Research is a key component of any graduate program. Not only do graduate students collect information and analyze data, but they perform important research functions. Researchers must follow a logical process: develop research questions requiring a lot of reading to go through the literature and related information; formulate research hypotheses; prepare the research design; collect and analyze data; and write a paper to present findings.
Many former graduate students will tell you the process requires much time, effort, commitment, and discipline to be successful. In the end, those graduating with an MS or PhD become experts in their field. In doing so, they learn how to analyze a problem more innovatively. Additionally graduate students learn to think critically, propose more creative approaches, and seek out the evidence needed to support their findings. They must be persistent, revisiting research questions and experiments many times. Often, they need to pivot to seek out new data sources, revise research questions, and consider other methods. empirical methods.
Collaboration is a key theme. Not only do graduate students collaborate with each other and their subjects when doing research, they work closely with faculty. Collaborating with faculty helps graduate students expand their knowledge, hone their research skills, and identify future research opportunities. Faculty advisors help graduate students grow their networks of researchers which expands opportunities for future research. Together they envision the future and push the envelope of what is possible. They explore solutions that are several years down the road. They merge precision research and technology with precision health outcomes.
Graduate Students Share What The H-STEM Complex Means To Them
We asked several graduate students for their impressions of the new H-STEM Complex. And as you’d expect, collaboration was the most used word, along with state-of-the-art, technology, and modern. Hear what they had to say.
PhD Student, Integrative Physiology
Oluwatosin I. Oyeniran
What are your first impressions of the H-STEM Complex?
The H-STEM complex is a world-class and state-of-the-art educational facility that will provide solutions to societal challenges by consolidating quality teaching and research in engineering and health-related sciences.
How will the new facility enable you to become a better researcher?
The H-STEM complex’s unique features such as its discipline-specific shared, flexible, collaborative lab and research spaces will enhance my learning and greatly support my quest to conduct quality and solution-oriented research and sharpen my scientific and technological skills.
What is the number one improvement in your opinion of moving into the H-STEM Complex?
For me, the major improvement is that, unlike our former location, the H-STEM complex is engineered to allow anyone inside and outside the workspaces to watch and visually experience diverse teams working jointly in shared, flexible, and collective teaching and research spaces. I look forward to maximizing all the opportunities and possibilities that the H-STEM complex will offer toward leading and advancing healthcare breakthroughs, technologies, and solutions for Michigan, the region, and the nation at large.
MS Student, Kinesiology
Lily Hart
What are your first impressions of the H-STEM Complex?
My first impression of the H-STEM Complex was how spacious the research and teaching labs were.
How will the new facility enable you to become a better researcher?
I believe that the new space will allow for collaborations with my peers. Having a communal grad office space has made it easy to not only get to know my peers better, but to get their input and ideas for coursework and research projects.
What is the number one improvement in your opinion of moving into the H-STEM Complex?
The main improvement that I see as a result of the move is the KIP department becoming more integrated into Tech’s community. Moving to the main campus has given us a better presence in the community which can open the doors for more outreach and collaborations with students and other departments.
PhD Student, Integrative Physiology
Kyle Wehmanen
What are your first impressions of the H-STEM Complex?
The new H-STEM complex is a great addition to the Michigan Tech campus. The design brings a modern feel to the heart of Tech and should help promote Tech’s commitment to education and research.
How will the new facility enable you to become a better researcher?
The new and expanded space makes research easier and more efficient. More importantly, the new building should foster increased collaboration both within and between multiple departments with optimized lab spaces.
What is the number one improvement in your opinion of moving into the H-STEM Complex?
The new state-of-the-art research spaces and overall inviting atmosphere of the building should promote excitement and energy in the coming years.
About the Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology Department at Michigan Technological University
Tomorrow needs healthy communities. The Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology (KIP) at Michigan Technological University helps to build them. The KIP Department offers undergraduate degrees in exercise science and sports and fitness management. Graduate degree offerings include a PhD in Integrative Physiology as well as a master’s and accelerated master’s degree in Kinesiology. Housed in the new H-STEM Complex, KIP leads several important health and wellness collaborative research projects across eight different labs. Supercharge your human health skills to meet the demands of an increasingly active and aging society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math.
Questions? Contact us at kip@mtu.edu. Follow all the latest happenings on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and the KIP Blog.