Student-focused strategies for designing successful undergraduate research projects

Mentoring undergraduate researchers is a unique opportunity to guide students towards a lasting love for scientific inquiry. By explaining why the research matters, setting goals that match the students’ sense of purpose and establishing structure to help achieve those goals, faculty advisers maximize student success in the lab and beyond. Designing research projects for undergraduates can be challenging due to their limited experience and time constraints. In this Comment, Joshua Patterson, a professor at a primarily undergraduate institution, shares strategies for creating meaningful research opportunities for undergraduate students.