Tools & Advice

This page offers links, tools, advice and instructions on the different types of activities related to the Office of Student Research. These include learning about research, building and conducting research projects, and disseminating research. It also includes advice and perspectives related to career and graduate studies assessment. Finally, it offers information about materials and application preparation for external opportunities, including fellowships, grants and scholarships. Browse through, see what’s available, and browse through other pages on the sites to learn about related talks, workshops and other opportunities.

The Office of Student Research offers guidance for students at a range of stages. In order to take advantage of the opportunities we offer, you should take some time to consider where you are at, in your research, studies and professional/career development. If you need some support with this work, you may want to attend a OSR workshop or sign up for an individual appointment. You can also look through the OSR site to think about where you are at. Do you need support developing a research topic? Ready to conduct research but need to apply to Roosevelt's Institutional Review Board for ethical approval? Do you need support applying for fellowships and external research and study programs? Perhaps you need support selecting a career and graduate study direction. Or maybe you're just taking a moment to re-assess. Browse through to see what we offer and how we can support you in moving forward.

Here you will find articles and questions to help you assess your interests and strengths, at different stages of your student, research and professional careers.

The OSR offers a number of different ways to begin getting involved in research. You can do some preparatory work on your own to begin exploring your potential research interests. Read further on our Research Opportunities and Funding page!

Whether you are applying to a scholarship for study or work, a research and travel fellowship, or graduate study, you need an engaging essay. There are several universal elements: show not tell; provide evidence to back claims, indicate why you have discussed each element you have discussed—don’t make the reader guess. But there are some elements that must be tailored. It is important to also figure out what information a reviewer needs to know about you. Figure out the goal of your writing before you start—and you will have a much shorter path to completing. Question number one: What if it’s a long shot? That’s fine. There are so many valuable skills you can learn in the process. 

  1. If you persist through the process it will give a faculty member, among others, a chance to get to know your persistence, independent thinking ability and interests. These are all elements that will benefit you in their future recommendations and support of you. 
  2. You will learn about yourself and your writing process. You may also get an idea about your interests—whether you come to like your project a lot—or you realize you don’t! 
  3. You will practice professional skills, such as how to ask for something like a letter of recommendation. 
  4. You will practice interviewing and other skills for professional interaction. 
  5. If you work closely with mentors, this allows them to asses you better. It means that they will be able to give you important recommendations for strengthening your skills so that the next award you are up for, will be yours.
  6. There are many experiences that make you an interesting candidate. We are often taught that it is those who do not struggle with things that are the most successful. 

As a mentee, it is important to know your role. Although it can be daunting to approach a faculty mentor and ask them to be your mentor, it is the first step in developing a successful working relationship with them. Below are a few resources that include helpful tips for how to approach a potential mentor. You can also visit the American Psychological Association's Tips for Mentees to learn about ways to develop a maintain a successful mentoring relationship.

Most projects that involve research with people or their personal information (e.g. medical records) must be reviewed by Roosevelt's Institutional Review Board or IRB. The IRB oversees all research activities with Human Subjects, to ensure they are conducted in an ethical manner. IRB information and instructions can be found on the Roosevelt IRB Submission Information page.