UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

In 2015 I had the amazing opportunity of participating in an NSF-REU at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama, and well, now I’m back and working on my Ph.D. here! My journey in doing research as an undergrad was, without a doubt, a series of favorable yet unexpected events which all helped me get to where I am today. In this entry, I explain some things I’ve learned about research opportunities for undergraduates in the hopes of motivating and guiding those interested in getting involved themselves!

NFS Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Here are some things worth mentioning about NSF REU’s:

• There are REUs in a variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) fields. They may be affiliated with universities or not, international or domestic, and the application process is unique to each “site”. Usually, awards include a sizable stipend and may include travel/living expenses depending on site.

• REUs are exclusively for U.S. citizens or permanent residents and current undergraduate students. You cannot be awarded an REU for the summer after you graduate with your bachelor’s degree.

• Applications may be competitive; start looking into sites early, and begin your application sooner rather than later. I went through 8 or 10 iterations of my essay and contacted the mentor I wanted to work with months in advance to introduce myself and express my interest in working with them!

• REU’s are all about independent research. Typically, undergrads work with their mentors to develop specific research goals which can potentially turn into presentable and publishable data! But the degree of independence varies from site and mentor, so make sure to look into the site and speak with the mentors before making a decision to apply/accept an offer.

  • Check out this link for the list of current REU’s in Biological Sciences

Below are some examples of successful application essays from students who were awarded NSF-REUs at various sites. Please remember that all materials below are the property of the original author and cannot be reproduced or copied without permission.
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute-REU:

• Brandon Güell’s Statement of Interest

• Arielle Johnson’s Essay

• Lily Hislop’s Essay

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies REU:

• Julie Jung’s Essay

Other Undergrad Research Opportunities
There are, of course, many other ways to get involved in research as an undergrad! Here are just a few examples:

• Look into your own university:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask other students, TA’s, and professors about which opportunities might be available! Check on your universities website; there are likely more chances to get involved at your own university than you might think. I started doing research by counting bugs under a microscope and washing glassware; get your foot in the door and capitalize on new opportunities!

• Internships at different universities and institutions:

  • Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Internship Opportunities

  • Organization for Tropical Studies Research Assistant Opportunities

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Student Opportunities

  • Scripps Institute of Oceanography MPL Summer Internship Program

  • Scripps Undergraduate Research Fellowship

  • University of California Research Opportunities

  • Association of American Medical Colleges Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

  • STEM Undergrad Summer Research Opportunities (Search Engine)

• Email lists are also useful tools in finding research/volunteer/employment opportunities in the STEM fields:

  • ECOLOG-L email list- General Ecological Research Discussion

  • MARMAM email list- Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Discussion

If you are interested in pursuing research as an undergrad, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or are interested in hearing more about my experiences! Get out there and do cool science!