People will always tell you to ‘network’ and ‘get involved in research,’ but it isn’t always clear what that actually looks like. As a senior biochemistry major at Tufts, I’ve figured out some effective ways to do both, so here are my four tips for first-years pursuing a STEM major or minor.
- Go to departmental seminars!
Many departments at Tufts host weekly seminars that are open to undergrads! These presentations are generally a mix of Tufts researchers and guest speakers from other universities. They help you learn about research happening in a given department and provide a great opportunity to meet graduate students and professors. Below is a short list of some departmental seminars (but it is by no means exhaustive!) You can usually find more information by going to a department’s website under the “News & Events” tab, navigating to a choice that says ‘Seminar Series’ or some variation of that.
Biology: Fridays at 3 p.m., Robinson 253
Biomedical Engineering: Mondays at 10:45 a.m., SciTech, Room 136
Chemistry: Wednesdays at 12 p.m., Pearson 106
Environmental Studies (HoCu): Thursdays at 12 p.m., Curtis Hall Multipurpose Room
Math: Mondays at 12 p.m., JCC 501
- Show interest!
If you reach out to a professor about working with them, follow up! If you cold email and get no response, follow up — professors get A LOT of emails. If you email and the professor seems interested, follow up by thanking them and asking about next steps. Being proactive is key. Mentoring is a lot of work, so professors are selective about taking on new students and investing time and resources in their training. You need to show that you are committed and excited about the work.
- Get on department email lists!
Many departments hold information sessions or open houses during the semester, and there is almost always information about how to join email lists at those events. Getting on lists ensures that you stay in the know about opportunities and events.
- Say YES to opportunities!
There are so many times in college, especially in your first years, when professors will mention opportunities like talks, discussions or student poster presentations during class. If something looks interesting, go for it! I know it can be intimidating, but more often than not, people are thrilled to share their research. Professors have spent many years — often decades — studying a topic they are passionate about. If you show interest, oftentimes they are more than happy to talk about their work with you.
I know that the start of the semester is always chaotic, but don’t be intimidated. These tips are a starting point to help get you going. My final piece of advice — and this one applies to everyone — is to ask for help. There are students, departments and staff who want to support you, and there is no harm in asking questions. Good luck!
