Julio Reynaga, C’13, W’13

Julio-ReynagaWhy should you do research as an undergraduate? Doing research is the best way to jump-start your career. Today’s industry leaders are constantly pushing the boundaries of knowledge, asking increasingly complex questions, and drawing conclusions and making decisions based on a vast amount of information. At the same time, high-impact teams across industries are extensively relying on experiments and data analytics to be more effective. In this context, research has become an integral part of every job description regardless of the specific role or industry. Conducting research either by helping faculty as a research assistant or working on your own project will teach you a valuable skill set that you will use throughout your career. In fact, it will help you get the job in the first place. Research experience immediately sets you apart from other applicants on the recruiting process. So, make sure to take advantage of the resources available at Penn early on. Once you develop a researcher’s mindset and skills, they will stay with you for life and help you succeed.