The Student Research Association (SRA) was created during the Winter ’24 semester, with the stated goal of providing students with important research experience and creating networking opportunities. Brendin Broeders, senior club member majoring in social work and cell molecular biology, stated that the club’s largest goal is to “Foster people who are confident enough to try to do research… [and] an environment where they feel confident enough to try”.
For most students considering graduate school, undergraduate research or involvement in your field is necessary. “You have to build your resume,” says Jordan Nowicki, the association’s President, “and a part of that is researching as an undergrad.”
Nowicki acknowledges the difficulty of research. “I found it hard to… get to where I am, researching on campus with writing a grant, getting a budget, the resources, the people to contact, how to approach professors. So, myself and others who founded the club thought, “Let’s create something that will make it easier for students to go through that.”
Though students often wait to begin research until their junior or senior year, the club is open to all. Nowicki states, “All majors, all standings, from Freshman to Senior, we want to help you get involved in research at SVSU and build your resume”. The club also has no requirements in terms of prior research experience.
The group is largely composed of biology and chemistry students, but SRA aims to help everybody get involved in their field of study. “[If] you’re a writer, we want to help you get a book published,” stated Nowicki. “If you’re a photographer, we want to get your work published in a magazine, if you’re into art, we want to help you get it in a museum. Research is really not just science”.
“Lots of fields do research,” Evan Parrish, a sophomore cellular-molecular biological science major says. “Our friend… just graduated last semester but he was an art major and he did a mural for the Saginaw Spirit, their tunnel. Drawing and art is considered research.”
The RSO’s next event is a resume and LinkedIn workshop, where professors and career services will discuss the importance and use of these tools in professional development. This event will take place on Wednesday, October 2 at 6:00 PM in SW 143. Plans for further events include a current events night and a trip to a museum.
