How to Find Research Opportunities 

Get to know faculty, graduate students, and staff. Go to office hours. Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to be interested and enthusiastic. If you’re intimidated by face-to-face contact with a total stranger, give them a call or send them an email first. Scan through faculty websites and talk to teaching assistants and advisors to find out who is doing the kind of work that interests you. Then talk to those professors or graduate students to find out if they could use a volunteer on their research project. Again, it gets your foot in the door and is valuable experience.  

 Are you an undergraduate student interested in research independent study with a faculty member? Contact the faculty member via email (include your resume), to explain why you're interested in working with them.   

Undergraduate Biology Research Program

The Undergraduate Biology Research Program provides paid opportunities for students to participate in self-directed biological related research in a lab with a faculty mentor. Student projects involve inquiry, design, investigation, research, scholarship, discovery, and the presentation of experimental results. Program benefits include research training and acquiring the tools needed to be successful in post-graduate studies in biology through:

  • A full-time summer research apprenticeship, with the option to continue in the project part-time during the academic year
  • Weekly professional development sessions
  • Presentation of experimental results at the annual research program conference
  • Optional field trips, community service opportunities, and social events

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium 

Undergraduate students may participate in research training and graduate school preparation through our Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium sponsored by our Graduate College.  

The UROC offers: 

  • Research experience under the guidance of a faculty mentor 
  • Professional development and graduate admission workshops 
  • A free professional GRE workshop and encouragement to take the GRE during UROC (mandatory for some programs) 
  • Social opportunities and a support network of like-minded peers 
  • Poster session, oral presentation, and abstract writing 
  • Financial support in varying amounts by program