R esearch is an integral component for graduate studies. Students in Georgia College’s master’s and doctoral programs receive many opportunities to connect with faculty and conduct hands-on, personalized research and creative endeavors in their area of study. 

Georgia College offers 34 graduate programs to more than 1,200 students. From athletic training to education to criminal justice, research is a key component of each experience.

“Engaging in research at the graduate level gives students the opportunity to increase the depth of their knowledge in a specific area while advancing their critical thinking skills within a real-life situation,” said Dr. Holley Roberts, associate vice president for academic affairs and director of The Graduate School.

The Graduate School provides several ways for students to share their research by presenting at conferences and at the Research Poster Showcase—where students can share their work with the campus community.

“Being able to present at conferences offers graduate students a variety of benefits. They can improve their communication, presentation and analytical skills; network with others within their discipline to expand their own knowledge; and have the opportunity to see themselves as professionals in their discipline,” Roberts said. “So many of the graduate student research projects address issues and challenges that need solutions. Graduate students accept the challenge in these areas and seek research experiences that contribute to their fields. 

It’s not just about the knowledge gained from research but also the relationships built with faculty mentors.

“I'm directly advised by Dr. Katie Stumpf. She is an incredibly talented and resourceful scientist and ornithologist,” said Christopher Horacek, a biology master’s student. “Under her guidance, I've gained so many hands-on skills.”

Horacek and Stumph study birds and how their health can indicate environmental challenges.  

“Birds have just an incredible amount of diversity, and they serve as an indicator for a changing climate,” he said. “Studying birds is a really good way to learn more about the world.”

 Their current work, now in its third year, focuses on one of the most popular birds in Georgia— bluebirds. 
“We are working on a project that is looking at the effects of nest box temperature on reproductive success in eastern Bluebirds,” Horacek said.  

Nest boxes or birdhouses are widely used across the southeast, but they’re technically a replacement for the “natural cavities” birds use in the wild. The birds have lost much of their natural habitat due to deforestation.

“Natural cavities and the artificial birdhouses aren't equal in regard to the temperatures that they provide,” Horacek said. “We're also looking at nest box color as a way to lower the temperature. Our goal is hopefully to come up with recommendations for nest box design that habitat managers can use to improve the success of nest boxes regarding temperature.” 

Horacek recently presented this study at the Georgia Wildlife Society and the Georgia Academy of Sciences, where he won the best graduate presentation award.  

The Graduate School provides research travel grants to graduate students to support costs associated with presenting their original scholarship at professional conferences. The program awards up to $400 for expenses associated with conference fees, travel and accommodations. 

Students across all programs receive multiple opportunities to showcase their work both on and off campus. Tara Heimberger will receive her Master of English in May. She’s taken advantage of every chance she could to share her work.

“I presented at the Women's Symposium at Georgia College and at our graduate research conference. I presented at an online conference hosted by Georgia State. Then, I received a graduate travel grant to attend the Sigma Tau Delta —the English Honor Society’s—International Convention,” she said. “My papers at those events vary from Marxist theory and television shows to poetry.”

Heimberger’s variety of work highlights one of the benefits of the English master’s program.

“They really allow you to explore whatever it is that you're interested in,” Heimberger said. “We're not limited like a more traditional program that focuses only on literature. At Georgia College, we can branch out and study things like film and television as well.”

Faculty supported Heimberger through her creative endeavors. From her thesis advisor, Dr. Lauren Pilcher to her advisor Dr. Julian Knox, she’s been encouraged to write about topics that matter to her.  

Heimberger has also shared that support and encouragement with her students as a Teaching Fellow. She taught sections of English 1101 and 1102 to undergraduates this academic year. She plans to pursue her Ph.D. to teach at the college level and will pass along the value of publicly sharing one’s work to her future students.  

“I think people should know about the resources, especially if they're pursuing a higher degree in academia or wanting to pursue academia itself,” she said. “It's important to have the experience of presenting at a conference because it's such an inherent part of academia. It’s also just fun to be in one place with people who are like-minded and to make connections.”

For Horacek, he knows his experiences as a graduate student at Georgia College will help him in his future career working for a state wildlife resource agency. 

“Being able to present my work and win awards is a validation of all the hard work that we put in. The conferences themselves, however, are really the reward,” he said. “The most valuable thing is actually attending conferences because we can get valuable feedback on our research.”

More information on Georgia College graduate research and award opportunities is available here.