HELLO! IT'S THAT TIME OF THE SEMESTER AGAIN (I'M IN THE MIDST OF FINALS BUT NOT STUDYING WOOHOO) So I really want to just blog about my UROPS experience (in case i forget about it) since i feel that it is a really really really important topic for those who may be interested in taking on UROPS but are unable to find out much about it. So I was in that lost sheep position earlier this year and DO NOT WISH for others to be like me.
About UROPS: Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS)
There are two types of UROPS project offered, either 4MCs (1 semester) or 8MCs (2 semesters). The module code for the UROPS is determined by the project you are undertaking, which you can access the list from NUS page (above).
TIP1: Choose your PI wisely (ask around for opinions e.g. your TAs in the lab, seniors that have gone through UROPS)
I would not advice you to choose a project based on its description because it is entirely up to the prof to change the project assigned to you. Instead, choose the field you want to work in and most importantly, WHO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH. The dynamics between you and your supervisor will determine everything:
1. It will determine how comfortable you will be (love or hate or neutral with the module). This is very important since you'll be spending everyday in the laboratory / on your project, so its best you enjoy it.
2. It will determine how much you can experience and learn. Whether the supervisor will provide sufficient constructive feedback or leave you to do this alone (very little guidance). Ultimately, NO ONE (even the nicest ones) will be there to spoon feed you. You're on a trip to discover what working in a real lab is like. When the experiments fail, it is on you to find out what went wrong and to take the initiative to discuss with your Prof to troubleshoot.
3. It will determine the laboratory culture you will be exposed to. Different labs have different styles, while most have lab meetings or 1-on-1 consultation with the PI (principal investigator), some may not do that since PIs are very busy people. The co-workers will be the people you will spend the most time with and if you're awkward with them.. it may not be an enjoyable experience overall.
4. It will determine your GRADE. YES. the most important part of any UROPS for students is the grading. Your supervisor is only involved with 1/3 of the grading, the other 2 profs who will be marking your report and grading your oral examination will hold 70% of your grade. However, YOUR SUPERVISOR will be the one giving your feedback on how to do a good job for the report and oral exam, so if you get a really strict supervisor who is super good as criticising your work (like mine), most of the faults in your report will probably be resolved and the tips given on how to deliver a good presentation for the oral exam will also be super helpful.
TIP2: Know your project inside out. I died real bad towards the end of my UROPS since i had to cram the report and prepare for the oral examination amidst all my other bunch of reports due and tests and presentations, so i wasnt able to read up enough to fully grasp what my project was about. I wrote the report in a rush and it was totally rejected by my prof and his words killed me so bad. i was literally thinking "im so dead. im going to get a B- and it'll screw up my CAP again and im not going to be able to leave a good impression on my prof and all my effort and time spent on getting the results throughout the entire semester and holiday will go down the drain" but thank God for my prof, really. despite how savage he is and all, he really was the saving grace i needed for this module. I dont know my grade yet but whatever the case, it wouldve been a lot lower without him.
1. Read up, like READ UP not skim through. Really understand and appreciate what you are doing
2. Speak up, CLARIFY all your doubts with the people in your lab if you're scared of your prof (but the prof will be the best person cause the others in the lab may not be clear either since they have their own projects to run). understand the point of your research project (purpose), know what actions to take next (future stuff), know HOW to interpret your results and WHAT they mean. This is especially important since the point of your UROPS is to show the importance / purpose of your project through your results. Your results will show the profs what you've been up to these few months and why they should even listen to you. It's ok even if they are negative results because negative results show that there is no relation and others can focus on something else in the future.
TIP3: these tips are for the oral exam (given to me by my prof and some of my own observations). The purpose of the oral exam is really to find out how much you've learned from the UROPS module, how well you understand your project and what have you been up to those few months in the lab.
