Undergraduate Research as an MCB Student
Why do research?
- Science is a way to figure things out, so doing research will aid you in other aspects of your life. You ask and answer open ended questions. You link seemingly disconnected pieces of information. You find results that were not predicted.
- You explore things at the cutting edge and that no one has explored before.
- You learn tenacity, problem solving, and learn to be critical about the details because things have to be reproducible.
- You solve mysteries and experience the excitement of discovery!
Sound intriguing? Over 40% of MCB majors work in a lab to gain valuable experience in scientific research. How did they find these positions? They find them in a variety of ways. To get started, talk with classmates, peer advisors, a staff undergraduate advisor, graduate student instructors (GSIs), and faculty about your interest in learning more about laboratory research. For more information on research, read "How to Find a Lab Position."
Under the guidance of an MCB faculty sponsor, undergraduates in the MCB major may have the opportunity to work in a laboratory to gain valuable experience in scientific research. Interested students must take the initiative to make such arrangements.
Students may receive academic credit for their work by enrolling in an independent study course: MCB 99/199 or MCB H196. Enrollment applications are due in the UAO by the fifth week of each semester.
See information about the MCB Honors program, with deadlines and requirements.
Additional resources for information about research opportunities are:
- http://research.berkeley.edu
- http://scholarships.berkeley.edu
- http://research.berkeley.edu/travel/ (travel grants for L & S undergraduates)
- Summer opportunities (on and off campus)
- A searchable campus-wide database of faculty interests can be found through the Office of Research.
Finding funding for your research
There are a variety of ways to support your research. We recommend you attend a workshop at the Office of Undergraduate Research, or look for funding opportunities at their website, or the scholarships website.