It's About Time

After too long of a break, I have finally recruited some research students. Two undergraduates have agreed do research with me this academic year - one starting in the Fall and one in the Spring. Not ideal, as I'd rather have them start together, but I haven't had any students in a while, so this is great news!

The largest group I have had was six - two M.S. students and four undergrads. We got so much done! This was all at my previous institution. Since coming to Suburban Liberal Arts College, I've had a harder time recruiting students. Recently, I've been thinking a lot about why this is so. I believe it is partially difficulties inherent in the department and curriculum. However, that said, I have not been handling the situation strategically. I need to change this to keep momentum going from my sabbatical.

Here are the situational difficulties: We have only about 4-8 majors per year. Most are interested in sub-fields that aren't mine (computational physchembio). We have no mandatory research requirement, and students often don't take classes in my area until their senior year. We are in a heavily populated area with lots of part time jobs available, and many students don't feel they have time to do something "extra". On the other hand, when they are seniors, things change. Many start to consider grad school and they begin to lament the fact that they did not do undergraduate research.

So, what have I done to recruit students? Well, not a whole lot. I've had two summer students work for me at SLAC, but only on a very, very part-time basis. They were too busy with all their other jobs/summer courses/vacation plans. I've occasionally asked other students, but nothing has ever come from this for various reasons. Clearly, I need to try harder.

Here's what I find most frustrating: the students we have are not really driven by science when they come in the door. Often, this attitude persists for most of their undergraduate career and it is only during that senior year that they start to come alive in this way. This is fabulous to see, but four months from graduating is a little late to start research. So what to do? I need to learn how to spot this potential earlier.

At my previous institution, I was slow to figure out how to recruit students as well. Eventually, I did manage to get more than one at a time and then it was much easier. They recruited others. How did I do it in the first place? First, I started to recruit students who were really bright, but who I did not know personally. These students had not yet taken classes in my area (though were about to), and were strong enough students to learn fast. Second, I recruited students with whom I had a good rapport. Often, they were not interested in my area of research, but wanted to work with me anyway because we got on well. How is it I forgot all this?

So, following up on strategy one, I asked this question of a colleague: Which sophomore are really strong students who seem to like the math stuff? I got two names, wrote two e-mails, and now I have two students.

Now, if I can get strategy two to be even half as productive, I should be in good shape.