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Role of the Undergraduate Student Research Assistant in the New Millennium

Thais Dutra Nascimento Silva^*, Lúcia Cristina da Cunha Aguiar, Jaqueline Leta, Dilvani Oliveira Santos^*, Fernanda Serpa Cardoso^*, Lúcio Mendes Cabral, Carlos Rangel Rodrigues^,, and Helena Carla Castro^*,

^* Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol) (http://www.uff.br/labiomol), 3° andar, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, IB-CEG, Universidade Federal Fluminense, CEP 24001–970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21941–590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Laboratório de Modelagem Molecular e QSAR (ModMolQSAR), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21941–590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Corresponding authors. E-mail addresses: hcastrorangel{at}vm.uff.br or hcastrorangel{at}yahoo.com.br and rangel{at}pharma.ufrj.br.

In this study, we analyze the contribution of the undergraduate student who participates in the process of generating scientific data and developing a research project using Brazilian research as an example. Historically, undergraduate students have performed the critical role of research assistants in developing countries. This aspect has been underappreciated as a means of generating scientific data in Brazilian research facilities. Brazilian educational institutions are facing major age-related generational changes among the science faculty within the next 5–10 yr. A lack of adequate support for graduate students leads to a concern that undergraduates will not be interested in choosing research assistant programs and, subsequently, academic research careers. To remedy this situation it is important to focus on ways to encourage new research careers and enhance university–industry collaborations.

Key Words: undergraduate student • science • research • fellowship • developing country