Briefly speaking: On undergraduate research

Classroom lectures can teach a student only so much. When undergraduates participate in research, that's when the real learning begins, says a professor honored for both his scholarship and his work with undergraduates.

Distinguished Professor Zuhair Munir, recipient of the 2007 UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement, has brought undergraduates under his tutelage since his early days at UC Davis 35 years ago. As professor of chemical engineering and materials science, Munir studies the effect of electrical fields in creating unique materials. But his real talent may lie in getting undergraduates so thrilled about science that they go on to graduate school.

"Research makes the fundamentals they learn of value — it opens horizons," Munir says.

Integral part of education

Conducting research has become an integral part of education for all students, especially in science-based fields. Based on alumni surveys, approximately 52 percent of UC Davis students engage in research at some point during their undergraduate careers. Research opportunities range from paid internships to independent research courses and university-supported research programs to honors theses.

In his experience, Munir says, undergraduates with research experience are more likely to pursue graduate degrees than those who don't have the experience. Even if a student ends up in a job where he or she is not conducting research, learning problem-solving skills — not just techniques, but the process of thinking — is a benefit.

"It is philosophically important for students to participate, to have the chance to confront real engineering problems and try to synthesize solutions," Munir says. "It demystifies research."

Exposure to other researchers

Typically, Munir mentors two to four undergraduates a year. They work with 10 to 15 other people in the lab, including graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and visiting scholars. While some undergraduates work in his lab for a quarter or two, others come in as sophomores and continue through their doctoral studies.

"It is particularly gratifying to see them gain confidence and exposure that encourages them to pursue careers in science," Munir says.

It's also good for those students to see that professors don't know everything, Munir says. Sometimes there are simply problems with no definitive solution.

Another benefit to undergraduate research is the exposure students have to international students. Among the individuals in his lab, Munir says, several countries are often represented at any one time. Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Munir moved to the United States as a teen and obtained all his academic degrees from UC Berkeley.

"We live in a multicultural society," he said, "and this is a great way for [students] to get introduced to doing things differently and to share cultural experiences."