Presentation at the Forum on Education Abroad conference, Chicago, April 2013

1. Developing International Researchers:
The Role of Undergraduate Research in
Education Abroad
Jen Nielsen, The University of Queensland (UQ)
A/Prof Ian Tibbetts, (UQ)
Prof Tom Arnold (Dickinson College)
A/Prof Ian Hewson (Cornell University)
Dr Dana Burfeind (UQ)

2. Overview of undergraduate research
in study abroad
Well‐designed undergraduate research
programs provide students opportunities to…
• gain valuable team building and
problem‐based learning skills
• have their abilities closely appraised
by faculty who are leaders in their
research field (LORs)
• develop links with faculty and
industry
• understand the challenges faced by
scientists
• test drive a research career

3. • This session offers
o case studies for successful undergraduate research
models abroad,
o Discussion on how best to support/generate study
abroad programs that include research
Sorry, but they’re
scientists!

4. Key Benefits of Undergraduate Study
Abroad Research
• Exposure to field research in
exciting locations
• Deeper understanding of the
local context
• Team building skills
• Seminar preparation and
feedback
• Demystifying doing science for a
living
• Publication skills

5. Institutional benefits
• Building a pipeline of
future research students
• Faculty/staff
development and
retention
• Support for faculty
members to carry out
their research – both
domestically and abroad

6. Case study: UQ Undergraduate
Research Programs
UQ Summer Research Program (Nov‐Feb)
• Match students with research
interests/labs on campus
• Duration of 6‐10 weeks
• Students are paid $300/week
• Open to international students
• UQ Winter Research Program (June‐July)
• UQ Undergraduate Research Conference
http://www.uq.edu.au/undergraduate/undergradua
te‐research‐programs

7. Funding Sources for UG Research
• National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates
– http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm
• Whitaker International Fellows and Scholars Program (administered by IIE)
– Sends biomedical engineers outside the US or Canada for academic or scientific research
– http://www.whitaker.org/grants/fellows‐scholars
• NASA Student Programs – Undergraduate Opportunities
– http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/student‐programs/
• National Institutes of Health – Office of Intramural Training & Education
– Undergraduate Scholarship Program: https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/ugsp
– Summer internship in biomedical research: https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip
– Summer programs: https://www.training.nih.gov/summer_programs_outside_the_nih
• USDA Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement and Experimental Program
for Stimulating Competitive Research program
– http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri_fase_epscor_program.html/
• Smithsonian Institution Office of Fellowships and Internships
– http://www.si.edu/ofg/ofgintro.htm

8. Additional Funding Resources
• Dartmouth ‐ External Funding Sources For Undergraduates and Graduates
– http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ugar/undergrad/other_external.html
• Amgen Scholars
– http://amgenscholars.com/
• ThinkSwiss research scholarships
– http://www.thinkswiss.org/academic‐opportunities/research‐scholarship
• NanoJapan International Research Experience for Undergraduates
– http://nanojapan.rice.edu/
• Study Abroad Funding (administered by IIE)
– http://www.studyabroadfunding.org

9. Study Abroad+Exchange (Ian)
• MARS2005 Australia’s Marine Environments
– Since 2000 (120 – 180 students each semester)
– Lecture series at UQ
– Field trips to Moreton Bay and the Reef
– Led by research‐active faculty
– With a combination of field discovery and small group
research
– Open admission (science, arts, business, engineering
SA&EX students)
– Lectures @ UQ

10. Partner Study Abroad @UQ
• Stanford University BOSP (11 week)
• Hobart William Smith (Geneva NY) + Union
College (Schenectady NY) (10 week)
• University of California EAP (12 week)
• All under Australian Visitor’s Visa
• All developed through contacts between
research‐active faculty!
All include problem‐based learning in a research context as ca. 50% of assessment

11. Global Scholars (12 mins) (Tom)
• Overview of Global Scholars Program at
Dickinson
• Structure of program, outcomes, lessons
learned, best practices
• Origins of the UQ Global Scholars Program

