Undergraduate Research

Research in the Department spans the entire discipline of physiology, from the genetics of behavioral traits to the assessment of human performance. Links to full details about each laboratory are available on the research page. There are two ways that undergraduate students can participate in some of the research activities conducted in our laboratories:

  1. Participate as a subject in a study that is performed on human volunteers.
  2. Participate as a student researcher in a laboratory. Most research studies in the Department are performed by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research assistants, and they can often use another pair of hands for various tasks.

If you want to get involved with conducting research in a laboratory, the first step is to identify what subject areas are most interesting to you.  Some of the laboratory pages indicate specific requirements for joining as an undergraduate researcher.  These positions are competitive, so you should reach out to a laboratory only after doing some background reading and identifying your specific area of interest.

Once you have secured a position in a research laboratory, there are options for financial support or academic credit, or you can simply volunteer.

  1. Volunteering is often the easiest way to get started.  You can develop some useful laboratory skills by being a volunteer, and it will give you a foot in the door to find out if research is a good fit for you, and to pursue further opportunities.
  2. Sign up for independent study (IPHY 4860) so that you obtain credit for a supervised research experience. Many of the laboratories in the Department are willing to provide undergraduate students with research experiences that require 1-6 credits worth of work.
  3. In consultation with a director (Principal Investigator, PI) of one of the Department laboratories, apply for financial support from the ($1,000-$2,000 for Assistantships; $1,500-$3,000 for Individual Grants). You must be a full-time student (12 credit hours; freshman through senior) to apply. Applications are generally submitted from July 1 until January 31.
  4. The IPHY Undergraduate Research Award provides funding of up to $2000 for the duration of one summer, or $1000 per semester during the academic year, to support IPHY undergraduate students working in an IPHY research lab.  The deadline for Fall applications is Aug. 1, Spring applications is Jan. 1 and Summer applications is May 1.  Ask your PI if you may be eligible to apply.  You cannot receive this award at the same time as a UROP.
  5. STEM Routes Uplift Research Program supports involvement in research by students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Please reach out to individual laboratories to find out if they are seeking human subjects, have volunteer opportunities, or are willing to organize independent study and UROP applications.