Biology (http://dept.biology.virginia.edu/research-opportunities/)
- Research opportunities are available with faculty laboratories within the Biology department, with faculty in the School of Medicine, or at satellite research stations
- Such satellite stations include the Mountain Lake Biological Station, which offers a ten-week summer program for independent research
- Research within the biology department can be done for pay or for credit
- Professor Robert Kretsinger, the director of the independent research program for the biology department, recommends scanning the different profiles of faculty members to find a research topic that you may be interested in. Send the faculty member an email with your name, year, grade point average, intended career path, and a brief inquiry into their research. Once communication has been established, it is up to the student and the mentor to discuss mutual interests.
- The biology department has about 230 students each semester doing independent research; approximately 55 percent of these students have mentors outside the biology department
- Students completing independent research are required to write a preliminary abstract and a 1000-word report at the end of term detailing their progress throughout the course of the semester. The projected time commitment is approximately 10-12 hours per week.
- No standard prerequisites are recommended across the board for prospective undergraduate researchers; the recommended experience and courses taken will vary with the mentor and the lab. With that said, the core courses BIOL 3000, 3010, and 3020 provide solid background and may come highly recommended by some mentors.
Environmental Science (http://www.evsc.virginia.edu/research/)
- The best way to get involved is to think about your interests, go onto the department website and find faculty with similar interests, and then contact them with an email to set up an in person meeting.
- There are 4 main areas of research in Environmental Science:
- Ecology, Geology, Hydrology, and Atmospheric science
- There are about 6-10 faculty members actively doing research in each area.
- Undergraduates are able to work in the field, in the lab, using simulation modeling, or performing data analysis.
- There are also two organizations that may be helpful in finding a lab to work with:
- The Grad Student Association (GSA), which has a mentoring program of their own, contact JJ Frost at [email protected]
- The Environmental Sciences Organization (ESO), contact Carlos Disla at [email protected].
- The four DMP students this year are Abby Credicott, Alex Hounshell, Adrianna Foster, and Carol Yang, and these students would also serve as good people to contact with potential questions about getting involved in Environmental Science.
Chemistry (http://chem.virginia.edu/undergraduate-studies/undergraduate-research/)
- They have a great resource for getting started with undergrad research, going through how to choose a lab, approach a professor, and also some information about research for credit/for pay.
- A list of interested faculty from several departments is also available on the website.
- Prof. Demas recommended that anyone interested in research within the chem dept talk to him as he could provide insight based on what that student was interested in, which professors would/would not take on someone, how to find and approach certain professors.
Neuroscience (http://faculty.virginia.edu/neuroscience/)
- The Neuroscience major website has very good information about the program and which faculty are doing Neuroscience research.
- There are over 70 Neuroscience faculty doing work in a variety of areas. Finding the lab for you depends on your own unique interests, and the faculty in charge of specific labs (PIs) are often willing to take on undergraduates.
- The best way to get involved is to talk to faculty individually and let them know you are interested. It is advantageous to get involved early, as you will have more time to train in specific lab techniques.
- Biology labs usually know what to expect from undergraduates. Labs in the medical school or graduate programs are sometimes smaller and could give you more one-on-one time with your research advisor.
- Applying to the Neuroscience major is a great way to expand on your research experience.
- Attending the Neuroscience speaker presentation series, in the Jordan Hall Auditorium on Tuesdays from 4-5 pm, is a valuable tool for meeting faculty and seeing what type of work they do.
- Presenting your research at the URN Spring Symposium is is very good opportunity to gain experience presenting, hear about other undergraduate research projects and build your resume.
Physics (http://www.phys.virginia.edu/)
- The physics department prefers those who have declared a physics major, and research in physics is required for all students pursuing B.S in physics (PHYS 3995)
- Students definitely have opportunity to publish.
- Students do not work individually, but rather work as a group with a graduate student or a professor.
- Topics on research are very diverse and broad, so different background is needed for different topics.
- Introduction to physics research is recommended for students interested in research.
- No prior experience is required, but students are more competitive if they possess programming skills.
- During the semester, time commitment should be around 5-10 hours/week and over the summer, full time or at least half time work schedule is required. Pay is offered for work during the summer.
- There are various research grants that students can apply to.
- As a declared undergraduate, you will be provided access to a list of faculty interested in taking on undergraduate students in their research labs. This is done through the physics research committee. Students can also contact any faculty member found from the webpage.
- Students can start looking for a position when they feel comfortable and can fit into their schedule.
- In an inquiry email, students should talk about the classes taken, background and interests.
- Students will be doing research mostly in a laboratory during academic year, but sometimes travel to other universities or facilities.
- You must be ready to work on somewhat simple tasks for the first semester with a research group, after which you will have gained the experience necessary to take on more complex tasks and be a part of the larger research projects.
- The physics department can take on students in research groups for either pay or for course credit if necessary.
- Be willing to give a long term commitment if possible and make sure that the faculty members you speak with know that this is the case.