating in undergraduate research is often encouraged for a resumé boost or acceptance into graduate school, there is so much more to this experience than what meets the eye.

Studying in a Neuroscience Lab for the First Time

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

As a student studying to complete my Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry, molecular, and cellular biology, I have always been interested in anesthesia.

Musical Tuning and the Joys of Liberal Arts Research

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The opportunity to conduct research at the undergraduate level is invaluable. The process inevitably involves a deep-dive into some aspect of your broader field of interest—helping with your more traditional classes and academic pursuits while sharpening a host of scholarly skills such as close reading, clear writing, and locating and evaluating sources/data.