Faculty / Student Research

"My research experience at the Cereal Disease Lab in St. Paul has given me an idea of what a research career would be like, and has given me a new respect for scientific work. Prior to this experience I had a naive notion of how qu ickly and easily major discoveries are made. What I know now is that what the general public might view as a minor discovery probably took years of hard work. My experience has also given me a new sense of confidence when working in a lab. Being able to apply what I have learned in class to a real situation is very rewarding, and has encouraged me to take my classes more seriously. A research or internship experience in any area of study cannot be replicated in the classroom in terms of aiding in career choice and in building confidence"

"Research is the backbone of much of the knowledge we have. This research experience gave me the opportunity to take the knowledge and skills in the sciences that I have acquired while being at Augsburg and apply it to real world phenomena. Research has also showed me how many unanswered questions exist about how the world operates. Often people have the interpretation that science provides answers, yet in reality, science asks more questions than it answers. By doing research, I was able to come to this realization first hand."

"In science, research is the fundamental element upon which the entire field thrives. It is the basic component necessary for the success and continuity of the field. Learning to do effective research is a skill that will ensure your success as a scientist. I had some exposure to research while at Augsburg. I completed 2 projects; the first investigated soil salinity and its impacts on plant community structure, the second investigated the impacts of varying snail densities on sea grass epibiont communities. Both were great experiences in developing a question and coming up with a method to investigate that question. I particularly enjoyed the snail experiment because it was conducted in the field. I am particularly interested in ecological research and this was my first real taste of field research. I know that humans are impacting the environment and learning to do effective research to investigate these issues is of great importance to me. My first exposure to big science was during my internship at Cedar Creek Natural History Area. It was there that I really saw cutting edge ecological research being done. I still work there and have come to realize the huge importance of learning to do good, effective research. Without good research, we'd still be carrying clubs and picking fleas out of each others' hair. Scientific research has advanced the human race beyond that of our fellow species"

"Undergraduate research provided me with both an avenue for networking with professionals in my field and the experience necessary to potentially become one of their colleagues."

"I cannot stress the importance of undergraduate research enough. It opens your eyes to the options available in graduate school, and is a good indication of whether or not graduate school is right for you. By conducting undergraduate research at another institution you can develop a network of individuals that will vouch for the quality of your work, which is an essential component of any graduate school application. Even if you are not interested in graduate school, there is no replacement for the experience you will gain through undergraduate research."

"Summer research is by far the best thing a student can do for themselves while attending college. I believe that my off campus research at Penn State was the most beneficial thing that I did while attending Augsburg. Not only did I gain experience in working in a highly professional environment with some great minds (in chemistry and material science), but I also got to travel outside Minnesota, and meet some VERY intriguing people. Staying on Penn State's fairly large campus abolished much of the intimidation I had towards the concept of attending a larger school for graduate study. By attending such a huge and prestigious college such as Penn State, I found it both tempting and easier to apply to graduate schools outside Minnesota."

"Working as a student researcher in the Space Physics Lab, I learned that Im in my element when doing research. I now know that I want to get a Ph.D. in Planetary Science or Astrophysics and do research for my lifes work. I have been able to apply my research experiences to classroom studies, and vice versa, thereby gaining a better understanding of physics."