Northern_Today_Fall_21

NORTHERN TODAY 11 FALL 2021 NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSI TY | News Q. Why is research an important part of a student’s education? A. Research allows students to engage their field of study in ways they cannot experience in the classroom. It stimulates curiosity about the world around them, which I would argue is the single most important trait a student can cultivate. If a student is curious, he will be motivated to seek out answers to life’s chief questions. Q. What sets Northern apart in terms of research opportunities? A. Northern has a variety of resources to make undergraduate research successful. First, we have approximately $20,000 in grants available for student projects. If a student needs money for their research project, we have a funding source available no matter their area of interest. Second, we host an annual research forum to showcase what students are doing around campus. The Research, Scholarship and Creativity Forum allows students to present their research to the NSU community each spring. Finally, Northern’s faculty are deeply invested in student research. Our professors pour their time and energy into undergraduate research, providing the type of mentorship that shapes our students’ future careers. This last piece is what sets Northern apart from other institutions. Q. What are your own research interests? A. As a microbiologist, I study how bacteria stick to surfaces to form communities called biofilms. Biofilms are significant because they are difficult to get rid of, causing a host of problems for agriculture, industry and Q&A: Dr. Andrew Russell Dr. Andrew Russell, Associate Professor of Biology, started at Northern State University in fall 2014. Since fall 2018, he has also served as Coordinator of Undergraduate Research. “Research allows students to engage their field of study in ways they cannot experience in the classroom. ” FACULTY other things,” he said. “It’s hard to spend time one on one.” This type of experiential learning gives students a competitive edge, and not just because it looks good on a resume. “It puts all the stuff you’ve been learning together in an applied way,” Mitchell said. Adding, “That’s the premise of biotechnology. It’s the premise of learning.” Clay’s research was planned to last through the summer and into fall; Mitchell said it’s difficult to pinpoint how long it will take. “Things could happen unexpectedly that you have to chase,” he said. “That’s the fun part about research. Because once you get a little bit of data, it just feeds more. It’s always exciting.” ‘Easy to Get Excited’ about Science Clay chose Northern because he was looking to make a career transition, and attending NSU allows him to get an education that will result in a job without having to relocate his family. Clay and his wife, Associate Music Professor Dr. Audrey Miller, have a 1-year-old son, Hugo. He hopes to work at a local lab after graduation. Now as a Northern student, Clay enjoys the science programs, the state-of the art science center – and faculty like Mitchell who fuel student excitement in the sciences. “You get to know the core concepts of science, then you start digging into advanced concepts, and it really gets the ball rolling for getting excited about science,” Clay said. “Once you start looking into how it works, it’s easy to get excited.” the medical field. Specifically, my research focuses on new ways to prevent biofilms from forming on a variety of surfaces from beer draft lines to contact lenses. Q. What advice do you have for students looking to get started in research? A. Students should start by asking their professors about the research they do. Talk to several of them until you find a topic that piques your interest. Then, ask that professor if he/she would be willing to mentor you as a student researcher and develop a small project for you to contribute to their research agenda. “Things could happen unexpectedly that you have to chase. That’s the fun part about research.” “ Dr. Andrew Russell and Pfc. Kealy Hill.

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