Wednesday night marked the start of the first session of the Discover Seminar program.
Discover is a four week not-for-credit program that is open to all undergraduate students at USC. The seminars help students form a plan for research, learn about funding opportunities, how to network and how to showcase research.
Every Wednesday, students involved in Discover meet to review topics that will help them jumpstart their research.
In the past, Magellan awardees who participated in Discover did research on cancer, the influence of studying abroad the effects of sleep deprivation along with other topics.
Riley Brady, a third year marine science student and Magellan Ambassador, said the Discovery Seminar program is a great resource to students who are unsure of how to being research.
Brady visits University 101 classes to explain the basics of undergraduate research.
“I’m really there to connect with them as a peer and debunk the myths of research. A lot of students are afraid of it and believe it to be a ‘dry’ topic confined to science, but I try to get them stoked about it,” Brady said. “[Research] has been the most fulfilling thing I’ve done here.”
Undergraduate research is an opportunity for students to gain real-world experience, build their resumes, improve communication skills and critical and creative thinking skills.
Students who are interested in participating in the Discover Seminar program can reserve a spot in one of the two offered sessions. The first session runs from Feb. 11 to March 4, and the second session runs from March 25 to April 15. Interested students can sign up online.