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Scholarly research may be great for a professor's
career, but how will his or her academic work help you? First, you'll discuss
up-to-date theories and ideas with a professor who probably knows that field's
key figures (or is one!). Second, you can become a professor's paid research
assistant and get experience as a student-scholar as early as your first year at
Smith.
Student-faculty collaborations unfold on the Smith campus
every day, and students are encouraged to develop projects as a result of work in
classes or to pursue, in an intensive and structured way, a long-term academic interest.
Some collaborations may yield scholarly publications
co-authored by professor and student or joint presentations of research results at
an academic conference. Smith showcases
those efforts with its "Celebrating Collaborations" event every
April; this year 180 students presented the independent work they completed
with faculty.
Smith faculty members are conducting research on a wealth
of topics, including Yiddish literature and Jewish culture, the evolutionary history
of microbial cells, New York and the birth of popular culture, and competitive balance
in professional sports teams. Those in the arts create sculptures and paintings and
compose fiction, poetry, music, dances and plays. Every year some 80 students spend
their summer working closely with professors on original research.
The names of Smith faculty surface regularly in the
pages of top newspapers and magazines, and their faces are on TV and behind speakers' podiums
at major summits and conventions. For example, Helen Horowitz (history, American
studies, and women and gender studies) spoke to a national media gathering on the
history of women in the United States; Randy Frost (psychology) has become one of
the foremost researchers on compulsive hoarding and is often asked to speak on his
studies; pianist Monica Jakuc (music) has been a featured artist at International
Association of Women in Music concerts in London and Washington; and Andrew Zimbalist
(economics) testified before Congress about antitrust legislation and its relationship
to major league baseball. These same people share their wisdom and expertise with
students every day at Smith. |
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Teaching
Research
&
Collaboration
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