Mark Smith said he has had different experiences than Bertrand and Lomas. His model came from an authority in his field of natural resources economics. At a conference, he asked this professor how he is so productive at Colby College. He hires students as research assistants and then cultivates their interests and talents for the next few years. Smith uses this model for student-faculty research.
Several elements comprise a successful student-faculty project.
Unless the student is motivated to work and to pursue the project, it will not succeed. Second, the topic must engage the student. A project will see greater success if it interests the student doing the research. Third, the student must be articulate when writing about the subject, particularly if it is moving towards publication. Fourth, if the goal of the research is publication, it requires a commitment beyond graduation.