Emerging Researchers Academy
The Emerging Researchers Academy is a continuing series of student workshops designed for undergraduate researchers and those who are interested in participating in mentored research projects. The workshops offer foundational, research-supportive skill-building activities as well as informational sessions focused on deeper engagement with learning through undergraduate research. Sessions have focused on the research writing process, research question development and design, responsible conduct of research, as well as applying for research opportunities and programs, preparing for graduate study, and combatting imposter syndrome.
Fall Workshop Series
Overcoming Impostor Phenomenon to Write with Confidence Workshop for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, September 3rd
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
In this online Writing Center workshop, we will help you build your writing confidence by identifying and overcoming the impostor phenomenon. You will learn techniques on how to tackle what are sometimes the most difficult writing challenges that can contribute to feelings of imposterism: getting started and managing your time. Come jumpstart your academic writing career, discover your writing strengths, and learn how to become a confident writer!
Research Writing Process Workshop for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, September 10th
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
In this online Writing Center workshop, we will help demystify the college research writing process by breaking it down into manageable chunks, so you don’t procrastinate until the last minute. Start your academic research writing career off right by finding out why you write the way you do, and how to become a more efficient writer!
Research Question Workshop for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, September 17th
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
Research questions can be difficult to start because they are often the first step in your research process. This online Writing Center workshop will help you feel more comfortable when beginning a research project and will teach you how to develop a clear, focused, and complex research question.
Library Databases and Research Strategies Workshop for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, September 24th
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
VCU Libraries provides access to over 670 unique databases, as well as the Gold Search Box on the Libraries' website which allows you to discover books, articles, DVDs, and more. With all these options available, it should be easy to find resources for your research, right? Well, it's not that simple! Join a Teaching & Learning Librarian for a workshop about navigating library databases and forming search strategies to make your hunt for relevant, credible resources quicker, easier, and less of a headache! This workshop will demonstrate how to effectively use the Gold Search Box on the Libraries' website, as well as how to find and use subject-specific databases.
Reading and Incorporating Academic Sources into Your Writing Workshop for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, October 1st
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
Sources are an important part of the writing process, but it can be difficult to know whether an article is “academic” or “scholarly,” much less whether or not it is useful to your research. This online Writing Center workshop is a guide to finding, reading, evaluating, and incorporating academic sources into your work. Students will learn tips to start the search for relevant sources and how to properly integrate outside information into their writing.
Using Zotero to Manage Your Citations Workshop for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, October 8th
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
Zotero is a free and open-source software program to help you manage citations and create bibliographies -- and save plenty of time and heartache in your research process. In this VCU Library online workshop, participants will learn how to create a Zotero account, import citations and PDFs from various platforms, organize references, and generate in-text citations and bibliographies in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
Annotating Sources: Gathering Evidence for Your Research Project for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, October 15th
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
Why not save yourself time and energy and take notes in PDFs of sources while you read? Annotation makes reading more engaging and helps you gather the most valuable evidence from your sources. This workshop, led by the FILL, will show you how to save many kinds of texts as PDFs and introduce you to a system of note-taking using free annotation software. The easy approach to highlighting and leaving comments you will learn will ensure that you can quickly make sense of your notes when you return to them later.
AI in AI (Academic Integrity in Artificial Intelligence) Workshop for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, October 22nd
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
AI is transforming the way scholars write, think, and conduct research…but are we using it wisely? This online workshop led by McNair Staff explores how to use AI tools responsibly and intentionally by addressing the risks of relying on AI for unverified information, the ethical concerns of generative platforms, and the importance of maintaining authorship and voice. Participants will gain tips for using AI outputs responsibly and learn how to use AI to enhance their scholarly identity. Whether you’re new to AI or already using it in your academic work, this session will help you navigate its complexities ethically and with integrity.
Personal Narrative Workshop for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, October 29th
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
This online Writing Center workshop is designed to make you more familiar with personal narrative assignments and writing in a more personal way. Narrative Writing is a piece of writing that tells a story and often makes connections from personal experience. These types of assignments are typical in Focused Inquiry courses but are assigned across disciplines. It can be difficult to write in this form because you may not be familiar with writing in a more personal way, especially in academia, but this workshop will give you the tools to write personally and confidently!
Writing a Strong Introduction, Abstract, or Proposal Narrative Workshop for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, November 5th
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
Being able to show the value of a larger piece or project with a succinct, well-structured introduction, abstract, or proposal narrative can be a nerve-wracking endeavor, as you scramble to articulate your ideas in the best way possible. In this online Writing Center workshop, we will give you the tools necessary to establish your ideas in a strong, logical way that will hook your audience and get them excited about reading more.
Structuring Your Writing for Your Audience Workshop for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, November 12th
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Sign up via Zoom
It can be frustrating to put so much work into a paper, only to be told it doesn’t flow or make sense. Alternatively, if you’re not sure how to do these things, you may put off writing until the last minute, which often results in a rushed mess. This online Writing Center workshop will give you the tools necessary to meet the needs of your audience by writing strong, logical, structurally sound work.
Communicating Your Research to Multiple Audiences for Emerging Researchers Academy
Date: Wednesday, November 19th
Time: 3-4 p.m.
How to join: Join via Zoom
This online workshop, led by a previous McNair Scholar, equips undergraduate researchers with strategies to effectively communicate their work to diverse audiences, from academic peers and faculty to community stakeholders and the general public. Participants will learn how to tailor their messaging, use accessible language, and choose appropriate formats to ensure their research resonates across different contexts.