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Goal and Agenda

-Develop, implement, and assess a workshop focused on accessing and insights into undergraduate biology research opportunities at UCSB and beyond

-15 min why do research?, one personal story, overview of how to find research opportunities - Sofie

-10 min lab fit and contacting professors - Petra

-20 min more how to find research opportunities, things to consider about doing research - Lindsey (CSEP talk about program here?)

-15 min Q&A

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How to get Involved in Research at UC Santa Barbara

January 14, 2025

This Slide Deck

Office/Department/Division Name

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Meet Today’s Hosts:

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Sofie Hai

Undergraduate CCS Biology Student

Lindsey Wahiashi

PhD Graduate Biology Student

Prof. Kranzfelder

MCDB Faculty

Dr. Lalo Gonzalez

MCDB Vice Chair

Office/Department/Division Name

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�

This Slide Deck

Submit Questions Here

Resources for You:

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Sofie Hai

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Why do you want to do research anyways?

Avoid checkbox mentality…

Have a personal REAL reason/connection to research

Potential benefits:

Critical thinking, problem solving, science process, analyze data, complex problems, hand dexterity, team work, follow a protocol, communicate science, etc.

Submit Questions Here

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How do you know if you are ready for research?

Do you have good time management?
Are you happy with your grades?
Do you have time for friends/family/yourself?
Do you sleep enough (6 to 8 hrs)?
Do you have 10 – 20 free hours after that?
Are you constantly stressed about deadlines?

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Why did I choose research?

Strong curiosity about the world around me
Opportunity to be at the forefront of the scientific world

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Three Avenues to Access Research

On Campus (UCSB) - Academic Year

On Campus (UCSB) - Summers

Scholarships @UCSB and outside of UCSB

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Petra

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Avenue 1 & 2: Find a UCSB Lab that fits YOU!

Find a research lab that you’re authentically interested in.
Area of research?

Lab or field, small or big biology?

Research question(s)?
Techniques/methods?
Keep an open mind!

GO TO OFFICE HOURS!

MCDB: https://www.mcdb.ucsb.edu/research
EEMB: https://www.eemb.ucsb.edu/research
URCA: https://undergrad.research.ucsb.edu/

FRAP: https://urca.ucsb.edu/faculty/faculty-research-assistant-program

Bioengineering: https://bioengineering.ucsb.edu/research

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How to navigate a lab website?

Go to “Lab Members,” “Members” or “People”
Do they have current undergraduate researchers?

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Do your homework

Find an article in “The current” / other popular science outlets
Explore their lab webpage
Find and download 2 to 3 articles

It is ok to not to understand it all!
What is the general question?
What strategy did they follow?
Follow the figure story
What questions do you have for them?

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Write an email

Proper email etiquette for academia
Introduce yourself and how did you find them.
Be concise
Ask specific questions
Ask for an opportunity to learn more about their research

How to Email Your Professor (without being annoying AF) | by Laura Portwood-Stacer | Medium

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How to write an email?

Introduce yourself: Name, year, major, GPA
Express why the lab interests you
Share qualifications: past classes, labs, experience
Attach resume and unofficial transcript

Get free resume help from Career Services

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How long before…?

It is a game of chance…
Typically, 1 week, then resend the email
If still no response, then try a grad student in the lab
If no response from anyone in the lab, then move on to another lab

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Lindsey (and Shelby - CSEP)

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Try the Graduate Students

Grad students are the liaison between you and the PI

In most labs you will be assigned to one of their projects

Make a good impression by being curious, industrious, good work ethics

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Ways to Connect with Grad Students

Your TA

Go to office hours, ask questions in sections, be attentive

Emailing

Similar to professors, be professional and curious about the lab’s research focuses

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Myths about joining a lab

You absolutely need to do research while at college
You have to be a genius to get in
You have to know a lot of bio, or have a lot of previous experience
You have to join a lab during your first year… second year… third year…
Science gets results quickly
You need to come up with your own project
You are stuck in the lab that you joined (even if you did not like it)

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Avenue 3: Scholarships outside of UCSB

Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), Summer Internship programs (SIP)

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Avenue 3: Scholarships @ UCSB

Look for funding opportunities!

EUREKA, SACNAS, Gorman, MARC, UC LEADS, CIRM, etc
http://www.cns.ucsb.edu/undergraduate-summer-research-internships
http://academics.sa.ucsb.edu/research-funds/gene-lucas-undergraduate-research-fund
https://csep.ucsb.edu/

Get credit for doing research

MCDB 199, MCDB 184

Each lab is unique in what they expect from you, communication is key

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