PROGRAM COMPARISON
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TOPIC-FOCUSED RESEARCH PROGRAM AND THE INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROGRAM?
The Topic-Focused Program offers pre-designed and pre-determined areas of research for Lumiere scholars while Individual Research Program offers scholars more flexibility in deciding their field and area of interest. The topics included in the Topic-Focused Program are designed according to the areas that were in high demand for the Individual Research Program, for which the spots are extremely competitive.
Broadly, the Topic-Focused Program courses are for students who are looking for the opportunity to interact with and collaborate with other students while creating their own research paper.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROGRAM AND THE PREMIUM RESEARCH & PUBLICATION PROGRAM?
The Premium Research & Publication Program differs from the Individual Research Program in three ways: it involves publication support for the final research paper, it has a longer duration, and it involves almost double the contact-hours with the research mentor. This program is the right choice for students who are looking to not only produce but also publish a high-quality research paper in their field of interest.
PROGRAM LOGISTICS
WILL MY RESEARCH BE PUBLISHED AFTER THE PROGRAM?
Lumiere does not provide a promise to any student that their Foundations of Research/Individual Research Program work will be published. However, Lumiere will provide resources for students to explore if the student is motivated and interested in continuing to work on this topic and sharing with potential relevant research journals or conferences. Possible publications include undergraduate science journals, high school science journals, and conferences.
In addition to this, Lumiere offers the Premium Research & Publication Program that is designed specifically to help scholars both write a research paper and to support them through the publishing process. You can view the published works of our students here.
CAN I ASK MY RESEARCH MENTOR FOR A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION?
All mentors, at the end of the program, will assign a grade to students’ research paper and write a short evaluation. In addition to this, many students will find that their research mentor has gained a unique perspective on them and their academic ability. Naturally, the question arises if the mentor is able to write a recommendation letter. In this case, it is entirely appropriate to ask your mentor for a letter of recommendation. However, just as with any academic mentor, they are not required to do so. They will likely assess your performance during the program when making the decision whether or not to write a letter.
CAN WE ONLY DO RESEARCH IN THE AREAS LISTED?
We have mentors across every major academic discipline. If there is a community of researchers working on a topic, at least one (and usually many) of them are our mentors. The list of academic topics is meant to be a sample and not an exhaustive list of possible research topics across our programs.
WHAT IS THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROGRAMS?
Each Lumiere Program is run at least four times a year,with Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter sessions.
You can find more details on the dates and applications deadlines here.
HOW WILL THE ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS BE SCHEDULED?
The learning coordinator will initially connect you and your research mentor together over email or another mutually agreed upon platform. We then ask that you and the research mentor coordinate directly to find a mutually agreeable time weekly for the following eight weeks. The research mentor will then send an invite to the student and include a personal Zoom link. For any issues, please contact the learning coordinator.
WHAT IF I WANT TO CHANGE MY RESEARCH QUESTION LATE IN THE PROGRAM?
A student may wish to change their topic of interest late into the program. If this is the case, we encourage the research mentor and the student to assess whether it will be feasible to address that area in the time remaining and to develop a plan to execute on it. If it is not possible, then either the research mentor and student should continue on the agreed-upon topic or an extension of the course may be required. In any case of confusion, contact the learning coordinator.
HOW IS THE RESEARCH TOPIC CHOSEN? DO I NEED TO KNOW WHAT MY TOPIC IS IN ADVANCE?
We do not expect students to come into Lumiere with a clearly defined research question – though some do. For all students, we expect that your research question will evolve and sharpen as you learn and work with your mentor. Your mentor will act as a guide – not working on your research project for you – but, guiding you in the direction of the most fruitful work. Logistically, we expect that students have aligned on a research question by the end of week 4. This question will then be vetted and refined with your research mentor. From there, over the following four weeks, you will be expected to create a research proposal, a first draft of the research paper, and then a final draft at the end of week 8
WHAT IS THE ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP WITH UCSD EXTENDED STUDIES? HOW DO I KNOW IF I QUALIFY?
University of California, San Diego is one of the largest public universities in the world. The Extended Studies division offers programs focused on professional-level training and opportunities for advancement in one’s skills and career preparedness. UCSD Extended Studies is offering 3 units of post-baccalaureate credit to anyone who successfully completes any of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs.
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During the cohort, you can choose to enroll in the credit program, if you want. You will be guided on the enrollment process and pay a processing fee to UCSD Extended Studies. Upon completing the Lumiere Research Scholar Program by turning in your final paper, you will be eligible to receive your transcript and credit units.