Working in analytics for the Reds (fingers crossed!!)
In short, yes. I most likely would have applied for a UR-STEM project, because I definitely wanted to try out a research experience. It is a really great opportunity.
Math and Statistics have so many applications, that you can really do research in anything, so think about what you're really interested in. Talk with professors to see if any of them have similar interests. Many professors have ongoing projects that you can join in on. Keep your eyes and ears open.
There are multiple ways to get involved. You can apply for a project, but not every professor will necessarily put out a UR-STEM project. That doesn't mean they aren't interested in research. Put yourself out there, communicate with your professors, and be open to opportunities that may arise. I did my second research project because the professors running the course knew me and thought I would be a good fit for the class. Depending on your interests, you may get some choice in the topic, but the professors tend to have good questions that work well for a project.
Applied.
It is a little scary at first, but research is a learning opportunity, and the professors realize that you're not going to be an expert. If it is a new question for them, sometimes they are not even an expert. Plus, the best part of research is that you get to try your hand at a new topic that you may not get to see in a class, and there isn't as much pressure because there is not necessarily a correct answer.
I have always considered myself a pretty strong public speaker, so while giving talks may not be my favorite thing in the world, I have always felt comfortable speaking in front of groups. In terms of research, presenting is one of the most fulfilling aspects because you get to share what you've been working on for months. My research has given me great opportunities to travel and speak at national conferences (for free!), which has really increased my confidence in presenting.
I'll admit I had to do a little research on this one. From what I can tell, as GM, Brown took a highly analytical approach when trying to put together a team in Cleveland, but (clearly) his actions have yet to pay off. He butted heads with the head coach, who was old-fashioned and believed in scouting. Sashi Brown ended up getting fired because Cleveland had not immediately benefited from his approach. I am a pretty analytical person, so I think sabermetrics has a place in sports. Unfortunately for the Browns, the effects of analytics are not immediate, and they wanted a quick fix. Sabermetrics requires some patience in order to create a strong franchise, which the NFL struggles with. There is no quick fix -- the Browns weren't going to go from going 1-15 to winning a Super Bowl in one season. I think that sabermetrics and the old school approach of scouting can coexist. There is so much variability in sports that I don't think a pure sabermetrics approach is the answer. As we have seen in this year's NCAA tournament, statistics do not give a complete picture. I think the Browns may soon see the benefits of Sashi Brown's approach, and they may regret firing him. But hey, at least Cleveland still has Lebron...
Any research project is going to be difficult because it most likely involves a concept you have not seen or applied before. But like I said before, the professors here want you to learn as much as you can. They are not going to hang you out to dry. Plus, you typically have other people to work with. You are on a research team where you can bounce ideas off of each other and figure out tricky concepts together. Fortunately, here at NKU, the research is just as much about the student learning process as it is answering the research question itself. It can get difficult, but you are never going to feel completely lost.
My research with Dr. Long was sent to the Proceedings of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science for review last month. As far as I know, we are still waiting on feedback. Because of scheduling, I was no longer a part of the project when most of the report writing was completed, but since I was part of the research itself, my name still made it on the paper. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for that project. As for my other research, that project was for a course that was a part of the PICMath program. We did have to write a report and send a video-taped presentation to PICMath, but the work was not published. We did get to present our work at MathFest in Chicago.
Every research project is different, so there is no way to feel totally prepared. Even my second project was a lot different from the first, so I think completing the first project did not necessarily change how prepared I felt for the second. I think a solid math/stat background helps. The more higher level courses you have taken, the more creative you can get with the project. That being said, you don't necessarily need to have taken a lot of classes to do a research project. I think there are two things that are important to know about research: it's a big commitment. Be ready to do a lot of work because it's not something you can sit down and finish in two hours. And two -- it's not going to be a straight path. Answering one question can lead to other questions, and you might end up going down a road that was not in your initial plan. Doing research is not like taking a class -- don't let that scare you, it makes things much more exciting and interesting.