Opportunities in Scientific Research, a student organization, helps undergraduates network with professors and learn about research opportunities at NC State.
OSR was originally founded as the Clinical Research Opportunities Association after Laidy Garzon and Arpana Arigala met at an undergraduate research speed-dating event in 2014. Garzon wanted to start a club that would provide students with networking opportunities within clinical research, and recruited Arigala to assist in developing the organization. Unfortunately, the club had too narrow of a focus and saw limited participation during the 2014-2015 academic year.
Upon Garzon’s graduation in May, Arigala took over CROA and was left to decide the direction in which to lead the club. She chose to completely reorganize CROA and rename it Opportunities in Scientific Research.
“This year she [Garzon] graduated and left me in charge, and we decided to revamp the entire club and change the direction completely,” Arigala said.
OSR now focuses on networking with professors and familiarizing students with the research being done on campus. With this new focus, the club has begun to receive more widespread interest.
At each club meeting, OSR has a professor come and speak about the research they are conducting. After the professor speaks, members have the chance to ask questions and get advice on how to be a competitive applicant for research positions.
OSR also has club meetings where students who have already participated in research present at meetings* to students who have not yet obtained a position. Through the advice of professors and peers, members learn where the open doors for research opportunities are and how to take advantage of those doors.
“That is what our program is primarily about; it’s about opening doors for students to be able to get in contact with research positions,” said Nancy Sun, treasurer/graphic designer* for OSR.
The club already has established relationships with several professors such as Carlos Goller, a professor of biotechnology, and Mary Beth Hawkins, researcher and teaching assistant professor of biological sciences,* but is looking to build relationships with more professors from diverse areas of science. Arigala said that having professors from more scientific fields would allow OSR to aid even more students in their journey toward a research position.
Although there are other research clubs at NC State, OSR is unique in that it directly connects undergraduate students with research professors while still maintaining a peer mentorship aspect, according to Sun.
“I feel like, with professors, students get intimidated by the requirements,” Sun said. “So having students come and talk nonchalantly about what they do makes it more relatable.”
Now that OSR is on its feet, the club is looking for ways to improve their organization. Their future goals include expanding membership, hosting more meetings throughout the year and incorporating service opportunities for their members.
They are also currently trying to set up partnerships with other local universities such as UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke. Arigala said that OSR believes that the more partnerships they have, the more they will be able to show their members the countless opportunities there are for research.
“It’s not just important to show them that they have resources, but to show them how many they have,” Arigala said. “That they won’t feel discouraged if they don’t get a job at first because they know there are 100 more out there.”
OSR holds meetings every other Tuesday, from 6–7 p.m. Its next meeting is Tuesday Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. in Winston room 029.
*Technician originally reported:
Nancy Sun, secretary for OSR
that OSR offers peer mentorship
Eleanor Hawkins, professor of clincial science
