Stephen Pierson is an Honors Mechanical Engineering major and from Fayetteville, Arkansas. He has been awarded a SURF grant for research and recently received the Goldwater Scholarship for STEM majors pursuing a career in research. After graduation, he will seek out a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with a particular focus on nanotechnology and materials science.
Pierson’s research works with microchannel heat sinks, an advanced cooling technique for integrated circuit electronics such as microchips, industrial transistor boards and fuel cells. His honors thesis examines how advanced manufacturing techniques enhance the performance of flow boiling for liquid-cooled heat sinks. Improving the efficiency of these devices will remove barriers to producing more advanced electronics.
Starting the process of an honors thesis can seem like a daunting task, but going into the process knowing what to expect can alleviate some of the pressure. Here are tips I have for all five stages of the process that helped me enjoy my research experience and find continued success.
1. Find a mentor/lab you want to work with
The factors that will most influence the success of your project are the support of your thesis advisor and your personal interest in the project. With that in mind, it’s critical to pick a mentor/lab that allows you to pursue a topic related to your interests and offers you opportunity for personal growth. My professor, Dr. Han Hu, is everything I could ask for in a mentor. He does everything he can to support all of the students in his lab, and he consistently encourages me to try new opportunities.
Don’t worry too much about the specifics of your thesis’ topic during this step; focus on choosing a mentor and group of peers that will enable you to flourish! Luckily, there are several ways to go about finding your mentor and developing a close working relationship with them. You may already know some professors in your major with shared research interests and with whom you already have a good relationship with, but if not, use your department directory to make a short list of faculty members you might want to work with based off what they specialize in. Reach out to these professors and ask for a tour of their lab and/or recent work of students under them – allow impressions to guide you from there. I recommend having a research-oriented discussion and/or lab tour with at least three professors before asking one to be your mentor so that you can have a general understanding of the opportunities available and thereby make an informed decision.
2. Pick a research subject
It can be easy to get intimidated by the scope or sheer number of topics out there to choose for your thesis. However, with the right approach and willingness to accept that in all likelihood your plan will change, you can find a topic that suits you without needing to stress. There is no need to be methodical in choosing a specific topic and project scope so as long as you consult your mentor beforehand. Oftentimes, your mentor will be able to suggest feasible projects that you are interested in if you have trouble coming up with ideas.
If you wish to be more thorough in your decision-making, you can go about the process like I did. After getting the first tour of my lab, I individually introduced myself to everyone who worked there and asked about their research and the pieces of equipment that stood out to me. I decided on my thesis by combining the use of the two machines I most wanted to learn about into a topic that utilized both in a unique way. You can also consider reading papers published by fellow students in your research group to get an idea of what is a feasible project for your situation.
An experimental test facility for my research of miniaturized heat sinks that I redesigned to fit the needs of my thesis. I used this setup to evaluate 5-axis CNC machining and selective laser sintering as methods for manufacturing high-performance, liquid-cooled heat exchangers.
3. Develop your idea to fruition
Be aware of the honors graduation requirements of your academic department. Every department has specific rules and procedures for defending your thesis, and you may be required to take research hours to do so. Make sure you set aside enough time to fully develop your project, especially if you plan to complete your project during the semester rather than the summer. Consider setting deadlines and milestones, so you can stay on-track. If you plan to work under the funding of a grant, time management is something you will already be held accountable for.
4. Write the thesis
Once you have the results from your study that answer the questions you set out to answer, you are ready to write and defend your thesis. An honors thesis should be a detailed academic report that documents your methodology, results and conclusions as well as how your project contributes to existing literature. Though your mentor should be the one you primarily seek out for content-related advice, you should feel encouraged to get help from tutoring resources if you have questions related to grammar and how to write in a professional manner. Personally, I have made use of the free Writing Studio on campus on multiple occasions to help proofread my papers and ensure they can be understood by non-experts.
5. Publish and Next Steps
As a student just starting research, publishing your work is probably the last thing on your mind, but having an authorship credit to your name is an incredible achievement to have as an undergraduate and will distinguish you from other candidates when applying for graduate school. Once you’ve completed your thesis, you can expand on your work and submit a draft to attend an academic conference. I found attending my first conference to be an exceptional professional experience and opportunity to network with peers from other universities and other like-minded people. The Honors College makes a conference grant available to students to cover travel expenditures as well.
Research can be a difficult process sometimes, but if you find a topic you enjoy it can be an extremely rewarding experience. Ideally, you want to strike a balance between your research autonomy and having a support network and mentor that will push you to achieve high goals. Also, take advantage of stipends from grants like the Honors College Research Grant and Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship programs offered at the University of Arkansas, which incentivize undergraduate research activity. Good luck, and trust yourself out there!