A Design of an Undergraduate Research Program in Chemistry

Over the past two decades, renewed emphasis has been placed on the role that research plays in education of chemistry undergraduate students. Research faculty at undergraduate institutions face some unique challenges. Most PhDs are granted by large research universities, while most of academic jobs are at the s maller, predominantly teaching, institutions. We describe an undergraduate research program in chemistry that is expected to result in peer-reviewed publications. We offer practical advice of how an undergraduate student can be quickly and effectively integrated into the laboratory and research and explore potential problems and pit falls based on fifteen years of experience and wo rk with mo re than forty undergraduate students.