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Student Perspectives on Undergraduate Research: Michelle Corinaldi

Michelle Corinaldi is a junior majoring in Sociology, concentrating in Social Inequality and Research Methods, and minoring in Leadership in Social Change, Diversity in Community Engagement, and Professional Technical Writing. She conducts research in Dr. Sarah Ovink’s group examining representation of minority groups in STEM fields through data analysis.

           

Michelle was taking Dr. Ovink’s “Diversity in Community Engagement” course when Dr. Ovink referenced her research during a lecture. She was enjoying the course a lot and found that she wanted to continue exploring this area. Michelle approached Dr. Ovink and asked about opportunities to get involved in her group. Her interest in this project has increased and she said she is expressing interest in continuing the project into its next stages.

             

When asked about her advice to students trying to get involved with research, she said that students shouldn’t feel afraid to ask professors, though the nervousness is understandable. “Students usually think professors aren’t looking for undergraduates or are looking for more upper level graduates. However, faculty are always looking for help. More often than not, they want to incorporate interested undergraduates into their projects. There are definitely faculty members who are doing research in an area that you are interested in, and they are interested in letting undergraduates in. It’s a symbiotic relationship.” Professors and students both benefit when undergraduates join their groups.
           

Michelle intends on pursuing higher education in some form, either graduate school or law school. However, she is certain she wants to use the knowledge she has gained from her experiences at VT and from obtaining her Sociology Degree.

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