12. A five month course combining a thematic student-faculty
research project and global education, conducted with Dickinson
faculty members and collaborating faculty from one of our
partner institutions. The program trains students in the process
of interdisciplinary research, team-building, and effective cross-
cultural communication.
Thomas Arnold, Associate Professor of Biology
Ian Tibbetts, Associate Professor of Biology
Brian Brubaker, Interim Executive Director of Global Education
Carla Maranto-Arnold, Assistant Director of Global Study
Neil Weisman, Provost and Dean of the College

16. A Global STEM Pilot Program
Impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems

18. Global Scholars
Pilot Program
Dickinson College
Front Row (from left)‐ Professor Tom Arnold, Ioni Kokondis, Courtney Cara, Emily Seklecki, Esmeralda Alverez, Laura Schorfheide. Back Row (from
left)‐ Josh Margolis, Antonia Johnson, Phoebe Oldach, Katie Daley, Nicole Davidson, Casey Reilly, Amanda Karampatsos, Chris Mealey, Kaitlin Jurewicz,
Professor Ian Tibbetts, Christine Talbot, Anna Ramthun, Stephanie Bernasconi. Not Pictured: Annie Weichert

19. Global Scholars
Pilot Program
Dickinson College

22. 2014
Global Scholars Program
A community based research project to bring together students
from our partner institution in Japan, Akita International
University, with Dickinson students for a eight month project to
study the delivery of health care in rural Japan and rural
Pennsylvania. The highly selective program is currently accepting
applications for five positions on the international research team.

23. Short Courses (Ian)
• Escape the frozen north (January)
– Cornell University (A/Prof Hewson)
– Six students +1 Prof
– Preparation Unit + Field Unit (Aus) + Completion
Unit
– Two Ian’s! Facilitates student to faculty
communication!

24. Issues for Students
• I need an international experience for my CV
• But it’s going to cost a lot
• So I’d better assess relative value (bang for
buck)
• Will I make friends?
• Will my professors be good?

25. Issues for Faculty
• I’ll miss my family
• Oh, they’re coming! That’s going to cost a lot!
• What about my partner’s career?
• What about my own career!?
• What will be the impact on my chances of
tenure?

26. Joining the Dots
• Need to provide key learning opportunities in
an international context involving research‐
active faculty without harming their career
while minimising the cost for students

27. Enhanced Short Courses
– Maymester through Summer
– Front end MOOC
– 2‐3 week field
– Back end support modules
– Partner UQ faculty with international collaborator
– Support guest faculty by covering airfare and in‐field
costs
– Students undertake discovery while collaborators
establish research program
– Students develop and execute research projects under
the guidance of the collaborating faculty

28. Brief Q&A (5 mins) (Panel)

29. Roundtable discussion
(25‐30 mins)
How can we help support undergraduate research
before, during and after the program?

30. Discussion Questions
BEFORE
• How can we best engage with academics
in developing undergraduate research
study abroad programs?
• What can we do to best prepare students
for their research abroad experience in the
pre‐departure engagement?
• What funding sources are available to Max Wasley, Bachelor of
Electrical and Computer
support undergraduate research? Engineering and Science
(Physics) at UQ

31. Discussion Questions
DURING
• How can education abroad professionals
best support both students and faculty while
they are out on their research abroad
experience?
• What types of communication, resources
and support are necessary to ensure
students have a positive and successful Rebekah Zeigman, Bachelor
of Marine Biology and
research experience abroad? Biochemistry, University of
• How can we work with the host/partner New Haven, USA
institution or organization to ensure students
have a quality research experience?

32. Discussion Questions
AFTER
• How can we work to inform students of the
value of undergraduate research, along with
the value of study abroad?
• What are some of the outcomes of
undergraduate research programs, and how
can we use these outcomes to promote
study abroad on our campuses?
Rory Reardon,
• How can we continue to engage with Bachelor of Science
at UQ
students on their post‐experience return to
help them get the most out of their research
abroad experience?

35. Dunwich, North Stradbroke and Moreton Bay
Satellite remote sensing – ground truthing

37. MARS2005 Estimating the impacts of bait collecting

38. UC Baited remote underwater video research

39. MARS2005 Sampling seagrass flat fishes

40. MARS2005 Jen Batista and needle fish

41. Dr Kathy Townsend Green turtle release for rehab

42. Point Lookout – turtle, dolphin and whale studies

53. Night snorkel on the reef

54. Ghost crab