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Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Undergraduates can participate in on-going research projects with faculty members. This provides a special opportunity to put into practice what
students have learned in regular classes, and at the same time allow the students to share in the
excitement of scientific discovery with a faculty member.
There are several options for research experience.
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Independent study
Done in a faculty members lab with corresponding
course credit (EEB 3899, MCB 3989, or PNB 3299). Many faculty members
have grant-supported research programs, and typically have a lab with
several graduate students and a few undergraduates. Independent study
is always arranged on a one-to-one basis; typically a student would
be in the lab one or two afternoons per week.
To get started in independent study, you need to find a faculy sponsor
who has space in his/her lab and negotiate the time and credits. We
offer a course specifically designed to introduce undergraduates to
the variety of faculty research programs:
In this course, a different faculty member comes each week to talk about research
in their labs. Interested students usually take this course both semesters
of sophomore year, and by junior year have a good sense of the kind
of research that interests them and have some acquaintance with the variety
of research at UConn. It's good practice to stick with the same lab
for several semesters of research, since you build up your skills and
competence with time.
It's always a good idea to prepare a short handout (i.e., resume or (CV) Curriculum Vitae) about yourself
when looking for a faculty sponsor for research. Include a transcript
and a list of any relevant background you've had, including any lab
experiences and techniques you're familiar with (including
things like photography, skill with microscopy, prior experience with
gel electrophoresis or other techniques, etc.), but don't be put off
by a lack of experience; the most important thing is your interest
and willingness to get involved!
 UConn Coop program
Allows juniors and seniors six months
of full-time, paid, career-related work experience. Contact Beth Settje at the Dept.
of Career Services, 486-3013, for further information. This involves
off-campus experience, usually working with companies in Connecticut.
A number of students have found this to be a very rewarding way to
find out how research is applied in the "real world", and
some have continued working at their coop company after graduation.
Work study.
If a student applies for need-based aid (through
the financial aid office) and receives work study money, the
student can always find work in biology, including laboratory work.
Please contact Lois Somers at 486-4315 or go to TLS 161. She tracks job
needs, and will try to match a student's interests to the right work study position.
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Student labor.
Some faculty members obtainexternal grant money and can pay undergraduates
to work in their labs. When these positions
become available, faculty will look for qualified individuals from
student applications on file in the biology office in TLS 161. If
you wish to be considered for such work, go to TLS 161 and talk to
Lois Somers (486-4315) about submitting an application to be considered for
student labor.
The Honors Program
The Honors Program is designed especially for students interested
in gaining research experience. Students may join the honors program even after they begin work at UConn. for more information, please visit the Honors Program office
in the Center for Undergraduate Education (CUE Building) Room 419 or call (486-4223) for more information.
Biology majors in the honors program and other students interested
in undergraduate research opportunities should take one or both of
the Biology 1109 courses, and then the one-credit Biology 2289 course.
Introduction to Undergraduate Research, which may be
repeated for credit, and which ideally should be taken
both semesters of the sophomore year. Subsequently, undergraduates
should contact individual faculty members to arrange Independent
Study (EEB 3899, MCB 3989, PNB 3299)
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This page last updated 30 July 2008
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