Follow these steps to obtain a research opportunity

  1. Review research faculty interests and current projects.
    • ACBS faculty
    • Faculty from other departments
    • Navigate to find the listings of faculty and their listed research interests. This can be beneficial if you are thinking of attending graduate school outside of your current major or if you are interested in learning new techniques.
    • Some common disciplines that often couple with our majors include public health, biology, molecular and cellular biology, entomology, environmental sciences, and plant sciences. TIP: You can look up a faculty member’s most recent publications by searching for their name using Google Scholar or PubMed. The UA pays for journal subscriptions, so a large number of articles are available when using Wi-Fi on campus or when routing off campus using a VPN.
  2. Contact faculty.
    • If you find a faculty member you are interested in working with, attend their office hours or email them and make sure you include the following:
      • Name and class standing (sophomore, junior, etc.)
      • The most recent version of your resume or CV. (We recommend you submit a draft to your academic advisor for edits before sending to a faculty member.)
      • Briefly explain why you are interested in their research and why you are interested in getting involved with their research (personal interest, preparation for graduate school, paid job, etc.)
      • Ask if they accept undergraduates in their lab and, if so, ask whether they have any work in which you can participate.
    • Your initial email should be brief and to the point. The faculty member may follow up asking for an in-person meeting, your schedule availability, and whether you are looking for a paid or volunteer experience.
  3. If you have secured an undergraduate research opportunity, make sure to tell your major advisor so you can earn credit. Please do not wait until the last minute, since there is paperwork to fill out that requires the faculty member’s signature.

Additional resources and opportunities: