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Student Resources
OURS offers a number of programs and services to support students throughout their research and scholarly development whether a student is exploring a research/ creative project or has completed a project. Resources linked on this page provide opportunities to begin exploring research opportunities, search for off-campus research programs, and prepare to present at disciplinary conferences and meetings.
Along with resources to present and publish your research, OURS has collaborated with students and librarians to create videos to support students in creating posters in their disciplines and how to effectively use library resources.
OURS Logos for presentations.
Find opportunities to present your work.
Find opportunities to publish your work.
Find funding available outside of GVSU.
Research and Scholar Support
What is an abstract?
An abstract is a short preview of your report intended to inform
potential readers about your topic, research, and findings. It usually
comes at the beginning of a paper and allows people to get a brief
glimpse into the content of your research before reading your report
in its entirety.
Abstracts are also commonly used as presentation proposals for academic conferences. The abstract gives conference organizers an idea of what you’d like to present. At times, the abstract is publicized in the conference program, so that attendees can decide whether to attend your session or someone else’s. For all these reasons, it’s important than an abstract be clearly written and give a focused overview of your report or presentation.
An abstract should include the following:
• A title that clearly indicates the focus of you report,
presentation, or essay
• The research or data that you have
incorporated into the report
• The methodology you used to collect
data (if you are writing a scientific report) or the logical structure
or theoretical framework from which you are writing your argument (if
you are writing an essay in the humanities)
• Your findings, if
you are writing a scientific report; your argument, if you are writing
an essay in the humanities
• If you have space, a hint as to the
implications of your findings or the general importance of your argument
A good exercise for writing an abstract is to continually answer the question “What is my report/paper/presentation about?” or, more accurately, “What does my report/paper/presentation do?”
The Writing Center
The Writing Center has Writing Consultants who may be able to
help craft an effective abstract. Contact the center for more details.
Statistical
Consulting Center
The Statistical Consulting Center (SCC) is operated by the
Department of Statistics at GVSU. The SCC provides statistical advice
and assistance with projects that are for research or instructional purposes.
University Libraries
The GVSU libraries offer a variety of services including
one-on-one research consultations with a librarian or with a student
peer in the Knowledge Market, access to scholarly databases, specific
subject guides for your major, and drop-in workshops.
Fred Meijer Center
for Writing and Michigan Authors
Visit the writing center for help at any stage of your writing
process. The center's well-trained peer consultants can help you to
brainstorm ideas, organize content, integrate research, polish a
draft, and correctly document sources. Any graduate or undergraduate
GVSU student can take advantage of the drop-in hours simply by coming
into the center with a draft of a paper. Sessions typically last 20-30 minutes.
Speech Lab
Undergraduate consultants are available to assist with the
following: choosing a speech topic, developing a speech purpose
statement, selecting source material for speech content, crafting an
organized presentation, producing visual aids, effectively introducing
and concluding speeches, and speech delivery.
Oral Presentations
An oral presentation is more than just reading a paper or set
of slides to an audience. How you deliver your presentation is at
least as important in effectively communicating your message as what
you say. Use these guidelines to learn simple tools that help you
prepare and present an effective presentation, and design PowerPoint
slides that support and enhance your talk.
Human Research
Review Committee
The Human Research Review Committee (HRRC) is comprised of GVSU
faculty, staff and community members who review proposed research
studies involving living persons.
The HRRC ensures that the basic rights and welfare of research participants are fostered and protected. The HRRC supports researchers through its coordinated activities in education, regulatory compliance oversight, and post approval monitoring. All research involving human subjects performed at GVSU and/or by GVSU students, staff, and/or faculty must be reviewed and approved by the Human Research Review Committee prior to beginning the research.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC)
provides oversight in animal research activities at GVSU.
The Committee's role is to ensure that investigators, research technicians, animal care personnel, and students are properly trained to conduct animal research in a humane manner. The Committee ensures that all animal research at GVSU is conducted in accordance with IACUC standards and complies with the Public Health Service policies and USDA animal welfare regulations.
Lab Safety Program
The Lab Safety Program is committed to providing a safe
laboratory environment to Grand Valley's employees, students and
visitors. In order to accomplish this, GVSU has established guidelines
to ensure safe lab practices and training programs. In addition, Lab
Safety staff provides additional resources to evaluate hazards and
minimize the risk of injury or illness to students, faculty and
research staff.
Responsible
Conduct of Research
Active scholarship is an essential component of Grand Valley
State University's mission as an institution of higher learning. All
staff, faculty and students who participate in research are expected
to perform their work to the highest degree of professional and
ethical standards.
The responsible conduct of research (RCR) is critical for excellence; we encourage the entire Grand Valley State University community to engage in RCR training and education.
RESEARCH COMPLIANCE AND INTEGRITY
If you are conducting any type of research abroad, you should be
in contact with the Office of Research Compliance and
Integrity (RCI). Although the research is being conducted abroad
rather than on campus, you are still held to GVSU standards and must
follow guidelines for ethical research.
- If your research involves humans or animals, you need to have
proper authorization and approval.
- The Human Research Review Committee (HRRC) oversees all research involving human subjects. All research involving human subjects performed by GVSU students and faculty must be reviewed and authorized by the HRRC before beginning the research. For more information on rules and regulations as well as on the application submission process, visit the HRRC website.
- The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) oversees animal research activities conducted by GVSU students and faculty. For project submission guidelines and information on rules and regulations, visit the IACUC website.
When handling research data in another country, faculty and students must comply with federal laws and guidelines. Information about Export Controls can be found here, including export control policies and developing a technology control plan.
APPROVAL PROCESS
ALL students who are earning credit for research conducted abroad
for are required to apply for approval through the Padnos
International Center. This applies to any student earning credit
through GVSU or an outside institution. If you are not earning credit
either through GVSU or another institution, you must register your
trip with the Padnos International Center, but there is no approval
process necessary.
Earning credit: Padnos International Center Application and Approval Required
Not earning credit: Padnos International Center Application (no approval needed)
Applications can be submitted through the Padnos International Center at: www.gvsu.edu/oasis
TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS
Before traveling, here are some resources to help you prepare for
your experience abroad. For more information regarding travel
considerations, contact the Padnos International Center.
-
Passport, Visa & Flight
- All students will need a passport to conduct research abroad.
- Some students may be required to obtain a visa (entry clearance) prior to traveling. Visa requirements vary by country.
- Visit here for more information on how to obtain a passport, information on visa requirements, and how to book a flight.
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Health & Safety
- For information on student health, safety, and security during international travel, visit here.
- When considering studying abroad in a country on the U.S. Travel Warning list, please refer to GVSU’s travel warning policy.
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Knowing your destination
- Use these resources to learn more about the country where you are planning on traveling. In addition, you should conduct your own research about the country you are visiting.
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Travel tips
- For tips on topics such as packing, bringing money, relationships with host families, and being a good representative, visit this link.
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Policies
- Before traveling, become familiar with important policies such as academic and financial policies by contacting Elena Selezneva at [email protected].
FAQs
Here are some of our most common questions regarding
undergraduate research and scholarship at GVSU.
GVSU Office of Fellowships
The purpose of the office is to provide nationally
competitive scholarship and fellowship advising services to GVSU
students and alumni who show extraordinary potential in disciplines
all across campus. The website has an extensive list of non-GVSU
scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
Padnos
International Center
If you wish to conduct research abroad, consider contacting
the Padnos International Center (PIC). PIC promotes, advises, and
administers study abroad and internship opportunities for students in
over 4,000 locations globally.
CUR Student Resource Center
The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Student Resource
Center's main goal is to provide valuable content and guidance on
varying subject matters within the undergraduate resource student needs.
Scholar Works
The repository is a service of the Grand Valley State
University libraries. Research and scholarly output included here has
been selected and deposited by the individual university departments
and centers on campus.
WebGURU
The Web Guide to Research for Undergraduates (WebGURU) is an
interactive web-based tool intended to assist undergraduates navigate
the hurdles of an undergraduate research experience.
Grand Valley State University (GVSU) has an enhanced institutional membership with the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). This membership allows any faculty member, student or staff member from GVSU to join CUR at no cost to the individual.
How to Construct a Research Poster (in your discipline)
The OURS Student Ambassadors have each made a video about how they construct a research poster in their discipline. You can select the most relevant discipline to you and watch the video to help you with creating your research poster for Student Scholars Day!
Biochemistry - Mary Fergus
Mary majored in biochemistry with the goal to earn her PhD in biochemistry. She was a recipient of the Student Summer Scholars Program and recognized as an Ott-Stiner Scholar. During the 2022 summer, Mary was immersed in a research project investigating novel boronic acids as cross-class inhibitors for β-lactamases to overcome antibiotic resistance.
Finance & Economics - Owen Laverty
Owen studied Finance and Economics with a certificate in Applied Data Analytics. After graduating in December 2023, he plans on working in real estate or corporate finance for a few years before returning to school to earn a Master's degree (either an MBA or MS in Economics). Owen received the S3 award during the summer of 2022 and looked into the effects that Right-to-Work laws have on creativity.
