Research Readiness Workshop Series
This series of seven zoom workshops and the Library Open House is designed to equip undergraduate students with essential skills and knowledge to effectively engage in Penn State’s extensive research activities. This series will include sessions on:
- Utilizing library resources
- Identifying appropriate opportunities
- Finding a research mentor
- Formulating research questions
- Citation management
- Conducting literature reviews
- Ethical considerations in research
- Joining the scholarly conversation: posters, presentations, and publication
- Research funding opportunities
While workshops can be attended individually or as a complete series, students who complete at least five sessions will receive a certificate of completion that can be added to their resume or CV. Registration for each session can be found in the schedule below.
This program is sponsored by Universities Libraries, The Office and Research Protections and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowship Mentoring.
Program Schedule and Registration
UG Research Readiness Workshop Series
The Spring 2025 Research Readiness Workshop Program and Schedule
| Workshop | Description | Time, Date, Location | Registration Link (If Applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Library Open House | Learn to navigate the libraries’ physical spaces, website and online resources. This is a self-guided tour that takes ~30 minutes. |
January 29 and 30 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Pattee and Paterno Libraries A virtual option is available. Individuals who complete the virtual Open House will receive a certificate upon completion that they may print, email, or save. |
Virtual Open House |
| Getting Started with Research: Undergraduate Research Ambassadors Panel | Hear from a panel of undergraduate researchers on how to find an opportunity, how to reach out to a mentor and how to make the most of your research experience. |
Wednesday February 5 3:30-4:30 |
Register Here |
| Ask a Faculty Researcher: Participating in research as an undergraduate | A panel of faculty research mentors will be on hand to answer questions about the research experience; how to best connect with a mentor, what are the expectations, and what can you do to be competitive in getting brought into a project. |
Wednesday, February 12 3:30-4:30 |
Register Here! |
|
Research Ethics, Compliance, and Safety
How to get credit for your research experience: Paid, Credit or Volunteer |
What ethical issues do researchers need to consider? What training exists to support research safety and compliance? The Office of Research Protections will be on hand to discuss their role and resources.
The second half of the session will cover questions like; how does course credit work for research experiences? Can you get paid? How about volunteering? What funding exists? |
Wednesday, February 26 3:30-4:30 |
Register Here! |
| Showcase Your Research: A Guide to Posters and Conference Applications | In this session you'll learn how to design compelling research posters and navigate the conference application process with confidence. Come to be equipped with the tools to present your work effectively and stand out in academic settings. |
Wednesday, March 5 3:30-4:30 |
Register Here! |
| Citation Management | This session will introduce two popular citation managers and show you how to use citation managers to collect, organize, and cite resources for any research project. |
Wednesday, March 19 3:30-4:30 |
Register Here! |
| Literature Review Foundations | In this session you'll learn the basics of writing a literature review and how to find, collect and organize your sources. |
Wednesday, March 26 3:30-4:30 |
Register Here! |
| How to Read Scholarly Articles like a Ph.D. Student | In this session you'll learn how to approach scholarly articles with a critical, and analytical mindset. Students will explore techniques for efficiently navigating dense academic language and extracting essential insights in order to engage with scholarly texts at an advanced level. |
Wednesday, April 9 3:30-4:30 |
Register Here! |