3 tips to make the most of your summer research

I often find that summer is an exciting time for research, probably because you have fewer obligations taking up precious time. You can just focus on your research for 3 months and make some serious progress.

But, you’re also probably tired from the end of the semester. Here are a few tips to make the most of your summer research, especially if you’re feeling burned out:

• Don’t jump in right away if you don’t have to. Give yourself a week or two to recover from the semester and establish a thorough plan for what you want to accomplish.

• Connect with your collaborators. They may have more availability to meet and help you if you’re stuck. Note, coral researchers tend to travel a lot during the summer. 

• Got some extra time? Use it for research housekeeping. Upload, organize, and back up your data, clean up and annota

  te your code, get caught up on reading, and write those methods sections!

     

Finally, set yourself up for next semester, so when all those obligations come rushing back, you’re prepared for the transition.

If you need help getting things moving this summer, I’d be happy to help you plan out the next 3 months, so you can make progress that will wow your committee in the fall. Sign up for our FREE Basic membership and talk with me in the Community Forum about what you're looking to accomplish!

P.S. For any undergraduates looking for research opportunities, summer is primetime to get involved as other students are away.