1. make sure the profs grading you can follow and understand your presentation. in other words, your organisation and flow of content must be smooth (doesnt have to follow the report style). Even though the profs grading you are from the same department, they may not know what your project is about nor its importance since a department is so big and there are many different fields within the department. Being clear will not only help them follow through with your presentation but will also show how well you understand and know your project and this gives you a lot of marks.
2. the oral exam may be the time where the profs finally takes a look at your report. so while you're speaking they may be looking at your report. CHANCE TO READ YOUR SCRIPT LOL. but seriously, it means that anything you say has to match what you've written in your report. because if there's a discrepancy, either you're saying the wrong thing or the report is wrong, which will ultimately affect your marks. ok that's not the point i wanted to address. when this is the first time they read your report, it may also be their last time, meaning all your 70% is going to come from how well you do this oral exam. They are capable of grading you before even reading your report based on how you do your presentation (i think), and the presentation will be their FIRST IMPRESSION of you which can also affect the attitude they will have when reading your report after the presentation. "wow, that person presented so well, im going to read the report to better understand the project since its interesting" VS "that student was a complete mess, I dont think reading the report will even be worth my time considering that level of understanding the student has of her own project." see? HUGE DIFFERENCE. so really, DO WELL.
3. QnA, the most feared section. Different profs have different styles, no, even the same prof have different styles depending on the presentation. They can choose to let you finish your entire 15min of presentation before the QnA or directly interrupt you with a question in the middle of your presentation, SO DO NOT BE ALARMED. How well you respond to the question is what they look out for rather than how many correct answers you give. Of course, giving a wrong answer = negative marks but if the question is so crazy hard, i guess these profs have a heart too and wont minus too many marks? idk. TAKE A BREATH, REGISTER THE QUESTION, CLARIFY THE QUESTION TO GAIN TIME, ANSWER CONFIDENTLY WITH A REASONABLE ANSWER. "while that area was not covered in the scope of my research project, I believe it is an interesting field that we can further explore" or "while i do not know much about that, based on what ive read XXXX" these answers are definitely better than faking something confidently that may be completely wrong. These profs arent profs for nothing, they definitely can tell the difference.
4. try to present naturally without too much reference to your script but im not asking you to memorise word for word either. just be spontaneous and show that you really understand YOUR project. the only way to do so is to REALLY understand your project though lol. i guess practicing the presentation as much as you can is the other best option if you dont know your project that well.
wow this became a super long essay. so much easier to write than my report though lol. oh there will be a report format document somewhere on the NUS site that you're expected to follow closely to, format wise. Pertaining the content, just write like it is going to be a published research paper and not like your usual lab report, because lab reports are too kiddy for them lol.
WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE UROPS:
1. despite all the horror stories and bad experiences, i would say ive learned a lot more from my urops than any other module ive taken at NUS. these skills (people and lab) will be with me for a very long time. time management and planning of experiments was also a learning point and being able to "think critically" whatever that means hahah
2. they reflect well on your portfolio if you're planning to stay in the science / research field. FYP profs will also prefer students with UROPS background because they know you'll not be a complete newbie and will be able to aid them in their research
3. they prepare you for FYP like no other module can. FYP will probably be the same thing but 16mcs instead of 4/8mcs. having been through it once lets you know what to expect and how much effort to dump in
4. you really learn if research is the thing for you or not. find out early rather than regretting it late in the game.
5. i think my prof is a great mentor but not everyone can handle him (scary, fierce, scary, stressful, scary), so find a prof that fits your working style
## this list can go on but i'll stop ##
if there's anything more you'd like to know then please comment so i can update this post. I did my project in the biochemistry lab. i dont really want to mention what i worked on cause paranoid that my prof may find this post while googling it. He's the only lab in NUS working on it after all.
UPDATE: SO I GOT MY RESULTS BACK AND I GOT AN A!!!!! REALLY SUPER THANKFUL FOR THE AWESOME RESULTS AND THE VERY VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE!! WEW!! HAPPINESS OVERLOAD HAHAHA
