Rethinking Undergraduate Research: From Assistants to Independent Thinkers

Abstract: This talk presents a mentorship model for undergraduate research developed within the Embedded Ethics Lab at UCSB. The model rethinks the traditional role of undergraduates, from assisting with tasks to leading independent research, and examines how this shift impacts student learning, confidence, and long-term development. The approach is built on core elements such as autonomy, trust, structure, environment, and emotional support. Students are given early ownership of their projects, supported through regular guidance and a collaborative lab culture, and encouraged to engage with research questions that integrate technical and ethical dimensions. The talk also highlights the student experience throughout this process, including initial uncertainty and struggle, the development of research thinking, and eventual ownership of their work. Drawing on student perspectives, it illustrates how this model fosters confidence and a stronger sense of identity as researchers. Importantly, the talk also discusses the challenges, including pressures related to time management, responsibility, and coordination as a tradeoff to autonomy and an essential part of growing as a researcher.

Bio: Dr. Maryam Majedi joined the Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, as an Assistant Teaching Professor in 2023. She completed a teaching stream postdoc at the University of Toronto, where she worked with the Embedded Ethics Education Initiative (E3I) team and introduced the first ethics modules for CS courses in Canada. Dr. Majedi earned her Ph.D. in data privacy at the University of Calgary. Her Ph.D. work presents a novel privacy policy modeling technique. Prior to her Ph.D., she earned a Master of Science degree in High-Performance Scientific Computing from the University of New Brunswick. Dr. Majedi also completed a fellowship in Medical Innovation at Western University.

Dr. Majedi’s research primarily revolves around Embedded Ethics and Data Privacy. She explores the intersection of computer science and ethical considerations, aiming to develop modules that facilitate the integration of ethics and data privacy principles into computer science education.