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Undergraduate Research and Individual Studies

Contents

See more about Biology specific opportunities:

URAP PAGE

For undergraduates interested in conducting research, URAP helps undergraduates to find volunteer opportunities in research projects they are interested in by posting graduate student and faculty research advertisements on this website.

Databases of undergraduate research opportunities at UF

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Why Should you participate in research as an undergraduate?

All biology, botany, and zoology majors are strongly encouraged to participate in research. Research experience is valuable on many levels:

  1. It diversifies your college experience
  2. It teaches you how scientists apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to real world questions
  3. It gives you the opportunity to work with and get to know researchers who are the best in their field
  4. It introduces you to cutting edge scientific questions and techniques
  5. It can enhance your résumé or CV when applying to graduate or professional school
  6. And finally, it is essential in helping you determine if science is a good career choice for you.

CLAS pre-professional biology majors, botany majors, and zoology majors may participate in research for course credit, as a Scholar (e.g., University Scholar, Science for Life Scholar, Beckman Scholar), as a volunteer, or (in rare cases) as a paid research assistant. Students who plan to enroll for course credit must contact potential research mentors, develop a project, and turn in the required application and proposal no later than the week before drop/add. If the window is missed, they should still contact potential research mentors, if only to discuss upcoming opportunities.

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Opportunities for Undergraduates at UF

UF Offices and Departments:

  • Center for Undergraduate Research (CUR)
    • The Center for Undergraduate Research is dedicated to helping students at the University of Florida find valuable research opportunities, whether they are a seasoned researcher or are getting involved in research for the first time. If you are looking for great opportunities here at UF, start by visiting our peer advising hours in our office at 202 Newell Hall.
  • UF Research
    • UF Research provides programs and services to support UF faculty and staff in their research efforts. We identify grant opportunities, manage proposals and awards, protect intellectual property, work with potential industry partners, highlight research achievements and more.
  • UF McNair Program
    • The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is a training program designed to support undergraduate students from low-income/first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds in their pursuit of a Ph.D.
  • Office of Undergraduate Affairs
    • The Office of Undergraduate Affairs strives to create a campus that will provide a transformative and model undergraduate experience through an effective and genuine balance between liberal education and professional preparation.

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Research Opportunities

  • Advertisement for research positions can be found and added to: CURBS database
    • CURBS = Center for Undergraduate Research
  • Other opportunities:
    • iDigTrio (early Spring)

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UF Fellowships/Scholarships

How to fund you during a research experience.

McNair Scholars Program

Application due January

  • Eligibility:
    • Must be US citizen or permanent resident
    • Must have at least 60 credits
    • Within 1 to 2 years of graduation
    • Have at least 3.0 GPA
    • Meet at least one of the two eligibility criteria below:
      • First-generation college student who also meets the federally established low-income guidelines,
      • Or a member of a group underrepresented in graduate education (Black, Hispanic, Alaska Native, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Native Pacific Islander).
    • Benefits:
      • Conduct research with a faculty member
      • Receive a research stipend of up to $2800
      • Receive peer support, mentorship, tutoring, and academic counseling
      • Take courses to enhance research and writing skills
      • Resource for GRE preparation
      • Attend seminars to prepare for graduate education
      • Receive assistance with the graduate school application process
      • Obtain fee waivers for graduate school applications
      • Present research at local, regional, and/or national conferences

CLAS Scholars Program

  • Application due February
  • Eligibility:
    • Units of CLAS may nominate up to 2 students that they will rank and submit to the College via Arlene Williams (arlenew@ufl.edu)
  • Benefits:
    • $2,000 stipend for undergraduates to carry out research and scholarship with a mentor
    • Students will have $1,000 to fund their research, attend conferences, and/or travel for their

University Scholars Program

  • Application due February
  • Apply via FLMNH
  • Stipend of $1750 (split into two semesters)
    • $500 for the mentor
  • Eligibility:
    • You may not be graduating before May of the following year.

