Blog
Welcome to the CURN Blog, a curated space of collaboration and creativity made with love by the people of CURN.
Episode 8: Spilling the Tea on Applications with Sylvia Gropp
It’s the season finale of the CURNCast and we’re closing out with a bang! In this episode, we are joined by Sylvia Gropp, MEd, the Research and Graduate Studies Coordinator in the Office of the Vice-President Research at Thompson Rivers University. We dive into the world of undergraduate research funding applications, specifically the Undergraduate Research…
Episode 7: Grad Student Storytime Part 2 with Saaransh Bhardwaj
Welcome back to CURNCast for Part 2 of “Grad Students Stories”! In this episode, we continue our exploration with our guest, Saaransh Bhardwaj. Saaransh holds a Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management from TRU. Dive into Saaransh’s personal experiences and journey through grad school as he shares his unique insights, challenges, and triumphs….
Episode 6: Grad Student Storytime Part 1 with Dr. Lindsay Blackstock
Welcome to the latest episode of the CURNCast! In this episode, join us for an insightful discussion with our incredible guest, Dr. Lindsay Blackstock. Dr. Blackstock is an Assistant Teaching Professor at TRU with a PhD in Analytical and Environmental Toxicology from the University of Alberta. Discover the ups and downs of the grad school…
Episode 5: Knowledge Mobilization with Dr. Lyn Baldwin
In this episode of the CURNCast, we are joined by Dr. Lyn Baldwin, a Professor of Biology at TRU, artist, and author. We discuss knowledge mobilization in research, exploring traditional and creative methods, including Dr. Baldwin’s use of art, and writing to communicate scientific knowledge. Tune in to gain insights on how to engage broader…
Episode 4: Failure and What to Do When Things Go Wrong with Jenna Goddard
Welcome back to the CURNCast, where we explore the world of undergraduate research. In this episode, we’re joined by Jenna Goddard, Assistant Teaching Professor and Coordinator of the Writing Centre at TRU. With 15 years of experience teaching and a Master of Education in Adult Education, Jenna has a wealth of knowledge on learning sciences,…
Episode 3: Fears and Imposter Syndrome with Keilin Gorman
Welcome to another episode of the CURNCast. In this episode, we’re joined by Keilin Gorman, TRU BSc. Honours alumni with a major in Biology and minor in Psychology, a former Research Assistant, and Research Ambassador. Keilin is currently a first-year medical student in UBC’s Southern Medical Program. Our discussion focuses on fears and imposter syndrome…
Episode 2: How to Create a Research Network with Dr. Kingsley Donkor
Welcome to another episode of the CURNCast, where we delve into the world of undergraduate research. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kingsley Donkor, a Chemistry professor and superstar research supervisor at Thompson Rivers University. Our discussion with Dr. Donkor focuses on creating a research network and the importance of networking in research. We’ll…
Episode 1: Research Myths Debunked with Sukh Heer Matonovich
In this episode, we’re excited to welcome Sukh Heer Matonovich, Director of Student Research and Public Engagement at Thompson Rivers University. Our discussion focuses on the basics of research, debunking common research myths, and exploring who can participate in research and why we should be doing it. We’ll delve into the importance of research in…
Can computers save the world’s fish? – Stefano’s Research Showcase
Picture this: you’re an unemployed 3rd year student in the Computing Science program, with only a vague idea of what you might want to do with yourself in the future, but a very clear certainty that if you don’t get a job you might not be able to eat pretty soon. Well, that was me…
Chemical Biology – Aman’s Research Showcase
Hello everyone! My name is Aman Galymov. I graduated from TRU with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Biology. I am very excited to share my research experience with you and share some tips I have acquired throughout my research journey. I will talk about my first “taste” of research and how a small pilot project…
Researching in Math – Kiara McDonald’s Research Showcase
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “Scientific Research”? To most people, this phrase would make you think of a scientist, who is probably wearing a lab coat and goggles, analyzing some sort of chemical or bacteria through a microscope. This scientist follows their well-defined methodology in order to test their hypothesis on…
Qualities and Skills to Help in Research
Research Ambassador Blog Post By: Tracy Asingo There are different qualities and skills you need in order to be successful in research. Some of those skills are technical for helping with discipline-specific studies and others are more socially transferable. Although it may feel like you need to master these skills before starting research, you don’t…
