For many students at Wesleyan, getting involved in research can feel like stepping into an unfamiliar world. Labs can be intimidating, and the process of reaching out to professors or securing a research position aren’t always clear. Recognizing these challenges, Wesleyan Students in Research (WesSIR) organized the Shadowing and Lab Meeting Sit-In Week, an initiative designed to help students get a firsthand look at research spaces and understand how they work.
“We had 64 students matched with a lab,” Shekinah Mba shared, one of WesSIR’s founding members. “Most of them were underclassmen who might not have had the confidence to reach out to professors on their own. This gave them an entry point into research.”
The event allowed students to sit in on lab meetings, observe ongoing projects, and interact with researchers in their fields of interest. Some labs even allowed students to get hands-on experience, providing them with a realistic sense of what conducting research at Wesleyan entails.
I, myself, participated in the event and shadowed the Tezak and Melón Labs as well as sat-in the Olson Lab meeting. For students like myself who don’t yet know what they’re interested in, this event was an amazing opportunity to see the different research opportunities available here at Wesleyan. Like what WesSIR intended, it provided a bridge between students and labs and made the process much more accessible.
The success of Lab Shadowing Week is just one example of how WesSIR is working to remove barriers to research participation. In addition to this initiative, the group is planning a range of events to support student researchers. These include workshops on applying for research programs like NSF REU, resume-building sessions in collaboration with the Career Center, and panels on graduate school applications.
For students looking to get involved in research, WesSIR’s advice is simple: explore, experiment, and don’t be afraid to change direction.
“Find something you like and explore it to see if you love it. If not, that’s okay. You can try something else or you can even just be like, research isn’t for me,” Shekinah shared. And for those feeling uncertain about where to start, WesSIR is always ready to help. “If you’re feeling lost, reach out to WesSIR. We’re here for you.
With events like the Lab Shadowing Week and upcoming workshops, WesSIR is proving that research doesn’t have to be an exclusive or intimidating space. By fostering community, providing mentorship, and making research more accessible, the group is ensuring that every student, regardless of background or experience, has a chance to explore their academic passions.
For updates on future events, keep an eye on the Inclusion in STEM Blog and WesSIR’s Instagram @wesstudentsinresearch.
