If you’re conducting research on campus, SMU Libraries has many resources available to support you, whether you are preparing for a class project, conducting a literature review for a conference proposal, or just interested in learning more about a topic. These resources can be found by checking out research guides, which are helpful as starting points for places to search, as well as databases, which are available for individuals working in a wide range of fields. Though each database has something to offer, it is typically helpful to search for a database by subject area to narrow your research focus.
If you’re a STEM major in need of research help, you’re in luck: SMU Libraries has a database for you! If you are researching in life sciences or biomedical fields, consider checking out BIOSIS Citation Index. This database can be used to search for articles by topic, author, year, and more, but what is particularly helpful is its capability to allow users to navigate across papers that have referenced each other. In other words, if you have found the perfect paper for your biology class, but haven’t found anything else similar, BIOSIS can assist; each BIOSIS record displays other papers that have cited the work of interest, as well as the papers that the work itself has referenced (often with a link to the actual article). The volume of records in the database is notable, as well – simply conducting a quick search on “birds” yields nearly a quarter million records, a result that can be refined according to the user’s research needs.
Interested in learning what other resources SMU Libraries has available for you?
Check out our databases page, and search by subject and type to find a resource that fits your research needs. Not sure where to start? We are happy to help – check out our databases FAQ page, or contact your subject librarian for guidance. Finish the year strong with support from SMU Libraries!