Fears
Research Ambassador Blog Post By: April Read Forming a question and hypothesis is the first step of any study. We want to discover new things and learn more, which means there is not usually a correct answer or even a known answer for a study’s objective. The next step in research is running experiments. But where…
When To Ask For Help
Research Ambassador Blog Post By: Yue (Cassie) Zhang Participating in undergraduate research can increase our interest in enhancing graduate school (Hathaway et al., 2002; Kremer & Bringle, 1990); help us gain data analysis and speaking skills (Bauer & Bennett, 2003); and provide us with experience in professional and personal development (Seymour et al., 2004). However, it…
Finding Research That You Care About
Research Ambassador Blog Post By: Gwen Freeze So often we talk to friends who know exactly what they want to do with their lives. Come to the end of high school, they are dead set on being doctors, business owners, occupational therapists, and so on. I was never one of those people who knew what they…
Tips on Approaching a Supervisor
Research Ambassador Blog Post By: Tyler Floen Before you begin your undergraduate research, one of the most important things to do is find a research supervisor. In a university setting, this is usually one of your professors or another faculty member that specializes in what you want to research. This can sometimes be intimidating, especially if…
Research Coach: Abu Harera Nadeem
The process was amazing and rewarding; it gave me the incredible opportunity of introducing research processes to second-year students, potentially encouraging them to pursue research during their undergraduate careers. Abu Harera Nadeem, BSc. Chemical Biology Hons. How did you become a Research Coach? What was that process like? I became a Research Coach through an offer from…
How to Make a Stellar Academic Poster
Research Ambassador Blog Post By: Lauren Okano Picture this. You have just completed a research project on your dream research topic, and you can’t wait to share your findings. What do you do? Well, you have come to the right place because this post is all about one of the key players in research dissemination:…
Undergraduate Research Activities
Undergraduate research helps students to develop skills in a variety of ways. The following activities will allow you to DISCOVER what undergraduate research means to you! What are some of the ways that students can engage in undergraduate research? Learning to use the library search tools Completing a class-based research project Working with a Faculty…
My Research Story – Nikki McAnulty
My name is Nikki, and I conducted my own self-led wildlife behavioural ecology research within Kamloops, BC, in 2021/2022. I wanted to learn about the ecological preferences that the Western terrestrial garter snake (T. elegans) possesses in an urban city park. There seemed to be a particular small hill within the park that the snakes…
Research Coach: Kristen Gardner
How did you become a Research Coach? What was that process like? I was approached by Lea Bucknell, who knew that I had an interest in casting and installation work; she was planning a project for her first-year sculpture class that incorporated both of these elements. Casting is a fairly in-depth medium, and she thought…
Research Journey – Alyssa Holt
Building Confidence & Tackling Imposter Syndrome with Alyssa Holt (she/her), Fifth-Year Social Work Student. My research journey began at the very beginning of 2020 when I received an email from two of my professors offering me a position as a research assistant. Dr. West and Dr. Murphy were working in affiliation with the Kamloops Elizabeth…
Research Coach: Lauren Okano
Lauren Okano – Research Coach for CHEM 2100 Fall 2021 How did you become a Research Coach? What was that process like? In the fall of my fourth year, my research supervisor, Dr. Kingsley Donkor, recommended that I apply for the Research Coach program. I have been involved in undergraduate research at TRU since my second…
BECOME: How do you?
How do you become a researcher? In case you haven’t noticed, you already are one – and here’s why! You weren’t born knowing how to use a computer or what the internet is. You had questions along the way, and you had to find your own answers by asking for help from those who might know or…
BECOME: I’ve shared my work, now what?
Am I done with research after I’ve shared my knowledge? That depends! What are you interested in? Are there still questions you want to answer? Are there other areas you want to explore with your newly acquired knowledge? Is there more to the project than you were able to explore in the time frame you…
BECOME: How can I share my findings?
