FAQ
Should I do CSRSEF?
Here are some questions to consider:
- What kind of project do I want to do?
- Do you have time?
- Do you like research, or learning new things?
Computational, data analysis, or more hands on biology or engineering? These will change how much time you need to invest.
If you are bad at managing your time or keeping yourself accountable on your own, this may not be for you. If you are not taking Independent Research, you will be very busy with other classes, and get significantly less check-ins/ time to work. Resources will still be provided, but often times the psych channel's CSRSEF channel gets neglected...
Also if you do 3 sports and barely have time for homework already, this may not be the best option for you. I spent at least 9 hours a week for a long time (especially once i got approval to go to the lab), so keep that in mind. If you are going to a lab or doing something physical, consider the physical exhaustion as well.
If so, this is a great opportunity!
I want psychology, but no CSRSEF.
That's an option! Just talk to Mrs. Allender, or your counselor.
Note: with new 6-period schedule, this may be the only option
How do I even start? What do I do during the summer?
If the summer assignment was a bit unclear, I understand. Here's what you should do:
- Think about what you want to research or try
- You can also design/build something!
- Find a mentor, and start emailing
- Find a lab (for bio experiments)
- Start researching
- Don't worry too much
Find your research question. Nearly all the steps come after this. You can change it later on, but if you completely change fields, it may get harder for you to catch up.
Make sure your research question is 1) unique and interesting (novel, not researched before) 2) has high potential for impact (makes it easier to explain importance) 3) you can back up why you think your research will work with scientific articles 4) something you are willing to research about
There are two things you can do: an experiment, or building a prototype/mathematical model that you test. Either way, you will need research, but the process is different when you actually start doing it.
Research people that has done research similar to your field. They don't have to live near you, and can provide assistance with your procedure or research paper remotely. Just keep in mind that if you are doing a lab experiment, you will need someone to monitor you (and sign forms). You can also have teachers or people you know as mentors.
Important! This can come with a mentor, but sometimes doesn't. This process can be difficult, and if the Bio Safety Level of Mr. Boyd's lab isn't enough, you will need to find somewhere else. Keep in mind that your mentor (unless they work at TSTEM) can't enter the school to help you.
You might be able to use your mentors lab, but also might need to take a class at a different college to use lab resources. Internships and popular labs could have application deadlines, so keep that in mind...
Especially for scientific projects: make THOROUGH research. Has this been done before? Are there different methods to what I want to do, and which one is the best method? What are different ways to do this experiment?
You don't have to finish your project over the summer, don't worry. Especially in IR (independent research), you typically have until January to find a mentor, lab, and have your research plan approved. Just make sure to keep an eye on how much time you need for the actual experiment, since for some projects, you can't even start until your research plan is approved.