Emerging Scholars Program

  • Application due November
  • Eligibility:
    • Must be Freshman or Sophomore status only.
    • Must have NO previous research experience (including in high school)
    • Must identify a research mentor who will sponsor you
  • Benefits
    • Stipend of $1000 (split into two semesters)

Summer Undergraduate Research at the University of Florida

  • Application due between October and November (preference given to those who apply sooner)
  • Aimed at external students with the goal of enrolling Ph.D. students at UF
  • Eligibility:
    • Junior or Senior
    • Graduating between the next year (by the end of summer year + 1).
    • US citizen or permanent resident
    • 50 cumulative GPA
    • All participates are required to apply UF Ph.D. beginning with the fall 2021 term
  • Benefits:
  • 10 weeks and up to $5,000 student stipend (Very similar to an NSF REU)
    • Housing (maybe meal plan)
    • Travel to Gainesville
    • D. application fee waiver

MARC GatorStar Program

  • Due: Unknown
  • Eligibility:
    • Member of an underrepresented group
    • Be citizen, non-citizen national, or permanent resident of US
    • Score 75% or higher on the ALEKS math assessment, or have completed MAC1147 with a grade of B or higher.
    • 2 GPA in a major related to biomedical or behavioral science
    • Sophomore (second year) or junior (third year) undergraduate
    • Plan to pursue a PhD, or professional degree + PhD
    • See website for more details
  • Benefits:
    • Research stipend of $1,028 per month
    • Scholarship for tuition (up to 60% of the tuition)
    • Registration, travel, housing, and meals to attend ABRCMS in the Trainee’s junior or senior year
    • Registration, travel, housing, and meals to attend a regional or national scientific meeting
    • Travel, housing, and meals to participate in an extramural summer research experience (SRE)

PPP, Social and Behavioral Sciences Graduate School Ph.D. Preparatory Program (Open to Natural Sciences)

  • Usually rolling admission process
  • Eligibility:
  • A full interest in pursuing a Ph.D. (students interested in professional schools should not apply)
  • Take the GRE before the end of spring of junior year.
  • Submit completed graduate school applications before the end of September
  • Have no less than a 2.8 GPA.
  • Participate and present at research conferences.
  • Participate in summer research at a major university or research center after junior year.
  • Establish and maintain a satisfactory relationship with their faculty research preceptor.
  • Benefits:
  • Conduct research with a faculty member in their desired area of research over a 2-year period
  • Students will receive a stipend/award of $3,000 for each completed fall and spring semester

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Federal Work Study Program

Federal Work Study Site

  • General overview
    • Provides part-time employment while students are enrolled in school
    • Available to full- or part-time students with financial need
    • Funding is limited at UF, so make sure to complete the FASFA early each year (as early as October 1 each year)
  • Eligibility:
    • Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
    • Demonstrate financial need using the results of the FAFSA
    • Maintain satisfactory academic progress
    • Be enrolled at least half-time as a undergraduate or graduate student
    • Not have defaulted on or owe a refund to any aid program
    • Post Baccalaureate students must see their financial aid adviser to petition for eligibility
  • PIs interested in this should contact the Student Financial Affairs office

Student Financial Affairs

Careers at UF

  • Click on “Discover Jobs”, then “Staff and Students”, then “Student Ast”, search through jobs that are indicated as “Federal Work Study”

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Research Grants

How to fund your research.

Internal

  • URAP Undergraduate Research Grants
    • Due in April
    • Funding is provided to two undergraduate research grant proposals by the Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA) and is meant to provide support for research expenses, fieldwork, or travel to conferences
    • $250

 

External

Botany specific

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Presentation opportunities at UF

  • CUR Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium
  • URAP Undergraduate Research Symposium
    • Due in April, Symposium in Spring
    • What: Present either a poster or to give a 15-minute talk.
  • CUR Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium

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Leadership Opportunities

  • Center for Undergraduate Research Board of Students (CURBS) Ambassadors

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Opportunities for Undergraduates Outside of UF

Fellowships:

Resources for POC in STEM

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Research Experiences

  • NSF-REUs
    • Due in early Spring
    • Normally summer programs
    • 4-11 weeks
  • UF Summer Undergraduate International Research Program (SUIRP)
    • Application Due in Feb.
    • Up to $5000 to cover travel and living expenses.
    • Eligibility:
      • Minimum 1 year research experience at UF
      • Must have a valid passport
      • Must not be graduating before December of the calendar year.

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Conference Opportunities

There are many opportunities for undergraduates to attend annual meetings and conferences with all costs covered. Most opportunities include pairing the students with a mentor. These programs often include workshops or sessions on graduate programs or career related subjects. Many of these resources are conference-specific; make sure to check with the conference you’re interested in to find out more information!

Botany specific

  • PLANTS Grant
    • Due in March
    • Covers travel, registration, food, and accommodations to attend the annual Botany conference. Also pairs students with mentors.
  • Golden Opportunity Scholar
    • Due in April
    • Covers travel, registration, food, and accommodations to attend the annual Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America conference. Also pairs students with mentors.

