What is the purpose of this event, and who is the primary audience attending Research Connections?

The Office of First Year Programs & Learning Communities is committed to providing early career UConn students with an intellectual and co-curricular push during their first year or two at the University. As a Research 1 institution, we believe it's important for first and second year students to witness and engage with the rich academic culture in which they can get involved in a myriad of ways. By encouraging early career students to engage with Research Connections, we believe it will motivate them to seek additional opportunities to engage with faculty, staff & graduate students, and research, outside the classroom.

See photos from Research Connections 2019 to get a feel for what the event is like.

What types of researchers are you looking for?

We are eager to have a diverse representation of researchers to help them understand how many possible avenues and outcomes exist once they get involved in research. This means whether you are a faculty member, graduate student, UConn alum, corporate partner, or professional staff, you are welcome to express interest in presenting! We will also encourage interest from representatives from our UConn regional campuses and UConn Health.

What are the benefits to participating researchers?

• Making early connections with students eager for opportunities to learn about your work in formal and informal capacities as they proceed in their undergraduate careers
• A valuable professional development opportunity for your staff/team to gain recognition and awareness with a captive audience
• Exposing a wider range of students to your courses, particularly those aligned with your research
• An opportunity to meet researchers from across campus from many disciplines and levels of leadership/affiliation at UConn

Do I need to be hiring research assistants or student employees to participate?

No! Research Connections is not a job fair; it is an informational networking program where students will be encouraged to ask questions and learn about all the ways they can engage with you, not just through formal positions. This is a great opportunity for first and second year students to be exposed to the rich research culture at UConn, and the more diverse the disciplinary representation, the better the student experience will be. We encourage presenters to think about creative ways to engage students in conversation at the event by incorporating hands-on and interactive elements to their presentations.

What are the expectations for participating researchers?

We are excited to host this event in Peter J. Werth Residence Tower on the Storrs campus and hope you will join us. However, there are ways for you to engage with this event and UConn's larger Month of Discovery in October.

Attending researchers can contribute in multiple ways, and we can help you determine the best option and support execution if needed and appropriate. You can choose from the following options on the Interest Form, and we will follow up after you express interest:

• Communication or Virtual Content (to be included on the Month of Discovery website; for those who might not be able to attend in-person)
• Collaboration with the Learning Community Innovation Zone (Makerspace on-site)
• Demo (Could be done at a table or in an assigned area of one of our rooms, depending on the nature of the demo.)
• Poster/Table Presentation (Presenting your research at a table in poster or interactive form for attendees, sharing with students who approach you.)
• Round Table Discussion (Table with 7-8 available seats, students can come speak with you.)
• Unsure or Other Idea

If I cannot attend, can I designate another representative?

Absolutely; you are welcome to designate a colleague, graduate student, or other representative to take your place, or express interest in sending us digital content to include as a resource on the Month of Discovery website on the Researcher Interest Form.

What if I have more questions?

No problem! You can contact 860-486-3637 or shannon.ahearn@uconn.edu if you'd like to talk to someone in more detail about this event.