French & Statistics - Ian Curtis
Ian majored in Statistics and French with minors in Mathematics and Psychology with the ultimate goal of becoming a Data Scientist. A Library Summer Scholars in 2020, he learned about the many services libraries offer while also creating his own research product: a website holding information on various scholarly sources about the Encyclopédie. In Summer 2021, Ian participated in the S3 program, this time conducting his own original research on the Encyclopédie, focusing on the alleged plagiarism of the supplemental images to the Encyclopédie.
Computer Science & Math - Seth Ockerman
Seth majored in Computer Science with minors in Writing, Cybersecurity, and Math. He is hoping to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in computer systems and machine learning. Seth was a 2020 S3 recipient and worked on a project analyzing mask usage trends on social media using machine learning, and also worked as an SROP Research intern at The Ohio State's ICICLE Lab.
How to Construct a Research Poster
Poster Printing Tips
These tips are for using the plotter. The plotter is located in the Copy Center in the basement of the Marketplace. The cost to use the plotter is $25.00 which covers the cost of one print. This cost must be paid by each presenter or faculty mentor (or the department).
Please visit the Copy Center website for more information on printing requirements.
- The Copy Center has limited hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
- You should print a test page using the “Scale to fit” option to make sure your poster prints without any issues. If you are satisfied with this printing then proceed with your print
- Contact the Copy Center Service Desk at (616) 331-3407 or [email protected] with questions
You may also be interested in the Digital Print Shop at GVSU.
Fill out this form to pick up your poster from the OURS office. We require a five-day turnaround time.
Unlock the Library: Introduction to Research Resources
Strong library research skills are crucial to producing excellent research projects. These sessions will help students better understand the library’s resources. We will discuss identifying, accessing, and evaluating journal articles. Students may even find that these activities help in their classwork as well.
Building a Search Strategy
Introduction to Research Resources
Evaluating Information
Introduction to Research Resources
Finding Journal Articles
Introduction to Research Resources
Scholarly and Peer Reviewed Sources
Introduction to Research Resources
Post-Baccalaureate Opportunities
Post-Baccalaureate programs begin after completing an undergraduate degree and are designed to support the transition to professional school. Listed below are a few opportunities for students looking for Post-Baccalaureate opportunities.
Here is a database including 1188 programs in a variety of disciplines and education levels.
U-M PREP is a one year program that encourages underrepresented minorities who hold a recent baccalaureate degree in a biomedically relevant science to pursue a research doctorate. PREP participants work as apprentice scientists in a preceptor's laboratory and participate in student development and education activities. This program is expected to strengthen the research skills and academic competitiveness of participants for pursuit of a graduate degree while also stimulating them to have an interest in addressing the health problems that disproportionately affect minorities and the medically underserved in the United States.
The PREP (Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program) is a 1 year program at University of Chicago that provides mentoring, research skills, coursework and a positive learning environment to recent college graduates who are underrepresented in biomedical research as defined by NIH, who intend to pursue a PhD degree in biomedical science. The University of Chicago PREP is funded by NIH.
Thinking of a career in biomedical or behavioral sciences, but not sure how to get there?
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis can help. The Indiana University-Purdue University Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (IPREP) prepares recent college graduates, who are students from underrepresented minority or disadvantaged populations, for admission to graduate programs in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.
IPREP is funded through the National Institutes of Health and draws on the programmatic and research strengths of the major health and life sciences campus of IUPUI. Training is provided in addictions neuroscience, biomedical engineering, clinical psychology, human performance and kinesiology, medical neuroscience, basic biomedical sciences (anatomy and cell biology, microbiology and infectious disease, musculoskeletal biology, pharmacology, and physiology) and other areas in biological behavior sciences toward the goal of matriculation into these graduate programs. The long-term goal of IPREP is to improve diversity in the community of graduate students and faculty for these targeted Ph.D. programs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
The MU PREP program is a year-long initiative that prepares scholars for graduate or professional programs in biomedical sciences through research rotations, a 10-month independent research project, and interdisciplinary professional development. With a 92% success rate for graduate enrollment and an 80% placement in PhD programs, scholars complete their PhDs faster than the national average. The program provides a $30,000 annual salary, $4,500 for conference travel, and covers tuition and health insurance. Eligible participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a biomedical-relevant bachelor's degree and belong to an underrepresented group in biomedical research.
The Success in Graduate Education (SiGuE) program aims to increase the representation and competitiveness of historically underrepresented groups in STEM fields by enhancing the research experience of post-baccalaureate students, making them competitive for graduate and professional programs. The program offers a 6-12 month internship at Michigan State University, providing individualized development plans, productive research experiences, and professional development in genomics, genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Benefits include a competitive stipend, GRE exam assistance, and access to MSU resources. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a Bachelor of Science degree, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and belong to an underrepresented group.