Undergrad Research Matching Event gets Students Ready for UG Research Course
UT Dallas’s Computer Science Department brought together its distinguished Computer Science/Software Engineering faculty and invited ambitious undergraduate students with high GPA’s to participate in the Undergraduate Research Matching Event as a prelude to the Undergraduate Research in Computer Science course.
Dr.’s Linda Morales and Janell Straach, both UT Dallas CS professors and the course’s supervising instructors, set up a matching event to allow both computer science and software engineering undergraduate students to talk to several different professors in order to help the students make an informed choice when choosing what research project and team in which they would like to participate. The mission of the event was to allow the students to hear more about different types of research that is being offered by having a more direct discussion with the appropriate professors.
Under the guidance of UT Dallas CS/SE faculty supervision and their research teams, the Undergraduate Research course provides students with hands-on opportunities to experience state of the art research that is not covered in other university offered courses. The students, supervised by faculty, develop the necessary and valuable skills that will help them succeed in their future careers as well as their academic careers by providing the students with opportunities where they can be challenged and can excel. Students also learn how to properly conduct research in many different settings including libraries and labs. During the span of the course, students will be required to complete a research plan with their professors, report on their continued progress throughout the course, and by the end of the course give a detailed presentation of their research as well as present a research poster. Consequently, in the course of their research, the students also become more proficient when communicating their results.
By taking part in the Undergraduate Research course, students will gain the experience and knowledge to create a more multifaceted resume that will give students an upper hand when searching for a job. Students who choose to pursue graduate studies to gain a Ph.D., will have a head start in their studies by taking part in the UG research course.
Dr. Linda Morales, UT Dallas Computer Science professor and one of the instructors of the UG Research course, speaks highly of the program, stating “research is an invaluable experience for students who are dedicated and well motivated. The department is very dedicated to introducing our best undergraduates to research and nurturing them to attain fulfilling careers in computer science and software engineering. It is wonderful to be able to work with these students, and to share in their enthusiasm and excitement while helping them get the most out of their research experience.”
About the UT Dallas Computer Science Department
The UT Dallas Computer Science program is one of the largest Computer Science departments in the United States with over 1,600 bachelor’s-degree students, more than 1,100 master’s students, 160 PhD students, and 80 faculty members, as of Fall 2015. With The University of Texas at Dallas’ unique history of starting as a graduate institution first, the CS Department is built on a legacy of valuing innovative research and providing advanced training for software engineers and computer scientists.