Undergrad research is more than benchwork or fieldwork. The skills you learn will help prepare you for any career path because an in-depth research experience will present numerous opportunities to develop personally, professionally, and academically.

No matter what STEM experience you're part of, the start of a research project is as exciting as it is awkward--and sometimes nerve wracking. If you start feeling a little overwhelmed, read the whiteboard above a couple of times for an insider's perspective.

Just because you can't recycle something, doesn't mean you should throw it away. For example, make a tapeball with your old lab tape! Whether you've recently started benchwork, or are a year plus in, it's never too late to start a monument to your hard work and dedication.

And if others in the lab are feeling creative, you can express yourselves by making tapeball people when the PI is at a faculty meeting.

No matter the discipline, scholarly activity, or type of research you pursue, to make your research experience the most rewarding you’ll need to invest yourself in it. Use these 6 tips as part of your overall strategy.

There are numerous chores that need to be done in a research lab, and it's tempting to rush through them just to get done.

Instead, adopt the philosophy that everything you do in the lab is important, and deserves careful attention to the correct procedure.

Even if you've been working in the lab for a while, when you start a new project there will be unexpected glitches and hiccups--especially in the beginning.

When starting independent project it can be especially frustrating. For many undergrads (and new grad students), the beginning of an independent project is both a badge of honor, and a badge of shame.