Participating in undergraduate research is a great way to deepen your understanding of your field, develop critical problem-solving skills, and learn how science is done. Furthermore, if you think you might be interested in research as a career, finding research opportunities at this stage is a great first step.

Many Genome Sciences labs have undergraduate researchers, and undergraduates play a critical role in the work being done here and across campus. Below is some advice for finding a lab and making the most of your undergraduate research experience. While this advice is tailored to our department, the advice can be generalized across other science departments at UW.

Finding a position

1. Determine what you want out of your experience to help guide your search.  Are you interested in working in a wet lab or on more computational projects?  Do you have a preference for particular topics or model systems you want to work on?

2. Explore our faculty page and identify labs doing research you find interesting. Or chat with your TAs or professors about opportunities or advice.

3. Read a few abstracts or papers the lab has recently published before contacting faculty members by email to see if they have an opening for an undergraduate researcher.  Your email should be professional and include at least some of the following information:

- A brief introduction; e.g. your major, year in school, prior lab experience (whether in another research lab or during your coursework), and long-term academic or career goals.

- Things you find interesting about their research or their papers you read and why you would like to join their team. This could include mentioning coursework or experiences that have influenced your interest in their work.

- Information on your availability, including how long you could potentially remain in their lab (in quarters or years) and the number of hours you could commit per week during the period you wish to start. Labs are often looking for undergraduate researchers who have the option to remain in their lab for at least a year. If this applies to you, mentioning it in this first email can be helpful. If this does not apply to you, that’s OK! Some labs take on undergraduates for timeframes shorter than a year.

- A resume or CV. Optionally, include a transcript.

4. It’s not unusual to email several labs before you find a position.  If you don’t hear back from a lab within a week or two, you should consider sending a polite follow-up email.  You might also consider reaching out to postdocs or graduate students in a lab directly, especially if they have projects you find interesting listed on the lab website.

Working in a lab

Once you begin working in a lab, you may choose to participate informally to gain experience, or you can enroll in Genome 499 (undergraduate research) and receive academic credit. Genome 499 is graded credit / no credit only, and credits are variable. You should sign up for 1 credit per every 3 hours per week you expect to spend in the lab (e.g. 12 hours per week = 4 credits). You'll need to use the appropriate faculty code when enrolling. You must first obtain faculty permission before enrolling in Genome 499.
Many undergraduates receive financial support for their research work. Some labs have their own funding sources to support undergraduates, while others can help students apply for fellowships or grants. If funding is essential for you to begin or continue your research, it is entirely appropriate to discuss this with your mentor. Prior to that conversation, researching potential funding sources can be helpful.

Students looking for research funding should check with the UW's Undergraduate Research Office.

In particular there are several UW-specific programs that award research funding, including the Mary Gates Research Scholarship, our own department's Herschel Roman Scholarship and Genome Sciences Summer REU, and a variety of other summer research programs at UW.

Beyond Undergraduate Research

If you are interested in continuing research beyond your undergraduate degree, graduate school is one path to consider. We have recently expanded the section of our website with information for graduate student applicants. Those of you considering graduate school may find the prerequisites and preparation section helpful.