Modules

Program Overview

Note: schedule of specific sessions subject to change.

Module Description

SOAR² is organized around the research lifecycle—from getting involved in research to working with data, documenting your work, and sharing your findings.

• 

  Entering Research
  Learn how research actually works across disciplines and how you can get involved. You’ll explore the roles people play in research, how teams function, and strategies for finding mentors and opportunities. This module also introduces the idea of doing research in ways that are transparent and accessible to others.
  
• 

  Data in Practice
  Work hands-on with data and learn how to organize, explore, and visualize it using tools like Excel and coding language (e.g., R or Python). You’ll see how structuring data thoughtfully makes your work easier to understand and build on. Along the way, you’ll get a glimpse of how coding supports more efficient and reproducible workflows.
  
• 

  Documentation & Reproducibility
  Learn how to keep your research organized, understandable, and reusable. You’ll practice simple strategies for documenting your work—such as structuring files, describing data, and keeping clear notes—so others (and your future self) can follow what you’ve done. You’ll also see how these practices support collaboration and long-term use of research.
  
• 

  Communicating Research
  Explore how research is shared and discussed within scholarly communities. You’ll learn about common formats like posters and publications, and what makes research outputs clear and effective. This module also introduces how data, code, and other materials can be shared responsibly.
  
• 

  Generative AI in Research
  Explore potential uses of generative AI tools in research workflows. You’ll examine both the possibilities and limitations of these tools, with an emphasis on using AI intentionally, critically, and responsibly in research settings. This module will also touch upon important questions around transparency, reproducibility, bias, and intellectual contribution.
  
• 

  Open Research Identity
  Start developing your presence as a researcher. You’ll learn how to create a scholarly profile, showcase your work, and identify opportunities to grow your skills and experience. This module also helps you think about your next steps and how to navigate research environments with confidence.
  
• 

  Open Project Plan (Capstone)
  Bring everything together by outlining a research project of your own. You’ll identify a topic or question, think through what data you would use, and plan how you would organize, document, and share your work. This capstone activity helps you turn what you’ve learned throughout SOAR2 into a clear path forward.