So, I'm currently a sophomore at my university and got into a research group. As i am a physics major and plan to do grad research for a phd, i know this is what i'm supposed to be doing. There's another person in my group. Let's call him Ted, who focuses on the computer science aspect of our group (i, naturally, focus more on the physics). He is a freshman.
My personality is more reserved, but im also quite direct and willing to speak up confidently when necessary. Ted is super laid back and kind of fidgety. Since we are close in age and our personalities compliment each other, we get along quite well and often conversate before and after our weekly research meetings.
The thing is, ted is so extremely active in these meetings, and i am so lost. He always speaks up and has loads to say about his research progress over the last week. It's super cool and i honestly think his dedication is admirable. When i tell him, he always humbles himself (which is even cooler) and it inspires me to work harder. So i do. I spend time studying physics concepts that show up in our group despite them being WAY above my student-level, but even still, it's so much information to take in that I can't keep up.
I know that Ted is computer science, which is much easier to grasp onto since he just memorizes code (his words), but i still feel so unhelpful. I want to be able to add useful ideas to this group instead of asking the older student "what is this" and "what does that mean" all the time, whereas Ted bascially started the year out moving uphill.
To be clear, i have no problem WITH Ted, hes super cool, i just feel inferior in so many ways. Any tips on how to get better at research as an undergrad/ get over this feeling?