How To Use This Publication

Faculty members at The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science have been asked to list particulars of research opportunities for undergraduate students. This booklet is a compilation of their responses.

A "research opportunity" is similar to—but not quite the same as—a job in research. Some opportunities involve academic credit and require that students register for "independent study" courses. Some positions involve pay, either as a part-time, casual employee of the University, or as a participant in the Federal Work-Study Program. Thus, special work-study eligibility via the Financial Aid Office may be required. Some opportunities extend for one or more academic terms; others continue over the summer. Some may begin only at the start of an academic year, in September. Opportunities may entail different time commitments or time periods of participation. Normally, students are expected to have an overall grade average of at least 3.0.

The duration and other critical factors of the opportunity reflect the needs of the faculty research coordinator and the skills, interests, and capacities of the student participants. As a student grasps new aspects of a project, such as by learning new skills, his/her role in the project may grow and evolve.
Each research opportunity involves areas of expertise and specialization. Thus, the opportunities have been listed both in terms of (1) the specific research area, and (2) the special skills required of the student. Each faculty member in charge of a research area
(the "contact") was asked to specify whether his/her opportunity involved any or all of the following research activities:

• paper study, mathematical projects, library research
• engineering or scientific design
• mechanical or electrical assembly
• computational or computer analysis
  
  

They were also asked to specify:

• whether the opportunity entailed academic credit or hourly wages
• (either through the Federal Work-Study Program or other remuneration)
• the possible duration, whether term-time or summer participation only
• the weekly hour commitment
• any individual qualifications desirable in the applicant, such as minimum

GPA, required courses, prior work experience, and computer language fluency
In some cases, respondents did not specify a certain item of information. This omission indicates that the item is not likely to be a requisite or constraint.