How Early-Career Advisers’ Perspectives on Undergraduate STEM Research Advising Affect the Next Generation of Scientists

• In Event: The Changing Face of STEM: Intersections of Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

Abstract

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology calls for an additional 1 million science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) graduates over the next decade. Many student benefits from undergraduate research (UR) have been documented, including improved retention in STEM majors. Successful UR advisors balance scholarly activity and productivity with educational experiences that help students. This interview study of 30 UR advisors assesses their motivations for supervising student researchers. About one third of early-career advisors expressed only instrumental motivations of increased productivity. All experienced advisors were intrinsically motivated. Intrinsically motivated advisors reported more student benefits, including more scientific socialization benefits, which are important to students’ development as scientists.

Authors

• Charles N. Hayward, University of Colorado - Boulder

• Heather L. Thiry, University of Colorado - Boulder

• Sandra L. Laursen, University of Colorado Boulder