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Research in the Classroom

Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Courses
  • CURE classes introduce research experiences to students in the classroom
  • In small groups, teams of students assist faculty with their research
  • CURE class topics vary from year to year
    • Here are a few courses that were offered in 2019:
      • Ants and Microbes
      • People and Big Data
      • Exploring Your Genome
      • Protein Sequence, Structure, and Functional Evolution
    • You can navigate through this link to sign up to teach a CUR class https://cur.aa.ufl.edu/become-a-mentor/

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Research Course Credit

  • BSC 4910, BSC 4912, BOT 4911, or ZOO 4911
    • allows a student to receive course credit for conducting research under the supervision of a faculty mentor.
    • These courses may typically be repeated for full credit: BIO Pre-Professional majors, zoology majors, and botany majors can apply up to six credits toward graduation.
    • For the Botanical Research track in the botany major, at least 2 credits of BOT 4911 are required for graduation.
    • Co-requisite course: BOT 4911 and BSC 4910 must be taken concurrently with BSC 3911 Entering Research in biology. Students who repeat credits in BOT 4911 do not need to take BSC 3911 again.
    • Botany and Zoology majors: Students should enroll in the research course whose prefix (BOT, ZOO) matches their major.
    • Biology Majors: Students entering research for the first time should take BSC 4910 and the co-requisite course BSC 3911. Students repeating research credit should enroll in BSC 4912, and do not need to repeat BSC 3911. Please see for more information on research in the biology major, please see this link: http://major.biology.ufl.edu/do-research/entering-research/

The application and proposal process

To receive course credit for research, your planned research activities for this course should contribute substantially to your knowledge and skills in biology.

  • Biology majors registering for BSC4910 or BSC4912 – Please see this link for the correct application and proposal and final report processes, as they differ slightly from the processes described below: http://major.biology.ufl.edu/do-research/entering-research/
  • To apply for registration in BOT4911 or ZOO4911, you must complete the application form and submit a proposal. A link to download the application form is provided below. The proposal should be no more than one page in length, double-spaced. Submit the completed application form and course proposal to the Department of Biology office (Bartram 220) before the first week of classes for approval by the Undergraduate Coordinator. The proposal should be developed with your research mentor and must contain the following components:
    • Background and Significance. Provide relevant background information on what you propose to investigate and why it is important.
    • Provide a clear, concise hypothesis for your research project.
    • Briefly explain what specific activities and/or experiments you will perform that will test your hypothesis. Include an estimate of how much time you will spend per week (or over the duration of the semester) on your project, and your specific responsibilities in the project (i.e., what tasks will you perform, and will you be functioning independently or assisting a graduate student, post-doctoral student, clinical resident or laboratory technician in the research project).

 

Download the ZOO-BOT Registration Approval Form

The Final Report

All Individual Study students must submit a final, written report of their research project. The report length should be at least 750, 1300, 1600, and 1800 words for a 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-credit project, respectively. A link to download the Final Report form is provided below. The completed report form must be sent via email to biouc-l@lists.ufl.edu before Noon on the last day of instruction (i.e., before reading week, and before finals week). This Final Report requirement will be strictly enforced. Failure to submit the report electronically by the deadline will result in an automatic “NG” (no grade). The report will be sent to your faculty project supervisor, who will recommend a semester grade, and therefore it is strongly advised that the report be developed in consultation with the faculty mentor. A thesis may not be used to replace your final report. The 4911 Report is used to evaluate the quality of your educational experience for one semester only, and therefore is distinct from a thesis, which typically includes the results of research spreading across multiple semesters.

Download the ZOO-BOT FINAL REPORT FORM

Individual Studies

The research courses described above are to be used for supervised authentic research experiences mentored by a biology department faculty member. To receive course credit for individual studies that do not fit this description, such as off campus internships, bibliography compilations, or other activities, students may enroll in BOT4905 or ZOO4905. Please contact the undergraduate coordinator for information about when this option is appropriate for earning course credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I be paid while also receiving course credit?
    • If you perform research as part of your employment, for example as an assistant in a campus laboratory or conservation agency or as a technician in a local biotechnology company, your research may qualify as an Individual Study project and you may be able to receive course credit for it. Such an arrangement requires some additional forms to be completed, and therefore you must contact the Undergraduate Coordinator if you think this applies to you.
  • Can I perform research off-campus?
    • You must first contact the Undergraduate Coordinator to discuss the research, and then complete the normal application process. However, if the research will be performed at a laboratory or field site that is not part of the UF campus, you must contact the Center for Leadership and Service at (352) 392-1261 ext 4, who will assist you in completing additional required forms.

