For Paola López-Duarte, deciding to participate in research as an undergrad was her “fork-in-the-road” moment — and she hasn’t looked back since.
López-Duarte joined Portland State’s faculty this fall as an associate professor of environmental science and management. She says it wasn’t until she participated in research that she found her career path as a marine biologist and professor.
“For me, it was transformative so I try to pay it forward,” she says. “I tell my students, ‘If you want to enrich your undergraduate experience, seek a research opportunity.’”
López-Duarte says the camaraderie that comes from being part of a team and sharing in the achievements and frustrations of research is something all undergrads should try to experience, whether it’s through a course-based undergraduate research experience or working with a researcher.
“That opportunity to troubleshoot and work on a project as a team helps build a sense of community, which is so important as an undergrad,” she says. In fact, the skills gained in research, from critical thinking and problem-solving, to data analysis, project management, communication skills, and collaboration, are incredibly valuable to most professions.
In her lab, which focuses on the behavior and ecology of invertebrates and fish, López-Duarte says she aims to cultivate a supportive, collaborative environment with each student taking ownership of a project, however big or small. Some undergrads join the lab for a brief but in-depth summer research experience, while others join as early as their sophomore year and stay through graduation, getting to participate in everything from fieldwork to data collection and analysis to communicating their findings.
López-Duarte says she enjoys showing students something for the first time — like letting an animal crawl on their hands or seeing something cool under the microscope — but even more so, enjoys watching the fruits of their labor pay off.
“When I see them present after all the struggles, frustration, feedback and revisions, I just sit back like, ‘This is awesome,’” she says. “They came in, they learned something about nature, they took ownership of the project and they’re standing there in front of a crowd as the expert in that particular thing. That’s the best part.”
López-Duarte, who was recently honored with the 2023 SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) Distinguished Mentor Award at the SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference in Portland, sat down with us to share some tips on getting started in research.
- Introduce yourself to your professors outside of class.
It can be intimidating to approach your professors, but it’s an important first step.
As a junior, Dr. L — as her students call her — says she was busy with classes and labs and didn’t even know that research was a thing until a professor told her that it’s something she should consider doing. He encouraged her to set up meetings to talk to her professors about what they do to see if it aligned with her career interests.
Her advice? Talk with your professors after class or go to their office hours. They may have open positions or be aware of other opportunities.
“It’s an opportunity for them to say, ‘This is what we do in our lab,’ what do you want to do and how can we connect those two things?” she says. “Even when students’ research interests don’t align with mine, we talk about the strategy to contact other people.”
If you can’t connect in person, email is the next best thing.
“Come up with your elevator pitch — who you are and what you are interested in — and then every time you email somebody, personalize it to show how your goals fit with them,” she says.
- It’s a numbers game.
Dr. L says don’t be discouraged if a professor doesn’t have space for you in their lab right now.
“Reach out to different faculty and apply to different programs,” she says. “If you apply to one or two, your chances are very small, but if you apply to more, there’s more opportunities for you to match with somebody whose research interests align with yours.”
- Develop a network of mentors.
Dr. L has developed a network through the years that supports her and she encourages students to also find mentors in different areas of their life. It especially comes in handy when you need letters of recommendation.
“It’s important for students to understand that one person cannot speak to all of the skills and all of the wonderful qualities you have, so they need to cultivate that network,” she says. “For example, one person can talk about how great you are and how engaged you are in the classroom. Your supervisor might talk about the work ethic that you show. Another person is going to talk about how creative and resourceful you are in the lab if you’re doing research with them.”
- It takes two.
For López-Duarte, becoming a good mentor is a lifelong process (even if she already has a couple of accolades to her name), but she says that mentees also need to put in the work to make it a worthwhile partnership. Be proactive about communicating your progress and your goals, as they are likely to change over time.
“If you got the job after they served as a reference, let them know. If you didn’t, let them know,” she says. “A year later, let them know how you’re doing. Maintain that connection. We meet and work with new students every term – you need to remind us that you’re still out there, that you’re still climbing the ladder.”
- Apply to programs on campus
PSU offers a number of opportunities for students to get involved in meaningful research and reaching out to any of the programs listed below can be the start of a fulfilling journey:
- Center for Internship, Mentorship and Research (CIMR)
- Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program
- Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE)
- McNair Scholars Program
- Center for Climate and Aerosol Research Research Experience for Undergraduates (summer)
- Computational Modeling Serving Portland Virtual Research Experience for Undergraduates (summer)