Key Takeaways
- The College of Public Health has research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
- Research is not just about results—it is about asking meaningful questions, learning from experience, and contributing to a deeper understanding of public health.
- For prospective students, these insights offer a starting point: explore your interests, connect with faculty and peers, and remain open to growth as you begin your research journey
Advice for prospective public health student researchers from current graduate and undergraduate student researchers.
Exploring research as a prospective student can feel both exciting and uncertain. Whether you are considering undergraduate research opportunities or a future graduate path, students across disciplines in public health and related fields emphasize curiosity, resilience, and connection as key to success.
We spoke with students who presented their research at the annual College of Public Health Student Celebration of Scholarship, and they shared their advice for students interested in research.
1. Start with curiosity—and your ‘why’
A strong sense of purpose can guide you through the challenges of research, especially for those considering advanced degrees.
“Start with your ‘why’. A PhD is long and challenging, and it helps to be grounded in genuine curiosity about research itself, not just the title.” — L. Priscille Ngana, PhD Health Services Research, Knowledge Discovery and Health Informatics student, about her research titled Predicting Quality of Life Post Sepsis
2. Embrace challenges as part of the process
Setbacks are not failures—they are essential to growth as a researcher.
“Research is a practice and none of it should be considered a failure. We all get null hypotheses every now and then, we all find out we were wrong about something. Consider each of these experiences an improvement and an experience that will make you a better researcher. Always incorporate reflection after successes and challenges to contribute back as a transparent voice of expertise within your field and your networks.” — G. Thomas Wilson II, BSPH, BA, and PhD Public Health, Social & Behavioral Sciences student commenting on his research: Engaged, but Skeptical: Caregiver Status and Trust in Information Sources
3. Reach out to faculty and current students
Connecting with faculty and current students can help you better understand research pathways and find opportunities that align with your interests.
“Find faculty whose work excites you and reach out early to discuss how your interests align with theirs. I also recommend speaking with current students; their experiences can provide a clearer and more realistic perspective on the journey.” — Ngana
4. Take initiative—don’t wait to feel “ready”
Opportunities in research often begin with a simple step: reaching out.
“My biggest advice would be to reach out to faculty whose work you find genuinely interesting. There is no harm in expressing interest in someone's work, even if they say no. There is never a perfect moment to feel ready to start something new; we always learn along the way.” — Anika Tahsin Siddiqui, Bachelor of Science in Biology student about her research: A Pilot Investigation of the Difference between those with Clinical or Non-Clinical Fatigue on Physical and Mental Performance in Breast Cancer Survivors
5. Connect data to real people and lived experiences
Research becomes more meaningful when it goes beyond theory and centers the human stories behind the data.
“My advice is to stay open to reflection and feedback. In social work, research becomes most meaningful when you take the time to connect theory to lived experience and stay curious about the human stories behind the data.” — Victor Guzman, BSW ’26 and MSW student, about his research titled: Review of Long-Term Impacts of Youth Engagement Activities
Moving Forward
Research is not just about results—it is about asking meaningful questions, learning from experience, and contributing to a deeper understanding of public health.
For prospective students, these insights offer a starting point: explore your interests, connect with faculty and peers, and remain open to growth as you begin your research journey.
Want to learn more? Discover what students said they learned from doing their own research.