 

Information for the faculty member serving as the Project Supervisor

Students enrolled in supervised research courses request your supervision on an undergraduate research project that will count as credit toward the student’s major. Please establish the nature of the project and what you expect of the student before signing the Registration Approval form. You should expect the student to work on the project approximately 3 actual hours each week for each credit (i.e., 3 credits would typically require about 9 hours of weekly work).

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Supervised Research for credit

In the Biology Department, enrollment in BSC 4910, BSC 4912, BOT 4911, or ZOO 4911, allows a student to receive course credit for conducting research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. These courses may typically be repeated for full credit: BIO Pre-Professional majors, zoology majors, and botany majors can apply up to six credits toward graduation. For the Botanical Research track in the botany major, at least 2 credits of BOT 4911 are required for graduation.

Co-requisite course: BOT 4911 and BSC 4910 must be taken concurrently with BSC 3911 Entering Research in biology. Students who repeat credits in BOT 4911 do not need to take BSC 3911 again.

Botany and Zoology majors: Students should enroll in the research course whose prefix (BOT, ZOO) matches their major.

Biology Majors: Students entering research for the first time should take BSC 4910 and the co-requisite course BSC 3911. Students repeating research credit should enroll in BSC 4912, and do not need to repeat BSC 3911. Please see for more information on research in the biology major, please see this link: http://major.biology.ufl.edu/do-research/entering-research/

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The application and proposal process

To receive course credit for research, your planned research activities for this course should contribute substantially to your knowledge and skills in biology.

  • Biology majors registering for BSC4910 or BSC4912 – Please see this link for the correct application and proposal and final report processes, as they differ slightly from the processes described below: http://major.biology.ufl.edu/do-research/entering-research/
  • To apply for registration in BOT4911 or ZOO4911, you must complete the application form and submit a proposal. A link to download the application form is provided below. The proposal should be no more than one page in length, double-spaced. Submit the completed application form and course proposal to the Department of Biology office (Bartram 220) before the first week of classes for approval by the Undergraduate Coordinator. The proposal should be developed with your research mentor and must contain the following components:
    • Background and Significance. Provide relevant background information on what you propose to investigate and why it is important.
    • Hypothesis. Provide a clear, concise hypothesis for your research project.
    • Methods. Briefly explain what specific activities and/or experiments you will perform that will test your hypothesis. Include an estimate of how much time you will spend per week (or over the duration of the semester) on your project, and your specific responsibilities in the project (i.e., what tasks will you perform, and will you be functioning independently or assisting a graduate student, post-doctoral student, clinical resident or laboratory technician in the research project).

Download the ZOO-BOT Registration Approval Form

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The Final Report

All Individual Study students must submit a final, written report of their research project. The report length should be at least 750, 1300, 1600, and 1800 words for a 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-credit project, respectively. A link to download the Final Report form is provided below. The completed report form must be sent via email to biouc-l@lists.ufl.edu before Noon on the last day of instruction (i.e., before reading week, and before finals week). This Final Report requirement will be strictly enforced. Failure to submit the report electronically by the deadline will result in an automatic “NG” (no grade). The report will be sent to your faculty project supervisor, who will recommend a semester grade, and therefore it is strongly advised that the report be developed in consultation with the faculty mentor. A thesis may not be used to replace your final report. The 4911 Report is used to evaluate the quality of your educational experience for one semester only, and therefore is distinct from a thesis, which typically includes the results of research spreading across multiple semesters.

Download the ZOO-BOT FINAL REPORT FORM

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Individual Studies

The research courses described above are to be used for supervised authentic research experiences mentored by a biology department faculty member. To receive course credit for individual studies that do not fit this description, such as off campus internships, bibliography compilations, or other activities, students may enroll in BOT4905 or ZOO4905. Please contact the undergraduate coordinator for information about when this option is appropriate for earning course credit.

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Can I be paid while also receiving course credit?

Yes. If you perform research as part of your employment, for example as an assistant in a campus laboratory or conservation agency or as a technician in a local biotechnology company, your research may qualify as an Individual Study project and you may be able to receive course credit for it. Such an arrangement requires some additional forms to be completed, and therefore you must contact the Undergraduate Coordinator if you think this applies to you.

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Can I perform research off-campus?

Yes. You must first contact the Undergraduate Coordinator to discuss the research, and then complete the normal application process. However, if the research will be performed at a laboratory or field site that is not part of the UF campus, you must contact the Center for Leadership and Service at (352) 392-1261 ext 4, who will assist you in completing additional required forms.

