Information for Undergraduate Students

Here are some guidelines to those interested in doing research in the Corral Laboratory:

(adapted from the Temmenoff Lab at Georgia Tech)

Highly motivated, curious, and independent individuals will be recruited. You must be persevering, tenacious, resourceful, responsible, attentive to detail,

and responsive to guidance. You will not be told exactly what to do on a day-to-day basis, but you are expected to follow advice that is given and

maintain a reasonable rate of progress. You are not expected to know anything coming in to the lab, but you are expected to learn what you need to

know.

Freshmen and sophomores preferred, juniors considered. Seniors need to do some serious convincing that senior projects, grad/med school

applications, job searches, and senioritis will not be impediments to research progress.

Research is not like a class; it usually takes a semester to get oriented to the ways of the lab, and acquires basic knowledge and skills to finish a project.

Therefore: a minimum of 2 semesters and 3 credit hours or 10 hours/week commitment is required. Summer work is encouraged. The first

semester is probationary; if things are not working well after 1 semester, Dr. Corral reserves the right to terminate the project.

You can volunteer, receive academic credit, or receive a fellowship to work in the lab. Check the University of Arizona NASA Space Grant Program and

the AzRISE websites for fellowship opportunities. Award deadlines are usually due at the end of the academic year. You may be considered for paid

work in the lab only after 2 exemplary semesters working in the lab.

Your grade will be based on your final presentation at a lab meeting, contribution to discussion at lab meetings/individual meetings, net results of your

semester's work, and the usefulness and clarity of your final report. Consistent progress over the semester is more highly regarded than heroic efforts at

the end of the semester.

You will be assigned a graduate student mentor to whom you will report directly and receive guidance. In return for their mentorship, you will help the

graduate student with their research. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the lab and gain a background to pursue your individual projects.

How to apply

Please send an e-mail with the following information to Dr. Corral.

Your name and contact information

Your major, GPA, and expected graduation date

Courses taken and grades (or attach an unofficial transcript)

A short essay (~1 page) on why you want to do research and some information on what kind of research you would like to

do. If you could do anything in materials science and engineering or another field, what would it be, (i.e. what would be the

coolest project you could think of)? Give us an idea of something scientific that you read about and thought was interesting.

Name of some references and contact information

Anything else you would like to tell us about yourself

Schedule an appointment to meet Dr. Corral via email, elcorral@email.arizona.edu.