Spiegel Named Director of Undergraduate Research

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Frederick Spiegel has been named director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at the University of Arkansas. Spiegel, a Distinguished Professor of biological sciences, joined the university in 1982 and has served in many capacities, including as chair and vice-chair of the department.

The office itself is a new initiative at the University of Arkansas aimed at helping undergrads and faculty identify and pursue research opportunities both on and off campus. It will be administered through the office of the Vice Provost for Research and Economic Development.

“Undergrad research was a big part of my own college education, and it was wonderful to be able to try ideas out and learn from my mistakes,” Spiegel said. “It caused me to apply material from all my courses, not just those in my majors, to solving problems. It really helped me to learn to see the world using the big picture.”

Spiegel will edit Inquiry, the university’s undergraduate research journal, coordinate summer research programs, and work with academic units to incorporate research into undergraduate curriculum.

“I would like to see the university, through this office, develop undergraduate research as one track along which students can complete their curricula,” he said. “This is not something that can be done overnight, and I hope to engage interested parties in a discussion of ideas that presently work and ideas for novel approaches to make research by undergraduates something for which the University of Arkansas becomes recognized as a national leader.”