How can I share my research with others? There’s no right or wrong here, and you should share your work in the way that best matches the preferences and habits of your target audience. Did you discover something that might affect how other researchers view their own fields or approach their own projects? Then writing…
ENGAGE: What does it mean?
What does it mean to engage with research? As a researcher, you can engage with your research and with your audience! In this process, you will be diving into the world of trial and error where it is essential to think critically, take it one step at a time and be comfortable with the unknown….
ENGAGE: I’m ready now what?
Am I ready to start engaging with research? If you have reached your third or fourth year in your program, this is the perfect time to engage with research. If you still don’t know what areas interest you the most or you still haven’t found a supervisor, you might want to check out our resources…
ENGAGE: What do I do now?
I’m already doing research and things are not going well. What do I do? Welcome to the club! Research is a windy road full of twists and turns, it is very normal for it to feel like the whole world is burning and you’re the one who has to fix it. Here are some tips…
DISCOVER: What is research?
What is research? If you’re just starting to explore what research is, Discover is the right place for you! Find out what is research and how it can help you achieve your goals! Research is all about looking at a problem in many different ways, learning new things about it, and sharing what you learn…
DISCOVER: How do I get started?
How do I get started with research? It is never too late or too early to start, and you can do that by identifying things that pique your interest in school and in life, and then connecting with faculty and peers who can support you through your curiosity! Here’s a complete guide on getting started with…
DISCOVER: What does it look like and can it help me?
What does working with research look like? Working with research can happen in many different ways: from dealing with cell cultures in a lab to listening to people’s stories and interpreting their art to understand more about societal issues affecting the community. As a matter of fact, you have probably done a ton of research…
CONNECT: With community.
Why is it important to connect with your community? By consulting with your local community, you can find research questions that are relevant on a smaller scale and answers that will directly benefit the people and environment around you. Not all research questions need to address the biggest world problems and some of the best…
CONNECT: But with who?
Who should you connect with when doing research? One of the first steps in getting involved with research is to find a faculty member who you can partner with. Not only can they provide insight into the research process, but also ideas for a project, the scope of the research, and additional resources to get…
CONNECT: What is the purpose?
How can research help me explore my own learning? Research is a great way to explore your personal learning styles and be open-minded about different ways of knowing. This allows you to consider different cultural perspectives and be aware of how your research influences different groups of people. The best researcher is receptive to those…
CURN Sprint 2021
During the CURN Sprint 2021, the Undergraduate Research Ambassadors got together to explore what CURN means to them and how we all understand Discover, Connect, Engage, and Become. Below you will find the collaborated ideas to further your understanding. Brainstorming Posters from CURN Sprint 2021:
Truth and Reconciliation 94 Calls to Action Explained.
What are the Truth and Reconciliation 94 Calls to Action, and how can we better engage with them? Within current academic discourse there is a lot of discussion surrounding reconciliation, particularly centering around the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions 94 Calls to Action. Although these are referenced frequently, many students and academic staff still struggle to…
Tyler’s Research Journey
This post will describe how I found out about and eventually got involved in undergraduate research at TRU, as well as how it enriched my educational experience.
Stefano’s Research Journey
This is the story of how I accidentally stumbled upon research as an undergraduate student, and the reasons why this was the best thing to ever happen to me.
CURN Quotes: Youssef
Quotes from the Student Team Youssef Ekalduce, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, 2021 1)When first joining the CURN team and beginning any initial planning, what did that look like to you? At first, when I joined the CURN team, I was both excited and scared. I was very excited about working with a group of…
CURN Quotes: Will
Quotes from the Student Team Will Primrose, Bachelor of Science, major in Chemistry, 2020 1)When first joining the CURN team and beginning any initial planning, what did that look like to you? Joining the CURN team was a familiar scene in many ways; I knew the people on the team, I had research experience as…
CURN Quotes: Gabrielle
Quotes from the Student Team Gabrielle Dagasso, Bachelor of Science, major in Mathematics & minor in Computing Science, 2021 1)When first joining the CURN team and beginning any initial planning, what did that look like to you? I first joined the CURN team when we were first organizing the website and assigned pages and modules…