Feature: MSU Undergraduates Blaze Trails in Research

            'I worked for Dow Chemical for two summers, and last summer I worked at the Mayo Clinic. I couldn't have done those things if I hadn't had the research experience from MSU.' -Erin Gatza, 1999 MSU Biochemistry graduate

             'The opportunity for undergraduates to participate in cutting-edge research is a real added value for the cost of a student's tuition. Such opportunities are not available everywhere; here at MSU they are encouraged.' -George Leroi, dean of the College of Natural Science

            'Working in the lab, I get to benefit from all the professors' knowledge and expertise. This is a rare opportunity not offered just anywhere.' -Robert Matyjaszek, MSU Pre-Veterinary Sophomore MSU

            MSU undergraduates, even freshmen, are engaged in a wide variety of research - from finding a cure for breast cancer to exploring voter behavior. At MSU, research isn't being conducted by only doctors in white coats or professors in labs. It is oftentimes explored by the youngest members of campus life - undergraduates. From wearable computers and medical technology, to plant pathology and life expectancy rates, undergraduates at MSU contribute greatly to the overall body of knowledge and continue to change and mold the face of today's research. 'Undergraduates doing research are what this university is all about,' says Barbara Steidle, assistant provost for undergraduate education and academic services at MSU. 'These students take undergraduate study very seriously.'

            For more than 40 years, MSU has been offering research options for academically talented students in every college across campus. Traditionally provided by only small private universities, undergraduate research - done either independently, in teams, or with faculty mentors - gives students important out of class learning opportunities and chances for one-on-one interaction with world-class faculty.

CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS

            Faculty mentors, the crux of undergraduate research, help students bridge the gap between knowledge and experience, accelerate exposure to new research methods, and often provide a large project into which a student's research fits as a piece of the overall research puzzle. 'Our students see undergraduate research as a valuable step toward both graduate school and industry,' says Thomas Wolff, associate professor of engineering and associate dean in the College of Engineering. 'One of my own former summer researchers is heading to Berkeley this fall after two years working for a consulting firm.'

            Estelle McGroarty, associate dean of the College of Natural Science and professor of biochemistry, notes there are many benefits to undergraduates performing research: 'Research experiences and independent study projects help students understand how new knowledge is generated, and how what they have learned in the classroom fits into a larger context. These experiences also help students decide what career paths to take.'

            Through the Professorial Assistants program and other one-on-one research activities, MSU's Honors College continues to provide its members with numerous opportunities to participate in cutting-edge research. 'The Honors College believes strongly that student learning through participation in the regular scholarly activity of faculty provides an increasingly essential - and engaging - complement to traditional classroom education,' says Ron Fisher, director of the Honors College. 'Undergraduate research reflects MSU's tradition of close association between faculty and students.'

            Many faculty mentors view undergraduate research as an added benefit, if not an essential component, to the overall education experience. 'Our doors are wide open to the creativity and passion of undergraduates,' says Frank Biocca, Ameritech professor of telecommunication technologies and information services. 'Undergraduates have the necessary curiosity and desire to explore the unknown territory that unites mind and technology. The Internet is their frontier. They will inherit it. We give them research and design tools and watch the best become the scouts, wizards and missionaries of cyberspace.'

THE PIONEERS

            Among the undergraduates who performed research in 1998-99 was Robert Matyjaszek, who helped find a cure for breast cancer. He plans to attend veterinary school - but not until he makes his mark in the world of cancer research - which kept him busy during his freshman year at MSU.

            Working with Joseph Schroeder, assistant professor in the Dept. of Food Science & Human Nutrition, in association with graduate student Min S. Kim of Seoul Korea, Matyjaszek investigated the regulation of human breast cancer cell death by sphingosine. The group found that sphingosine inhibited breast cancer cell growth and triggered a form of 'cell suicide.' The opportunity for an undergraduate to work on a project with far-reaching health implications was a good opportunity for both Matyjaszek and Schroeder's team. 'Robert came into the lab with a strong interest in research,' says Schroeder. 'He is bright, and has established a good rapport with the graduate students and faculty, and that facilitates the learning process - it's a real team effort.'

            'It's fun to be able to work on such a project, and was not something I expected to do as a freshman,' Matyjaszek says. 'It's been a great experience for me. 'I set high goals for myself, and I try to achieve them. Working in the lab I got to benefit from all the professors' knowledge and expertise. It's a rare opportunity, and I'm happy to have had the chance to be a part of this project.'

CREATOR OF 'LITTLE MACHINES'

             'I got it to work! I got it to work at 2:45 this morning!' Gary Gosciak of Petoskey was a little tired and more than a little excited that his undergraduate research project 'came alive' a few short hours before his poster presentation at the 1999 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum. The MSU senior is working on two projects with Clark Radcliffe, professor of mechanical engineering, and John Lloyd, University Distinguished professor of mechanical engineering. He also has the opportunity to work closely with masters and doctoral students. 'I see this research opportunity as a chance to explore dynamic fluids and to apply the knowledge I have gained working with the professors and others,' Gosciak explains. 'They are a wealth of knowledge and point me in different directions.'

            One of the projects - developing a pump with no moving parts - could have valuable applications in electronics. These 'little machines' at the micro-level could have implications for commercial markets. 'It's exciting to watch Gary try to see new things as they develop and learn the world of problem solving,' notes Radcliffe. 'He is an integral part of discovering behaviors associated with smart, controllable fluids.'

            The process of self-discovery is an essential part of the research process for undergraduates at MSU. 'Having my project work was an exciting experience I will always remember,' Gosciak notes. 'I've been working with the professors for two and half years running trials, and I sensed I was getting there. Then the ideas just popped into place.'

             'It has been great to have Gary working with us, and we are proud of his successes,' Lloyd says. 'In your research life you have a few of those moments, and he has now had his first thrill and taste of success.'