Research from Year One: What that Actually Means at Ashoka

A first-year student inclined towards research is often unsure about how to carve a path that will lead them to a subject in which they can dive deep into the world of academia. While most college students are still figuring out dining hall timings and where their early morning classes are located, students at Ashoka are already seated in research labs, talking with faculty about their areas of interest and deciding on how they can help contribute to the projects and research currently being carried out on campus.

It is always in the best interest of a student to start exploring as early as possible, taking up courses in various fields and gaining experience in research. Ashoka University strives to create a campus environment that is welcoming and supportive, where students have numerous opportunities to explore their interests and passions right from year one.

How Undergraduates Enter Research Labs

A key feature in the research environment at Ashoka University is the accessibility of faculty research labs to undergraduate students. At Ashoka, there is no strict social hierarchy determined by student seniority or the number of courses completed. Instead, all students are evaluated based on their skills and interests in specific fields. As a result, students ranging from first-year undergraduates to PhD candidates have equal access to all labs at Ashoka.

Students who look for research opportunities early usually join various projects by either cold mailing professors whose work and area of research interests them or by taking courses that may naturally lead them to obtain a research assistant position. Ashoka also provides students with the opportunity to work on Independent Study Projects (ISPs) with Professors (these can be taken for credit) on fields and subjects that are of interest to them, and may also participate in the Summer Research Programmes our university offers.

Generally, all faculty members are open to working with motivated students, students who are driven, curious and willing to learn more. This open and free research culture not only creates an innovative environment where students gain hands-on experience outside of classroom walls, but it also allows unsure first and second year undergraduates to try their hand at different fields and refine their academic interests well before having to make graduate school decisions.

What This Looks Like Across Disciplines

Every day, valuable research is carried out in various disciplines such as Computer Science, Biology and Physics and all students, even the undergraduates, play an important role in each project. In Computer Science, the undergraduate research focuses on data science, cybersecurity, AI/ML and other interdisciplinary branches of research, such as the application of CS in Biology and Economics. Students work on machine learning models and systems research, often making significant contributions to research papers, conferences and project work with faculty. We have realised that research in computer science often scales well with undergraduate involvement, which is why students see tangible results early in their academic careers.

Biology research, on the other hand, tends to be more methodical and slow, yet students still endeavour to engage deeply and contribute meaningfully by conducting lab experiments, assisting in field research, and working on data analysis and literature review. In this discipline, publications may take time, but students gain lab experience and gain the know-how of conducting research, something which is essential for master’s or PhD programmes. In Physics, students work on streamlined subject matter such as theoretical models, astrophysics or biophysics, and some even publish research papers and engage in projects from their third year. Even when some projects are heavy on the theoretical aspect, students learn essential skills such as reading advanced papers, collaborating with top-of-the-field faculty members and most importantly, how to think and analyse like a physicist.

Experiential Learning at Ashoka

The academic sphere is highly competitive and is constantly evolving every year. Students who wish to pursue careers in this world must adapt to each change and set themselves apart at the same time, all while gaining the knowledge and experience essential to flourishing in the world of academia.

At Ashoka, students gain valuable experience and knowledge outside the classroom, and are already thriving in the real-world environment far before they graduate, all because of the various opportunities one can avail. Students not only collaborate with faculty and assist them with their research, but they also contribute to the research papers, some of which are published. Students have the opportunity to present their work at national and international conferences as well. Even when the research does not immediately lead to publication, students who make meaningful contributions are awarded with strong letters of recommendation, and the experience often leads them to discover a clear research statement and a well-defined academic trajectory that interests them.

Ashoka University also offers undergraduate research Summer Internship Programs (SIPs), primarily through the Ashoka International Summer Research Programme (AISRP), which connects students with faculty mentors for 8-10 weeks in fields like biology, sustainability, and science policy. Additionally, students can find broader research opportunities through the Career Development Office (CDO). The CERN Summer Student Programme (for Physics, Maths, CS, Engineering) and the CERN Openlab Summer Programme (for Computing) are also among some of the most coveted research opportunities for undergraduates at Ashoka University. These highly competitive programmes include hands-on projects and lectures, under the supervision of Ashoka’s GESP (Global Education and Strategic Partnerships) office.

How Does This Matter in Graduate Programmes?

Graduate program admissions, especially for PhD programmes, do not solely depend on how good a student’s grades or CGPA are. The admissions process often takes into account a student’s experience in research, be it having a clear understanding of one’s academic interests, knowing the process of research, familiarity with academic inquiry and literature, and strong recommendations from researchers and faculty members a student has worked with. Having these experiences up one’s sleeve will increase one’s likelihood of getting into a good programme at a reputable university.

Starting one’s journey in academia and research early in Ashoka has its own advantages, the primary one being that students clearly know what line of research they are passionate about. They work closely with the faculty, some of whom are the best in their field and gain first-hand experience in working with top researchers in a real-time setting. Students can actually understand and see for themselves what a research career would look like instead of simply trying to understand it through lectures and office hours. The knowledge of whether they are suited for this career early on in their academic life will allow them to choose their career with certainty and confidence, and will give them the time to build their repertoire accordingly.

Knowing the exact subject matter you are interested in doing research in and having some prior research experience in that field is essential for those who would like to pursue a PhD degree right after their undergraduate programme.

Thus, the time spent at Ashoka University adequately prepares one to seamlessly transition from a sheltered try-and-test-it-out environment to the real world one is thrown into when they are selected into a PhD or even a Master’s Programme.

– Written by Soha Brahma, Economics and Finance Major at Ashoka University.