Evan Goldstein, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Augusta University’s College of Science and Mathematics, emphasizes the importance of early involvement in undergraduate research. “Undergraduate research matters a lot. Getting students in early with research is the best way for them to understand what life in a research lab and an academic institution means,” Goldstein said.
Quentin Davis, PhD, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (CURS), noted that while students may initially find research intimidating, participation offers valuable hands-on experience. “Many students may find the word ‘research’ a little intimidating at first, but those who try it quickly learn that it’s a fun, hands-on way to get more involved in your studies,” Davis said. “Often, participation in research introduces you to new ideas and topics you never would have explored otherwise – a classic part of the collegiate learning experience.”
Goldstein joined Augusta University in 2023 and currently supervises nine undergraduate students who study neurodevelopment and developmental brain injuries. His interest in this area was shaped by personal experience: “When I was 7 or 8 years old, my mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which is a well-known neurodegenerative myelin disorder,” he said.
His lab uses mouse models to simulate conditions experienced by preterm infants with underdeveloped lungs, seeking to better understand white matter injuries that affect this population.
Students like Isaac Bloom, a third-year neuroscience major and one of Goldstein’s first lab assistants, say early exposure to research has helped them prepare for advanced coursework. “When you do research very early, it forces you to understand. By being exposed to so much so early, all these upper-level classes are very much simplified,” Bloom said.
Bloom credits his mistakes during lab procedures as valuable learning experiences. “Every procedure in our protocol books that I wrote, I feel like the only reason I could write those protocols well was because I messed up every single step, at least in one way or another,” he said.
Jasmine Baidoo, a fourth-year cell and molecular biology major and CURS Ambassador who has worked with Goldstein since her sophomore year, also sees value in applying classroom knowledge to real-world problems through lab work. “Being involved in research is like saying, ‘I recognize this real-world problem, and I’d like to find a way to fix it.’ It helps develop your problem-solving skills, not just in the research lab but in the classroom and the real world, too,” Baidoo said.
Baidoo explained her personal connection to her research focus: “I was a preterm baby; I was born at 6 months. I was put in an incubator for a long time before I was released to my parents. Being able to take steps to help other preterm infants is something I really wanted to do, and that’s happening now.”
Both Bloom and Baidoo encourage other students interested in research opportunities at Augusta University.
Goldstein acknowledges that working with undergraduates can be challenging but finds it rewarding. “Working with undergrads, while it’s not necessarily what we as faculty are trained for, I find it extremely rewarding,” he said. “They have this great enthusiasm that makes them fun to be around.”
Goldstein attributes his ability to recruit many student assistants—sometimes up to ten—to direct interaction with undergraduates during classes and through programs such as CURS’ Summer Scholars Program and connections with groups like the Honors Program. He stresses giving students meaningful projects rather than menial tasks: “I think that’s really important that students aren’t just here volunteering time washing dishes or doing tasks in the lab that they know how to do, but they don’t know why they’re doing it.”
He also highlights peer-to-peer training within his growing team as new members join existing ones over time.
For faculty looking to expand their labs’ student involvement, Goldstein recommends flexibility with students new to research while setting clear expectations from the start. He encourages mentors to engage prospective students actively: once they express interest in joining his lab, he lets them lead conversations about their interests before assigning roles.
“Mentors like Dr. Goldstein are hidden gems of this university,” Davis said. “We have so many talented and caring faculty who have dedicated their career to a particular area of study but simultaneously are dedicating themselves to our students. The relationships built when you work together to solve problems and answer meaningful questions take the student-faculty relationship to a different level. We have a rich community of mentors and mentees here at AU.”
