Freshmen students flock to research scene
Just a few months ago, Adelle Beck was a high school graduate. Now, she’s well on the way to becoming a published researcher.
Beck, an undeclared freshman, is one of 26 students named a Vice President for Research Fellow this academic year at Utah State University. This marks the first year freshmen are eligible to be a fellow.
Beck will spend the next year working with her faculty mentor exploring the advice given to engaged couples and newlyweds, and whether that advice is accurate or believed.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to come my way,” Beck said. “I was totally surprised [when I became a fellow] because we’re going to publish [the research]. It’s real world.”
Scot Allgood, Beck’s mentor and associate professor of family, consumer and human development, said Beck will be an important part of the research process.
“I’ve had Adelle do some reading and come up with her own research questions,” Allgood said. “I thought that would be a better learning experience then have her just do grunt work.”
Allgood said Beck will have the opportunity to co-write the results of the study and present them at Posters on the Hill, a state and national recognition of undergraduate research.
Beck said she attends research meetings every week where they brainstorm ideas and put together questions to ask the subjects for the study.
“I’m way more involved than I thought I would be,” Beck said. “I never considered myself a science person, so it’s incredible.”
Research fellows are chosen from Presidential Scholars, students who applied by writing an essay on their educational and career goals, and National Merit Scholars, like Beck. Fellows are awarded $500 per semester for their efforts.
Vice President for Research Brent C. Miller said the program is the type of thing that sets research universities like USU apart from a regular four-year
college.
“We are hoping to identify and help students who want to really have a great hands-on, experiential dimension to their undergraduate studies,” Miller said. “In the Vice President for Research office, we think of the $1,000 support for each fellow as a good investment on the best and brightest students at USU.”
Miller said students will often use their undergraduate research experiences as they enter careers, graduate school or professional school.
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Research Joyce Kinkead said the university hopes to ensure more of USU’s students are competitive for prestigious, national scholarships that require early involvement in undergraduate research.
Allgood said the program was a great opportunity for undergraduate students.
“Bright young people get in this program,” Allgood said. “The idea is, hopefully they will consider graduate school when they’re done.”
Allgood said the research project will address some of the myths told to prospective marriage partners, such as the advice to “never go to bed angry at each other.”
“For most couples that would be a flat-out disaster,” Allgood said. “When they get upset, they lose the ability to be rational. Staying up late makes it worse.”
“The project we’re doing sounded like so much fun that I could be interested in it and maybe learn from it,” Beck said. “Especially since I’m undeclared, it’s giving me a look into the family and human development that I never would have looked at otherwise.”
Beck said she was grateful for the chance to be a fellow.
“It’s been a total eye opener to me,” she said.
-heidithue@cc.usu.edu