Students and faculty collaborate on summer research projects

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Bontis_Malik1.jpg” caption=”Nick Bontis, associate professor in the DeGroote School of Business, and fourth-year honours commerce student Taimur Malik. Photo by Susan Bubak.”]Taimur Malik is a self-confessed sports nut. So when the fourth-year honours commerce student had the opportunity to combine his sports obsession with his business studies, he jumped at the opportunity to work with like-minded sports fan Nick Bontis, associate professor in the DeGroote School of Business.

“I love playing sports,” said Malik. “I eat, sleep and breathe sports.” Not surprisingly, his summer research project will focus on variables that influence team performance in the NBA. He will study 20 years of data for 10 NBA teams to find out what makes a successful team, and determine how those factors can be applied to the business world.

Malik received an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) worth $5,000 to work with Bontis this summer. For Bontis, Malik's research could lead to a new course in sports management if there is enough interest at the undergraduate level.

More than 170 students received NSERC and Undergraduate Student Research Awards this year, giving students the opportunity to collaborate on research projects with faculty members.

“It's critical because students don't necessarily get to work on research with faculty,” said Bontis, adding that many USRA recipients go on to graduate school. “It's one of the most important initiatives at McMaster. It offers an opportunity they wouldn't get anywhere else.”

Both students and professors benefit from the learning opportunities provided by these summer research positions.

“To learn, doing it is way more interesting than hearing about it,” said Daniel Coleman, professor in the Department of English & Cultural Studies. “Learning is a two-way street. It's not just the students. I learn too. We work on problems together and they bring skills that I don't have.

The award recipients will showcase their summer research projects at the USRA Poster Session on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 12 to 2 p.m. in the MUSC Marketplace.

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Bontis_Malik1.jpg" caption="Nick Bontis, associate professor in the DeGroote School of Business, and fourth-year honours commerce student Taimur Malik. Photo by Susan Bubak."]Taimur Malik is a self-confessed sports nut. So when the fourth-year honours commerce student had the opportunity to combine his sports obsession with his business studies, he jumped at the opportunity to work with like-minded sports fan Nick Bontis, associate professor in the DeGroote School of Business.<br />
<br />
<p>"I love playing sports," said Malik. "I eat, sleep and breathe sports." Not surprisingly, his summer research project will focus on variables that influence team performance in the NBA. He will study 20 years of data for 10 NBA teams to find out what makes a successful team, and determine how those factors can be applied to the business world.<br />
<br />
<p>Malik received an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) worth $5,000 to work with Bontis this summer. For Bontis, Malik&#039;s research could lead to a new course in sports management if there is enough interest at the undergraduate level.<br />
<br />
<p>More than 170 students received NSERC and Undergraduate Student Research Awards this year, giving students the opportunity to collaborate on research projects with faculty members. <br />
<br />
<p>"It&#039;s critical because students don&#039;t necessarily get to work on research with faculty," said Bontis, adding that many USRA recipients go on to graduate school. "It&#039;s one of the most important initiatives at McMaster. It offers an opportunity they wouldn&#039;t get anywhere else."<br />
<br />
<P>Both students and professors benefit from the learning opportunities provided by these summer research positions.<br />
<br />
<p>"To learn, doing it is way more interesting than hearing about it," said Daniel Coleman, professor in the Department of English & Cultural Studies. "Learning is a two-way street. It&#039;s not just the students. I learn too. We work on problems together and they bring skills that I don&#039;t have.<br />
<br />
<p>The award recipients will showcase their summer research projects at the USRA Poster Session on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 12 to 2 p.m. in the MUSC Marketplace.

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