Interested in joining our group?
Professor Enright is always interested in hearing from motivated undergraduates and potential graduate students! Please reach out to us to learn about current openings and opportunities!
What is it like to"do research" in the Enright group?
Everyone in the group has a unique, authentic research project with the goal of solving real-world challenges. Working on a project includes running experiments in the lab such as making new materials and chemicals, using instrumentation to characterize your experiments, analyzing your data, reading scientific articles, and presenting your work! At first, you will work closely with other group members as you gain skills and knowledge in our supportive and collaborative team. As you become more experienced, you will have opportunities to become more independent and to design experiments and even new projects on your own!
Are there any requirements before joining?
The minimum requirement to join the Enright group is to have completed at least one semester of university-level chemistry (Chem 115 or equivalent, AP Chemistry, and IB Chemistry all count) or be currently enrolled in Chem 115 with plans to take Chem 215 next semester. Training and research take time, so the expectation is you will be available to do research for at least two semesters after you join.
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The only other requirement is that you are motivated to learn and grow as a scientist! In fact, you don't need to understand our research before you join, you are qualified as long as you are interested in becoming a scientist and are excited to see how we can use nanomaterials for sustainable energy.
What are the expectations?
When you first join the group, you will need to have at least 3 hours of lab per week. After that, you should plan to commit to 9-10 hours/week each semester. Importantly, you earn credit for doing research! By researching 9-10 hours/week, you are eligible to earn 3 credits of CHEM 699 (undergraduates) or CHEM 898 (graduate students) each semester! These count towards the Chemistry major as as upper-division, laboratory credits.
Can I join mid-semester?
Absolutely! In fact, it is encouraged that you apply and look to join as soon as you are interested! You can use a partial semester to come to the lab for about 3 hours/week to learn about our projects and see our experiments. Then, you will be ready to join full-time (9-10 hours/week) the following semester.
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If you are interested in research, don't wait! If you wait too long, you won't have enough time to take advantage of all of the opportunities that come with doing research. Waiting until you complete more classes will not make you significantly more qualified so don't be afraid to apply as a first- or second-year student!
Do I need my own supplies?
No, everything you need to do research will be provided, including any personal protective equipment such as lab coats and glasses. If you have a laptop, it will make it easier for you to do your work, but it is not required. There are computers available in the lab and laptops can be checked out from the library. It is required that you come to the lab wearing closed-toed shoes and long pants for safety.
Ready to apply?
If you are interested in joining the Enright research group, please complete this Google form application, it will take less than 10 minutes!