Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Session 2377

Undergraduate Research As An Enhanced Educational Tool and A Transition Mechanism for Post-Graduate Studies

Mohamed A. Bourham and Donald J. Dudziak Department of Nuclear Engineering North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695-7909

Research experience for undergraduates is of great importance not only for conducting research on a topic that has impact on a current research activity, but also as a tool to enhance undergraduate education. During the past decade, undergraduate research in nuclear engineering was irregular, a case-to-case event, based on individuals’ interest. Such previous experience has shown that research was helpful in providing the undergraduates with experimental and computational expertise, insight on the importance of research for continuing education, and the possibility of advanced research that leads to graduate studies. In the undergraduate research cases that have been conducted in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at NC State University, it turned out that most of the undergraduates who had been engaged in research proceeded into graduate studies, either to the master or the doctoral level. Because of these facts, and the gained experience, an undergraduate research program was initiated in the summer of 1996. The program provides a research experience and helps the students to be involved in applications relevant to their studies. The 1996 program provided research projects for seven students in various nuclear engineering areas, two funded by the Department of Nuclear Engineering and five funded by the faculty through their research contracts. Areas covered are reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, radiological engineering, nuclear materials, plasma engineering, radiation applications, and plasma thrusters. Four students chose to continue their research during the academic year, applied to the graduate program, and have been accepted. This paper summarizes the undergraduate research program, how the program serves as an enhanced undergraduate educational tool, and how it helps in preparing selected students for advanced post-graduate studies.

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Bourham, M. A., & Dudziak, D. J. (1997, June), Undergraduate Research As An Enhanced Educational Tool And A Transition Mechanism For Post Graduate Studies Paper presented at 1997 Annual Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 10.18260/1-2--6846