Like any Haverford major, Chemistry majors do have to write a senior thesis. It is a big project, but it doesn't have to be as scary as it seems! The Chemistry Department is great at providing support and helping students through the process. Here are a couple things from the student perspective that are useful to keep in mind:

• While most students do a two semester thesis (an original research project) it is possible to do a one semester thesis, which typically takes the form of a literature review. Talk to your advisor about whether or not this option would be a good fit for you.

• Getting involved in research earlier (first or second year) can make the process of developing a project for thesis easier but is by NO MEANS required. 

• Picking a thesis lab typically begins towards the end of junior fall semester and is finalized by the end of junior year. Chemistry's process for this is fairly informal--picking advisors comes from individual student-professor conversations. Some students choose to get a head start on their research by working in their lab the summer before senior year, but again, this is NOT required.

• Your thesis advisor does not have to be a Haverford Chemistry professor! If you've developed a research relationship with another faculty member at Haverford or at another institution (often Penn or Bryn Mawr) they can serve as your thesis advisor. If this is the case for you, an HC Chemistry professor will serve as a secondary advisor for you to ensure your work meets expectations for the HC Chemistry thesis.

To start, head over to the on-campus research opportunities website. This site has a list of Haverford Chemistry professors with research labs and brief descriptions of their interests. You can also talk to upperclassmen (check out the Chemistry Directory if you don't know any) about their research. 

Once you have an idea of whose research looks interesting, you can fill out this general interest form (if you're interested in multiple labs) or directly email the faculty member.

Tips for contacting professors:

Your initial email does not have to be lengthy (professors are busy so shorter is better!). It can be as simple as: "Dear Professor X, I am a first-year (sophomore, etc) potentially majoring in X. I am interested in your research because X. Is there anything I can do to get involved this semester? Best, your name"

Professors are busy and can miss emails! If you haven't heard back from them in over a week, send a follow up. This is NOT considered rude.

When should you initiate contact?

Summer research: end of fall semester/beginning of winter break. Many funding deadlines are in February

Academic credit: before pre-registration for the semester your interested in getting credit for.

If you don't have a specific time you want to start research, it's never the wrong time to initiate a conversation! 

In any case, if a professor has space in their lab, they will often invite you to their lab group meetings and/or set up an individual meeting to talk about your interests. Getting from initial contact to having your own research project can be a slow process--don't give up! Joining a new lab always has a learning curve as you adjust to the culture and learn new background knowledge and techniques. 

Tips for a first meeting with a professor:

Do your best to familiarize yourself with the professor's research but DO NOT STRESS if there is a lot you do not understand (especially if you try to read some of their publications). Professors can explain things in less technical language that makes the research easier to understand. They're most interested in seeing your interest in learning and asking questions rather than you knowing everything already.