Students West and Ramsby publish essay in environmental studies journal

Brittany West and Blake Ramsby were selected to write an essay on the importance of undergraduate research for the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. The senior biology majors conduct research in biology professor Malcolm Hill’s laboratory and submitted an abstract that was chosen from a large number of competing applicants, including graduate students, post-docs and faculty.

Frontiers features peer-reviewed, synthetic review articles and short research communications on all aspects of ecology, the environment and related disciplines. The journal has a readership of over 40,000. It’s newest column, Fresh Perspectives, is written by students on issues of interest to those considering or currently attending graduate school. West and Ramsby’s abstract was a response to Frontiers’ search for a piece on undergraduate research, which also incorporated personal experience and advice. Drawing from their time in Hill’s lab and the impact research has had on their own undergraduate careers, they explain its importance in an excerpt from their abstract:

“The only way to determine if a career path fits is to get involved and gain experience. Developing and executing scientific ideas, communicating and collaborating with fellow students and professors, and troubleshooting experiments are all characteristic experiences of undergraduate research that are not fully developed in a classroom setting. The collection of experiences serve as bumpers that create feedback and direct you down the path best suited to your interests.  Getting involved in research as an undergraduate has prepared us for the steps and decisions that lie ahead of us and this insight into the scientific world makes graduate school sound like an exciting opportunity.”

Posted March 26, 2008