Page 12 - Laker Connection 2014
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Dr. Richard Singiser and a research student work in a science lab. Undergraduate research opportunities offer an empowering experience to students who plan to continue their education in medical school or graduate school, and also prepares them to think critically; a skill key to not only their future careers, but also in life.
RESEARCH AT CLAYTON STATE
By Lauren Graves
Regardless of major or degree program, the ability to think for oneself is an empowering life skill Clayton State University students attain in route to making their dreams real. One way students hone their critical thinking skills is through research opportunities.
Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Richard Singiser offers students the op- portunity to conduct scientific research in his lab. And while he has several bi- ology and chemistry majors who delve into understanding, hypothesizing, test- ing and observing proteins, genetics, and more, his non-science majors also
Singiser learn the value of research.
“Research empowers by teaching students to be independent thinkers. Research gets them thinking about science in a real way, and not just from a textbook. It gets students back to the ‘why’ part of science and the independent learning gives them confidence,” Singiser says. “Science students who want to go on to medical school or graduate school - as well as my non-
sciences students who may not - learn a lot from research, be- cause they find out the answers for themselves.”
Not only do they find out answers for themselves, students also learn about themselves. Chemistry major Abigail Jones is working on box turtle DNA research in Singiser’s lab.
“I think the opportunity to do research has empowered me per- sonally because doing research helps diversify my thinking.
Research at Clayton State will help me pursue my dreams...More than the techniques, the values I have learned during my research are the most beneficial. Learning to be patient - experiments are slow and time consuming; diverse thinking - there’s always another way or something you can improve; independence - no one is going to be there holding my hand every step of the way; and lastly never giving up - things may “fail” or not go the way that I wanted or planned, but that’s no reason to quit.
-Abigail Jones, chemistry major
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