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Information for the faculty member serving as the Project Supervisor

Students enrolled in supervised research courses request your supervision on an undergraduate research project that will count as credit toward the student’s major. Please establish the nature of the project and what you expect of the student before signing the Registration Approval form. You should expect the student to work on the project approximately 3 actual hours each week for each credit (i.e., 3 credits would typically require about 9 hours of weekly work).

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How to find a research mentor

You should choose a project that you find intrinsically interesting. When you interview with a potential mentor, find out what you will do on a daily basis and how that applies to the bigger research questions being asked in the mentor’s laboratory. Communicate your expectations of the experience, and ask the mentor whether these expectations can be met by joining his or her lab. For example, if you want to learn how to work with DNA or if you want to do field research, make sure that is a part of the lab’s daily mission. Finally, determine the level of commitment that is expected of you by the lab so you can be sure that you can meet that commitment.

A college education offers you the chance to discover what interests you most and to learn how to make that into a career. A research position can last a semester, or it can last for four years. While science is incredibly diverse, the basic principles of research are not. With a few skills, and a solid understanding of the scientific method, you can progress in any number of directions.

The best advice to undergraduate students who want to find a research opportunity is to do your homework.

  • The very best way to find an opportunity is to figure out what you want to do, find the professors (or graduate students) on campus who are doing research in that area (the web is your friend: for example, you could see what you get if you search Google for parasite biology research site:ufl.edu), and get informed.
  • Read professors’ web pages to find out the specifics of their research. Professors, especially those who have lots of undergraduates in their lab, often post information about their openings and policies.
  • Read papers by the professors you’re interested in — you can either find citations on their web pages or find them, very easily, on the Web of Science, PubMed or Google Scholar.
  • Decide what you’re interested in, and what you’re willing to do. How much time do you want to commit? Do you want research credit (usually pretty easy), money (harder unless you bring unusual skills, experience, or levels of commitment), or are you willing to work just for the experience?
  • Finally, once you’ve figured out which labs might have openings and which ones you might be interested in, e-mail the professors (don’t phone them or drop by their labs) to find out whether you will fit in. Tell them what courses you’ve taken and what skills you have, and why you’re interested in working in their lab. Don’t be afraid to approach professors who are doing specific work you’re interested in, even if they don’t specifically say on their web pages that they’re looking for students, but also don’t be surprised if there isn’t room in their labs at present. Be prepared to wait for what you want.

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Research support programs at UF

  • University of Florida University Scholars Program. This highly competitive program provides undergraduates with the unique opportunity to work closely with UF faculty. Teamed with a faculty mentor, students pick their topic, conduct summer research, and complete their paper throughout the following academic year. All undergraduates are eligible. You may choose to work with a faculty member in a different college than your own major. Scholars receive a $2,500 stipend and $500 for travel to a scholarly conference to present the results of the research. In addition, scholars have the opportunity to publish their research in UF’s online Journal of Undergraduate Research.
  • The UF Science for Life program, funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. “This is the largest early undergraduate research program at UF and in the State of Florida. The intramural program provides opportunities for students to engage in multi-year research projects starting the summer following their freshman year culminating in a second award for co-authorship in publications.” A one-credit Science for Life course (IDH3931) is offered each fall and spring. This course is intended for freshmen and sophomores who are interested in research.
  • The Ronald McNair program, which helps prepare low income, first generation and/or minority undergraduates for graduate study — includes a summer research component.
  • The Beckman Scholars Program “support[s] research … by exceptionally talented undergraduate students … in either chemistry, biochemistry, the biological and medical sciences”. This is very competitive (GPA around 3.8, quant. SAT around 770, or 2 AP scores of 5 on science/math/physics), but also very rewarding (academic-year and summer support, etc.). If you think you’re competitive, check it out.
  • The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Research Experience for Undergraduate program (REU), funded by the National Science Foundation, offers an exceptional opportunity for the motivated undergraduate to participate in scientific research. If you are serious about science but have never had the opportunity to perform like a scientist, then this program is for you. In cooperation with a faculty supervisor, students choose a project that fits both their interests and ongoing investigations of the Lab and that can be completed within the eleven-week training period during the summer. Undergraduates who qualify for the REU Program receive a competitive stipend, assistance with travel expenses, and free housing. Students must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency to qualify for NSF funding. Students from groups under-represented in the sciences (African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders), first generation college students, women and non-traditional students are encouraged to apply.
  • These and other programs are summarized by the UF Honors Program.

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