In August, the College of Science launched a unified platform to connect students with research positions across its dozens of labs. Named Student Research at Notre Dame (STRAND), the pilot program aims to promote more structured and equitable access to research opportunities.
STRAND is based on a similar program created by Duke University, called Muser. Conversations between the College of Science, the Office of the Provost and the Flatley Center for Scholarly Engagement about creating STRAND began this past spring. The program is a pilot, with its results compared to the similar pilot research database the College of Engineering launched a year earlier, called EduSourced.
Dr. Daniel Gezelter, the senior associate dean for education and undergraduate programs in the College of Science and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, played a key role in the formation of STRAND.
According to Gezelter, during years past, there was not a formal system for applying to research positions. Instead, students would find research positions by contacting faculty directly.
However, Gezelter noted there were shortcomings with this method.
“Students … tend to go to the people that they know,” Gezelter said.
As a result, some faculty members were overwhelmed with requests to join their labs.
“[Faculty] were getting hundreds of emails every semester about joining their groups, and they just don’t have the capacity,” Gezelter said.
He noted that Notre Dame has particularly had an imbalance between the number of students in its health sciences programs, such as preprofessional studies and neuroscience and behavior, and the number of research positions available in those areas. Gezelter hopes that allowing students to easily view a wide array of research areas will inspire them to think more broadly about how they can find a good match.
The first round of applications and matching for STRAND have been completed. Applications were open from Aug. 27-31, with all matches completed in early September. Students who received a match will conduct their research over the course of the fall semester.
Students submitted 138 applications for 23 posted projects, with many projects having more than one position available. According to Gezelter, around 600 students from the College of Science, roughly 1/3 of students, participate in research each year.
Gezelter hopes to increase the number of positions posted for the spring 2025 round of research to around 300. The next round of the application process will allow students to submit applications beginning Oct. 16. Students are eligible to apply to up to three different positions.
Aside from being an advantageous tool for students interested in research, STRAND has also been an efficient program for postdoc and faculty related research. Sheryl Lu, undergraduate research director in the College of Science and associate professor of practice in the biology department, leads one of the many projects listed on STRAND.
“I really like STRAND,” Lu said. “As a mentor, you post your project description, and you can also list the qualifications of the candidates you are thinking about. Actually, I got many applicants this round. This way actually is very efficient in terms for the students but also for the mentor.”
Although Lu found STRAND efficient to use, she proposed a number of additional ways to enhance the website. Lu suggested the creation of automatic messaging on the site to notify students when their application is accepted, reviewed or rejected. Also, she hopes STRAND can accept students for research credit directly through the site, so students will not need to register separately through the registrar office.
While faculty members are not required to post all of their research positions on STRAND, Gezelter encourages them to consider using the platform. He hopes 50% of research positions will be posted on STRAND by the end of this year.
“It’s totally optional, but there are a lot of advantages,” Gezelter said. “Making something mandatory is challenging. We’re not going to get everybody.”
Both Gezelter and Lu encouraged students to try out STRAND, emphasizing how the new program could be the key to many opportunities.
“To really get learning, like doing research, is like a first-hand discovery process,” Lu said. “This type of experience you will never learn if you just sit passively listening to a lecture. I would encourage students to take those kinds of opportunities, so you know what Notre Dame can offer.”
