Photo: Deformed sedimentary rocks in Denali National Park, Alaska, USA
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN RESEARCH
I am seeking students, both undergraduate (senior thesis projects or independent study projects) and graduate (M.Sc. projects), who are interested in igneous geochemistry and petrology research. First, please read all of the information provided below. Then, if you're still interested in working together, shoot me an email using the guidelines at the end.
Who is fit for science research?
Anyone! As long as you are interested in the topic, eager to learn, and willing to put in the time and effort.
What's the difference between doing research and taking a class?
Research takes time and hard work. While there are no exams or homework assignments, you will be expected to read a lot of literature, learn new skills (e.g., sample preparation, sample analysis, analytical techniques, new software, modelling, etc.), and write scientifically. Scientific writing is very different from creative writing, and if you're interested in pursuing a thesis of any kind, I recommend checking out some WWU geology student theses to see what is expected of you.
What's the difference between independent study, senior thesis, and M.Sc. thesis?
Independent study: undergraduate course, letter grade, 1-5 credits per quarter, usually 1 quarter.
Senior thesis: undergraduate courses, letter grade, 6-9 credits, usually 3-4 quarters.
M.Sc. thesis: graduate degree, 2 years.
What are my expectations of you as a student researcher?
What should you expect of me as an advisor?
I read everything above and I'm still interested! What do I do next?
Independent Study or Senior Thesis
Send me a short email (<200 words) introducing yourself and include the following:
M.Sc. Thesis
Send me a succinct email (<400 words) introducing yourself and include the following (this is a generic format you can use for contacting other potential advisors):
The graduate application process takes about a year, so plan accordingly. Below is a recommended timeline:
Disclaimer: The potential advisor may take a while to respond, and the response may not be favorable (e.g., no funding for new students, lack of time for new students, they may seek certain skills/background for current projects that you may not have). These are normal responses; do not take them personally or let that discourage you from contacting other potential advisors.
Special thanks to Dr. A. Pfeiffer who inspired the creation of this page!
Anyone! As long as you are interested in the topic, eager to learn, and willing to put in the time and effort.
What's the difference between doing research and taking a class?
Research takes time and hard work. While there are no exams or homework assignments, you will be expected to read a lot of literature, learn new skills (e.g., sample preparation, sample analysis, analytical techniques, new software, modelling, etc.), and write scientifically. Scientific writing is very different from creative writing, and if you're interested in pursuing a thesis of any kind, I recommend checking out some WWU geology student theses to see what is expected of you.
What's the difference between independent study, senior thesis, and M.Sc. thesis?
Independent study: undergraduate course, letter grade, 1-5 credits per quarter, usually 1 quarter.
- Projects and tasks will vary significantly depending on student interest and current available projects. To find out more and learn how to sign up click the bottom "WWU GEOLOGY UNDERGRAD RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES" above. An independent study can develop into a senior thesis if you wish to expand the project.
Senior thesis: undergraduate courses, letter grade, 6-9 credits, usually 3-4 quarters.
- Projects will be more involved than an independent study and you will be expected to write a short thesis (see examples linked at the top of this page or in the previous paragraph).
M.Sc. thesis: graduate degree, 2 years.
- In your first year you will be expected to take classes, read a lot of literature, write a thesis proposal (where you will flesh out your project and plan a timeline for completion of your project), apply for grants to fund your research, and get started on your project. In your second year you will focus on acquiring data, making sense of your data, and writing your thesis. Most students also work as teaching assistants (TAs) during their degree (20 hours/week), unless their advisor has funding available to hire them as a research assistant (RA). To find out more, please review the graduate student handbook through the WWU Geology website (students>>graduate>>graduate student handbook); this handbook is updated annually (recommended).
What are my expectations of you as a student researcher?
- Communicate and be present. Regular communication between an advisee and an advisor is crucial to success.
- Put in the effort and produce quality work. There is no 'cramming' in research. You will need to understand and apply what you learn.
- Be open to feedback. You will be provided with constructive criticism that is meant to help you learn and improve.
- Attend department seminars. This is a great way to sharpen your research skills, network, and support your colleagues.
- Contribute to the geology community. Participating in lab group events and department socials is a great way to meet other student researchers, talk through problems, give and receive support, and make friends for life!
What should you expect of me as an advisor?
- Regular communication. I will be responsive and thorough. We will also meet regularly to review progress and tackle challenges.
- Assistance with project development. Do you have an idea in mind already? Awesome! If not, don't fret. We can design something that will cater to your interests.
- Answers to your questions. You are here to learn, so please ask away! I will answer your questions to the best of my abilities and we can learn together.
- Support and guidance. Sometimes projects go smoothly, but oftentimes there are bumps along the way. I'll be here to listen to your ideas and concerns and offer support and words of advice.
- Constructive feedback. Having your work criticized is never easy, but I will do my best to provide you with informative and helpful feedback.
I read everything above and I'm still interested! What do I do next?
Independent Study or Senior Thesis
Send me a short email (<200 words) introducing yourself and include the following:
- Your class standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior)
- Your major
- Which geology courses you have taken
- What are your research interests
- If you want to pursue an independent study or a senior thesis (or open to either)
- Attachments: A writing sample (term paper from another class is a good example)
- Important tip: Proof read your email! This is your chance to demonstrate your attention to detail. Mentioning you read through these instructions will also earn you bonus points for doing your research.
M.Sc. Thesis
Send me a succinct email (<400 words) introducing yourself and include the following (this is a generic format you can use for contacting other potential advisors):
- Why you want to go to grad school
- Why you're interested in pursing the advisor's type of research (this is your opportunity to show you understand what the research is)
- If there's a bump in your academic record (e.g., GPA <3.0), consider addressing it briefly
- Ask any relevant questions
- Attachments: curriculum vitae (CV), transcripts, and a writing sample (senior thesis or term paper)
- Important tip: Proof read your email! This is your chance to demonstrate your attention to detail. If contacting me, mentioning you read through these instructions will also earn you bonus points for doing your research.
The graduate application process takes about a year, so plan accordingly. Below is a recommended timeline:
- Summer to early fall (1 year before start of grad school)
- Consider your interests and which skills you want to learn
- Ask professors/other students for advisor recommendations based on your interests
- Research advisor recommendations + other potential advisors (check out websites, read their papers)
- Contact potential advisors
- Based on responses from potential advisors, research application requirements and deadlines
- Winter
- Write and submit applications
- Note: The WWU Geology M.Sc. program no longer requires GRE scores
- Note: Some schools (e.g., international) accept students year-round, so read through the application for each school thoroughly.
Disclaimer: The potential advisor may take a while to respond, and the response may not be favorable (e.g., no funding for new students, lack of time for new students, they may seek certain skills/background for current projects that you may not have). These are normal responses; do not take them personally or let that discourage you from contacting other potential advisors.
Special thanks to Dr. A. Pfeiffer who inspired the creation of this page!