The intent of the Research and Scientific Inquiry (RSI) is to provide you with preliminary research experience with a research team. In addition to taking your core courses and developing your cognates during your first year in the program, you should also consult with your mentor about identifying an appropriate research opportunity for your RSI. While the timeline for completing the RSI is flexible, most students spend several quarters working on their RSI and complete it towards the end of their second year of their program.
The goal of the RSI is for students to participate in some (but not necessarily all) aspects of a research project including the design, conduct, and write-up of the project. Students are not expected to design and execute an independent, or stand-alone study. In most cases, students engage in and take responsibility for a portion of a research project that their First Year / Program Mentor or RSI Mentor (if someone other than the First Year / Program Mentor) already has underway. Common examples include participating in data collection or data analysis, but there are other options depending on the stage of the mentor’s research. The student’s level of participation will depend on their needs as a learner and the opportunities available, but students are expected to make a significant contribution to the stage of research in which they are engaged. In some cases, students may use the RSI as preliminary research to provide a foundation for their Dissertation research or to provide pilot data for a grant application.
Many students complete their RSI with their First Year Mentor, but this is not required. As students begin the PhD program, they should discuss their research interests with their First Year Mentor to identify research interests and opportunities within the department. Students will be exposed to faculty research in many ways including through courses, seminars, and Departmental Grand Rounds. Students should pay attention to the interesting research that is going on in the Department to consider RSI opportunities that may be of interest to them.
In addition to participating in the research, there are two formal RSI requirements – a presentation and a manuscript. Please follow the links below for more information about the RSI: