WHO
ARE RTP RESEARCH ADVISORS?
Project
advisors/mentors in the Research Training Program
are Ph.D. research scientists from the Smithsonian
Institution's National Museum of Natural History
community who hold full-time research positions.
They conduct curiosity-driven natural history
research using specimens from the NMNH collections
and facilities housed in the Natural History Building
or Museum Support Center.
The NMNH community of permanent, in-residence
researchers includes Smithsonian scientists as
well as research scientists from other affiliated
agencies such as U.S. Department of Agriculture,
National Marine Fisheries Service, US Geological
Survey, etc.
SI
RESEARCH STAFF are scholars employed by SI
(or emeritus staff *), who as part of their position
initiate and/or conduct original research and
are appropriate to serve as principal advisors.
AFFILIATED RESEARCH STAFF are persons who
may be named as a co-advisor or consultants by
applicants. These include research associates,
emeritus staff*, research support staff, research
staff of other organizations housed at the Institution,
and official academic appointments of more than
two years.
*Emeritus staff may appear in either category.
Currently the RTP project advisor list includes
more than 120 of the approximately 200 research
scientists at the NMNH eligible to host students.
This list is continuously revised to reflect availability.
RTP RESEARCH ADVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Scientists
selected to serve as mentors to students in the
Research Training Program commit to being
in regular, daily contact with their advisees,
especially during the critical stages of project
development and data analysis.
As
mentors to students, the research advisors teach
the methods and processes of research, provide
insight into what they do day-to-day, and demonstrate
how to work in interdisciplinary teams to discover
solutions to common questions. The relation between
student and mentor varies from colleague to collaborator
to apprentice depending on the level of preparation
for the topic investigated.
HOW
DO I KNOW WHICH ADVISOR TO SELECT?
Students
applying to participate in the Research Training
Program should select the scientist whose
research program they would most like to be involved
with. Specific research projects are generally
not listed but the research specialties of each
potential advisor, as well as previous research
topics are included in the advisor list. In some
cases sample projects are included but these are
subject to revision or cancellation.
In
addition to selecting a target mentor, applicants
are also asked to identify three other potential
advisors. This listing of other research advisors
helps reviewers determine the research interests
of the applicant and significantly aids in facilitating
good placement.
Due to unpredictable research schedules, field
work, and new staff hires, alternate advisors
are often selected to mentor RTP participants.
WILL
I BE AWARDED MY FIRST ADVISOR CHOICE?
RTP
participants are often assigned the advisor of
their choice but in many cases alternate advisors
are assigned from outside the current listing.
Our goal in assigning an advisor is to select
the best available research mentor from within
the Smithsonian community for each individual
student.
Advisor
availability is continuously changing and there
is no guarantee that students will be assigned
their first advisor choice, or that individual
advisors will be available.
Please
note that the web-posted advisor list is a partial
listing of potential RTP project advisors/research
mentors. Other scientists in-residence at the
Smithsonian may also be available to host students
but are not listed due to availability conflicts.
However, applicants must select only from the
current RTP project advisor list.
More than one student may be selected to work
with the same advisor and a student may be assigned
to more than one advisor.
Students participating in the RTP work with their
Smithsonian mentor/advisor to design a research
project. Together student and mentor formulate
a hypothesis, design a series of investigations
to test that hypothesis, gather data, and analyze
the results.
WHAT
ARE THE STANDARD EXPECTATIONS FOR RTP RESEARCH
ADVISORS?
As
a mentor to undergraduate students, a Research
Training Program advisor:
- Develops
confidence in the research process by providing opportunities
to succeed and feedback on progress, such as
constructive encouragement and productive criticism.
Includes providing challenging, problem-solving
assignments that can be successfully completed,
demonstrating respect and trust, and maintaining
a positive environment.
- Advances
competence in the research process by providing
opportunities to learn new methods and techniques,
see a variety of facilities, meet national and
international colleagues, participate in professional
scientific activities, engage in active research
questions and discussions, contribute original
ideas, and exhibit independence.
- Demonstrates
a commitment to the student/advisor team by
dedicating quality time and attention to the
research topic and providing mentoring guidance.
- Shares
information and insights about succeeding in
natural history research. Includes advice about
careers, graduate school, research topics, time
management, etc.
- Practices
active listening and advocacy. Includes being
committed to the research outcome, yet remaining
flexible about the process, adjusting assignments,
if necessary, to achieve the objectives of the
RTP and student's expectations.
WHO
ELSE IS INCLUDED IN THE RESEARCH TEAM?
In
addition to the research advisor, each RTP research
team includes at least two additional professionals
associated with the research topic. Typically
these "contacts" include research assistants,
collections managers, pre- or postdoctoral fellows,
and laboratory technicians.
WHO
MONITORS THE RESEARCH?
RTP
Science Advisors, representing the biological,
geological, and anthropological sciences review
the scientific merit, protocol, and results of
research projects and work with student/mentor
teams to ensure quality results.
WHAT
ARE THE STANDARD EXPECTATIONS FOR THE RESEARCH
TOPIC?
Research
projects are not pre-designed by scientists or
students. After being selected for participation
in the program, working together as a team, the
RTP student and their RTP research advisor determine
the specific research question to be investigated.
Projects are typically designed one month before
the start of the summer session. The research
project:
- Exemplifies
the objectives of the RTP including complementing
the students' career goals and interests, utilizing
the uniqueness of the NMNH collections and facilities,
exhibiting scientifically significant "quality"
natural history research, relating to bigger
and more complex issues, and drawing on the
expertise of the advisor.
- Engages
the student in the overall process of real life
research from design to outcome including developing
a hypothesis, gathering data, making observations,
analyzing information, and communicating results
in the form of written manuscripts and oral
presentations.
- Accommodates
a sequence of priorities and a realistic timetable
for completion. Includes milestones for evaluation
and assessment and deadlines for completion
of drafts and finished products.
- Provides
a wide variety of research perspectives and
experiences, often integrating multiple disciplines
and incorporating different methods and techniques,
both traditional and new. Includes insight into
what a scientist does day-to-day, how to work
in interdisciplinary teams, publication and
presentation protocols, funding and facilities
decisions, and laboratory versus field investigations.
HOW
WILL THE RESEARCH PROJECT BE DESIGNED?
All
projects entail the study of specimens in the
US National Collections and offer the potential
for future independent investigation.
The
projects designed must utilize the existing Smithsonian
facilities located at the Natural History Building
in Washington, DC or the Museum Support Center
in Silver Hill, Maryland.
Projects
must specifically relate to the research goals
and interests of the Museum and major portions
(if not all) of the project must be completed
during the ten-week summer program.
WHAT
RESULTS FROM THE RESEARCH PROJECT?
Typically,
at the conclusion of the program students give
a 15-minute formal, oral presentation on
the progress of their research and prepare a final
written report.
An
in-residence poster session is held to
share research results with the Smithsonian professional
community and through the virtual
poster session colleagues from around the
world can also share in the review of research
results.
One-page
project summaries are produced describing
the research topic. These are posted on the web
and target a general audience.
A completed project frequently results in the
publication of a scientific paper co-authored
by the student and the advisor.
WHAT
DO RESEARCH ADVISORS EXPECT OF RTP STUDENT PARTICIPANTS?
Smithsonian
research scientists welcome the opportunity to
work with students and hope to share their research
expertise and insights with their RTP student.
Although "a little bit of fun" is always part
of the plan, RTP students are generally treated
as professional colleagues and advisors anticipate
students to conduct the research professionally.
The student:
- Participates
in the design, development, and outcome of the
research project by contributing original ideas,
pursuing investigations to enhance the topic,
initiating discussions about the project, and
actively participating in experiments to test
the hypothesis and communicate the findings.
- Demonstrates
an interest and commitment to learning the information
presented by attending scheduled events, engaging
in the activities, following up on assignments,
and effectively utilizing the time reserved.
Includes 50 days attendance, 8 hours each day,
appropriately dedicated to either the research
topic or RTP curriculum as listed in the "RTP
Reference Manual".
- Exhibits
progress and development toward becoming a successful
scientist by gaining confidence and competence
in the research process. Includes learning new
methods and techniques, establishing "colleague"
relationships within the NMNH community, and
accepting encouragement and constructive criticism.
- Shares
information and insights with the research team
and works with other interdisciplinary staff
to seek solutions to common questions. Includes
cooperating with administrative and collections
staff to accomplish travel, use of specimens,
access to laboratory, etc.
- Conducts
the research according to the sequence of priorities
and timetable of accomplishments. Includes meeting
established deadlines and following appropriate
scientific methods and procedures.
- Demonstrates
good research technique. Includes following
safety procedures and collections management
policies and ethics.
- Ensures
that the research is scientifically significant
by investigating prior work, establishing how
the topic fits into the "big picture," and adapting
emphasis if necessary to adjust to new information
and discoveries.
- Communicates
the research results by presenting a 15 minute
talk as part of the RTP seminar series, producing
a final report following journal format, and
participating in the RTP poster session.
- Produces
products resulting from the research that conform
to expectations by following guidelines and
instructions. Includes completing products according
to established deadlines. Products include research
abstracts and summaries for reporting.
CONTACTING
SMITHSONIAN SCIENTISTS
For
reference, the advisor listing includes contact
information for each potential research advisor.
However, unlike many other opportunities, RTP
advisors do not select their advisees and students
are discouraged from contacting potential advisors
to design research projects or otherwise notify
them of their interest in participating in the
program until positions have been announced.
Although scientists welcome communication from
students to collaborate on scientific issues,
please avoid contacting advisors to arrange RTP
projects until after the selection process is
completed. At that time advisors will welcome
your contact.
