RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR FIRST AND SECOND YEAR STUDENTS AT ALBION COLLEGE

Undergraduate research is a core value of the Geology Department at Albion College. We offer three types of research experiences for students in their first two years of college: group research projects in the introductory geology course; research assistantship positions; and individual student research projects. These programs prepare students for more advanced research experiences in upper level classes, independent projects, senior theses, and graduate school theses.

All students in our physical geology class complete a research project. For many of these students, this will be their only experience with a college-level lab science. In three lab periods plus time outside of class, the 40-60 students work in teams of 2 to 4. Each team formulates and tests a hypothesis on a geological question. They are encouraged to use the department's equipment, including ICP, XRF, XRD, total station, and current velocity meter. Examples of past projects have included investigating heavy metals in runoff or in playground soils, measuring discharge in local rivers, and determining the mineral composition of powdered cosmetics. They present their results to the rest of the class as a group and submit individual research papers.

Research assistantships are available to first and second year students through the Student Research Partners program, administered by the campus-wide Prentiss M. Brown Honors Institute. Students are paid to assist faculty 7 hours per week with such tasks as sample preparation and analysis, and data entry. We treat the students as collaborators, and encourage them to take ownership of their parts of the projects. Three faculty in the Geology Department have mentored a total of 12 students through this program since its start in 1997. Of the ten who have already graduated, seven wrote senior theses.

Students may also apply to the College's Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity for support for their own summer research projects. Students are eligible at any point in their career for support, and over the past ten years ten geology students have been funded after either their first or second years. Of the six who have already graduated, five wrote senior theses. Both of the students in this program scheduled to graduate this year are on-track to complete theses.