Many of my friends have been asking me how to land a research position as a Biology major, and I tell them that the two key factors that go into the job search are consistency and patience. You, as an undergraduate, have developed many skills while in the classroom, but what good are those skills if you donât apply them in real life? Research is so important because it provides valuable experience as well as a taste of your future in regards to your chosen career path, not only for Biology majors but for all majors as well! In this article, I have answered a few common questions for those interested in gaining some hands-on experience at some point in their undergraduate career.
What year should I apply for a research position?: There are a few freshmen who land a research position within their first year at UCI, but donât worry if you havenât gotten a position yet. Your sophomore and junior year are ideal for researching.
How do you get into the research youâre most interested in?: On the UC Irvine website, if you search âBiological Sciencesâ, there will be a link on the right that reads âDepartments & Research Unitsâ (http://www.bio.uci.edu/research/index.html). On this website, you will find many research centers such as The Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory which deals with research from the molecular level, for those interested in cell biology, as well as the Developmental Biology Center for those interested in researching about cancer, birth defects, and genetics.
Are all research opportunities off campus?: Luckily, they arenât! There are plenty of research opportunities both on and off campus. Personally, I did not want an off campus research position and conveniently, the research I was most interested inâCenter for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memoryâwas on campus located at the Neurobiology Department. It really depends on your own preference, and if you have a car on campus, then researching at the UC Irvine Medical Center isnât such a bad idea!
How do you contact the professors?: Once you are certain about the branch of biology you are most interested in, it is time to start compiling a list of professors and their labs you find the most appealing. The Bio 199 website (http://students.bio.uci.edu/bio199.html) lists the necessary steps to take in order to successfully land a position. E-mail 4-5 professors expressing your interest in the lab and that you would like to join them if space permits. Give them a brief summary of who you are and provide some background information as to why youâre interested in their research. Do a little research yourself about the professor and read some of their published works to get a better knowledge about the subject. Many professors require students who are committed and stay in their lab for at least 1 year, so make sure to mention that you will work for as many quarters as necessary and ask them for an appointment to discuss the position further. If your first professor doesnât respond, do not be discouraged! It usually takes students 5-10 emails before they get a response! Here is where consistency and patience comes into play! Just keep on emailing, there are so many opportunities available that you are bound to land one.
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One last tip for undergraduates looking for researchâConnections is a MUST! Ask around! Many of your LARC Tutors are in research and can answer your questions. Older friends or fellow members of your club/organization are also good contacts as well. The more information you have, the better decisions you will make!
Feel free to leave any questions you may have below. Happy Researching!