Explaining scientific concepts clearly in a paper is daunting, and getting the work published is a significant challenge, especially for undergraduates. The Undergraduate Scientific Review at ASU offers a solution for both, providing students with learning opportunities about scientific writing and publication.
Two ASU instructional aides realized there was a gap between students who wanted to publish their work, and real publication opportunities, which gave them the idea for USR.
"The first question (students) would ask us is, 'How do I get involved in research?' And it was often hard for us to lead them somewhere because there wasn't really an avenue they could go towards," said Mayson Woolf, a senior studying health sciences and the co-editor-in-chief.
Woolf said she was able to find a research position through Barrett, The Honors College, but wanted to make sure students across the University had access to opportunities like hers.
USR runs an annual publication specifically for undergraduates and works to provide students with education in the scientific writing process.
"A lot of people don't realize how time-consuming the editing process can be, and honestly, sometimes how tough it can be when you put in all your work into a paper and come back to a ton of comments about editing it," said Surabhi Sajith, a senior studying microbiology and global health, and a co-editor-in-chief of USR.
The club offers its members early exposure to peer review in a lighter tone. Participants get their writing edited in a friendly environment.
"Our goal is to provide students with that early exposure so that they will, one, go into their future career more prepared, but two, also have exposure to careers that they might not have been thinking of before," Sajith said.
Nhi is a freshman studying health care coordination. This is her second semester with The State Press. She has also worked as a content creator.
