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>> I've always known
that I wanted to be a doctor
and I was looking for colleges
that had a really strong
science program.
>> I knew that I wanted to go
in to the sciences.
I really love biology.
Just the way the body works.
>> I always knew I loved math
so the next step was to figure
out what else I would be
interested in.
>> Penn State is one
of the top research universities
in the country.
Whatever project I want
to do we can do it here.
This is basically as good
as it gets.
>> Doing science means
that I can find
out things before anyone ever
finds out.
I love research because it's
like being an explorer.
>> Penn State has a lot
of opportunities
and so you don't have
to know exactly what you want
to do.
>> Penn State is so big
and offers so many programs.
I mean we have everything
from forensics
to marine biology.
>> Which avenue
in the sciences I wanted to go?
I was a little iffy on that.
>> So students have the
opportunity
to take different courses
in areas they might be
interested in and find
out whether it's something
they like.
>> Part of my job is
to be a talent scout.
And so find
out what a particular student is
most interested in
and most talented in.
>> When you walk on to campus
for the first time
that can seem daunting.
But within that large university
there are lots
of small communities
and if you look you're almost
certain to find one
that matches you perfectly.
>> A university this large means
we have wonderful resources.
We've got great teaching labs.
We've got top
of the line facilities.
And we've got some
of the best researchers
in the world.
Which means
that students are learning
from the experts in their field.
>> The professors
in Penn State science are very
enthusiastic, encouraging.
They teach you.
They nurture you.
They share their passion
with the students.
>> We make discoveries
in the lab every day
and nobody else
in the entire world knows.
That's really cool.
Some of the concerns
of students is
that they don't have prior lab
experience, but that's fine.
>> The professors here know
that it is a
teaching institution.
And they want
to get students involved.
In my freshman year it was very
easy to get a job in one
of the professors' labs.
I basically emailed him
and explained why I was
interested in research
and I've been in his lab
since then.
>> Moving to a big campus can be
really tough.
And so they've got somewhere
that they can belong.
Labs are like mini families.
>> I try to get the
undergraduates
into the group early
on in their career.
Once they develop fundamental
skills there's really no limit
to what they can contribute.
>> I don't expect them
to have research experience.
[ Background Discussion ]
>> They're here to learn
and become fully functional
independent researchers
by the time they leave.
>> Joining a research lab you
not only contribute
to whatever science they're
doing, but also you develop the
mindset of a scientist.
How to think critically,
ask questions,
find ways to solve problems
if your experiments aren't
working out.
And you have the chance
to dabble a little bit before
you start to narrow
down your interests.
>> We're studying the decline
of bumblebees in North Carolina.
People overlook
that bumblebees are needed
for a lot of vegetation growth.
They're pollinators.
Using geospatial programs we can
analyze and map this decline
and see the distribution
of these species.
>> I look at the genetic basis
for skeletal development
in embryonic mammals.
We basically take a mouse gene.
We mutate it
and from what happens
to these mice we determine the
normal function of the gene.
>> You can stay
in one research program
and get really great depth
or you can go
and visit different research
programs and spend a semester
in each.
>> You can try a bunch
of different things
and see what really is a good
match for you.
>> As a scientist it is very
important not only
to do the research,
but to be able
to communicate it effectively.
>> From this research
that I'm doing there's the
opportunity to get published.
>> Most of the undergraduates
that go through the lab do end
up as authors
on peer reviewed publications.
>> Several friends have
published review articles,
their experiments
and their studies,
in major scientific journals.
>> The undergraduates typically
present their research
in their junior and senior year
through poster presentations.
>> Study abroad programs are
really an amazing opportunity.
Seeing a different culture
in a different country can
really change a student's
perspective on life
and on careers.
>> I did a two week mission trip
to Ecuador with Hershey Medical
Center and they provided pro
bono heart surgeries
for Ecuadorian children there.
It was very interesting
to see what medicine
in another country was like.
>> I did an internship
in Germany doing
physics research.
I studied the magnetic
properties of materials.
It was a lot of fun
to live there,
but also it was great
to see how science is
done abroad.
It was an amazing opportunity.
>> It's really the people
that are the foundation
to doing great research.
>> Penn State is a
great community.
It's great to see what people
are doing.
>> There's great staff support
and there's great instructors.
We're able to attract really
good students.
>> Every faculty member here
wants every student to succeed.
When someone has never done
research before, tries it,
decides they love it,
and then goes
on to the next step,
that's just really fun.
>> It's a very positive
atmosphere amongst all the
people and all these resources.
You know, I think that's why
it's a great place.
>> Penn State,
they just offer you so much.
>> Penn State is definitely a
great place for you
to find what you're
passions are.
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