RESEARCH IN GRAD SCHOOL
Are you wondering about research opportunities in graduate school? Some AuD graduate programs include a built-in research requirement, like a capstone or thesis project, whereas other programs have very little research in their curriculum. Below are questions to ask your program about what is available to you as an AuD student and also some ideas to get involved in research outside of the Communication Sciences & Disorders (Speech & Hearing) department.
Questions to ask your AuD program:
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Are there student research opportunities (either funded or volunteer) through the department?
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If yes...
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Who are the lab directors, and what are they studying? Most research labs will provide great exposure to what it is like working as a research audiologist, but it's nice to work in a lab where the focus is something you are interested in.
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Can you meet with the lab director to see if you are a good fit for the lab? You are also checking if the lab director would be a good fit as a mentor for you.
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Can you meet other students who have worked in that lab? It is very important to hear from students about their experiences (rather than just hearing from the lab director) to get a holistic feel for the lab environment.
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​How is the research lab funded? Will the position be available for a limited number of semesters or throughout grad school?
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If no...​
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Seek out opportunities to work in a research lab in related departments​, like psychology, linguistics, or education.
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Apply for the T35 NIH-sponsored summer research traineeship
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Learn about research through online resources
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Foundations of Auditory Research video series from the Students and Postdocs of the American Auditory Society​
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​Is there a capstone or required research project within the AuD program?
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Are there expectations that you attempt to publish or present your work, once finished?
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Can you collaborate with outside organizations or departments to complete the project if there are not enough mentors or mentors that share your interests within the department?
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What kind of support is there to complete the project?
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When does the research capstone/project occur within the program?
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Check out our list of externships that include research.
If you notice a research externship that is not on the list, please shoot us an email to let us know!
Other ways to get involved in research:
NETWORK!
Talk to students and professors at other organizations about how they got started in research.
Attend professional conventions. Go to a poster or talk by a researcher whose work you admire or find interesting. Ask the researcher about their career path to research!
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READ!
Enter your interests in google scholar and it will suggest a reading list of new and relevant articles for you. It’s a lot easier to read research articles when they are of personal interest to you!