Challenges and opportunities in maintaining research momentum at a primarily undergraduate institution

Abstract

Conferences and meetings hosted by scientific societies usually include sessions on how to navigate the academic faculty job search and the initial setup of a laboratory, or how to identify and pursue early-career grant funding opportunities. However, there is not much professional development support available beyond this stage. Faculty may have set up the research lab and have recruited students to their groups but then might find themselves struggling to be successful in accomplishing their goals. In other words, how can we maintain the momentum once research activities are established? This Voices article summarizes a discussion carried out in the context of a round-table session at the American Society for Cell Biology’s Cell Bio 2022. We sought to identify and articulate the challenges of carrying out research at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), appreciate the role of undergraduate research in the science enterprise, develop strategies to overcome research challenges and recognize unique opportunities in this setting, with the ultimate goal of launching a community of “late-early” to mid-career PUI faculty.