The Stepping Stones to Becoming a Research Rockstar

My view of what research is has completely changed since undertaking two undergraduate honours theses in my fourth and fifth years of study. I will describe these projects here. Initially, I had this idea that I needed to be a Sheldon Cooper* to be successful at researching, but that is not the case. In my second year of university, it looked like the most boring thing you could possibly do; mainly because it appeared to be very advanced material. However, after completing the core classes, you begin to make connections and see the bigger picture. Once I reached this point, I realized doing an undergraduate research project was the best next step I could take to advance my career opportunities.

The reason I initially chose to do a research project was because I wanted to take what I was learning in the classroom to the real world. The difference between research and normal coursework comes down to the applications. Though research tends to be quite specific, the basics we learn in the classroom are directly applicable to research. Without an understanding of the foundations of a topic, research becomes extremely difficult. However, the beauty of an undergraduate thesis is it enables review of those basics while also applying it to a real-world setting.

My first project involved collecting representative “fresh” (unaltered) samples of the host rock of a high-grade uranium deposit in the southwestern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan to analyze the mineral composition and, ultimately, give a name to the rock. Methods included making thin sections of rock samples to view under a petrographic microscope, using geochemical data (major and trace elements) in a program called “ioGAS” to determine the origin of the rock, and interpreting observations made in hand samples. This project taught me that the high-grade uranium deposit in Saskatchewan is likely hosted by an igneous-in-origin rock even though the name “semi-pelitic gneiss” infers a sedimentary-in-origin rock.

Upon completing my first project, I learned many things about myself. I was lucky to use the feedback from my first project to help me grow as a researcher and further develop the skills one needs to be successful for my second project. For example, I learned how important it is to focus on allotting your time properly. I spent countless hours trying to find the best way to present my research, and not enough time on my final paper. I also learned to keep documenting the papers I read throughout the year. Citing is very important when it comes to writing research papers and I found it significantly difficult to trace back all the papers read throughout the year. Having established deadlines for presenting my research and being organized enabled me to progress throughout the school year and allot time where required. Deadlines forced me to ensure I stayed on track with my research. My supervisor was very supportive by encouraging me to present my findings on various occasions.

Overall, I would say communication skills are extremely important to research, which may be surprising to some. In my opinion, there is only so much a textbook or a paper can teach you. I have found the most beneficial research has come from talking to professors, other students, or experts on the matter. Something very useful that you may have never considered for your project is just a conversation away! Lastly, I think my ability to think outside the box has been thoroughly enhanced by completing these projects. Obtaining data and making direct observations from that data is great and that is the first step in data analysis. However, the ability to utilize information from multiple classes to start making big picture connections is where the best researchers shine!

My second undergraduate thesis has focused on granitoid suites in the northeastern corner of Saskatchewan and two pegmatite boulder trains in the area which host significant enrichments of Lithium and other rare metals. With the recent addition of electric cars to the global market, demand for lithium, which is used in batteries, is expected to increase, meaning exploration for the rare metal is becoming evermore important. These granitoid suites will be compared to igneous suites (Nueltin, Hudson, Enekatcha) from the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. We are also determining, through petrography and microprobe studies, what minerals are hosting these rare metal enrichments. To date, this project has taught me that there is significant enrichments of lithium in Saskatchewan. Lithium is hosted in a mineral called “spodumene” which exhibits an alteration of an aggregate of eucryptite and albite. Spodumene, beryl, and alkali feldspars host enrichments in certain rare metals, constituting rocks called “pegmatites”.

The best aspect about research is the fact that it typically invites us into discovering something new or understudied, which means there are always new research questions arising. For example, with my current project, one aspect we are studying is geographic locations to acquire more samples of interest. Though my project is mainly analyzing chemical constituents of the rock, after speaking with one of my co-authors, we decided to research more locations by an entirely new approach utilizing remote sensing (satellite images). The other benefit of research projects is the opportunities that can compound. As mentioned before, I was able to connect with many industry professionals which resulted in a job with the company that provided funding for my project. I find that anytime I talk to an expert in the field, I find myself devising up entirely new approaches to what I’m analyzing. And that’s what makes these projects so exciting.

* a television character personifying academic nerdiness from an American program called, The Big Bang Theory

Courtney Onstad plans to graduate with an honours degree in Geological Sciences and a minor in Geomatics. She will be returning to the University of Saskatchewan to complete a two year M.Sc. thesis in Geological Sciences.