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Biological Sciences

Undergraduate Research

Why Do Research?

  • Experience the excitement of doing science, making scientific discoveries, not just learning scientific concepts and facts--how science actually works
  • Important for being competitive to get into graduate school, professional school, or getting a good job
  • Find out if you want to do research for a career
  • Networking—get to know a professor who can write a strong letter of recommendation
  • Make new friends
  • Travel to present at scientific conferences
  • Stipends may be awarded through research programs and/or from faculty member's research grant
  • Earn units towards degree for doing research (For applicability, please verify with your curriculum sheet and the course description in the Catalog)
    • BIO 2000 or BIO 4000: Special Study
    • BIO 4410: Internship (required as a core for Biotechnology and Environmental Biology majors)
    • BIO 4610: Undergraduate Research
    • BIO 4620: Senior Thesis
    • Use this form to enroll in the courses above

How to Get Involved in Undergraduate Research?

  • Talk to Professors doing research in areas of interest to you
  • Many professors have their own website—describes research
  • Professors can accommodate only so many research students—limited time, space, money for research; get yourself known by the professors and be prepared when visiting.
  • Take courses with professors in your areas of interest. Easier to approach them if they know you from class. Professors more likely to admit you into their research program
  • Best to communicate in person. Go to office hours.
  • Do your homework. “I read that you are doing research on __________. I’m really interested in your research on ________, and would like to be involved in a research project.
  • Sell yourself if necessary: “I've taken courses in _____, ____, and made “A” grades.” I really enjoy my lab courses. Foundations of Biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry,
  • Talk with TA. TAs doing research for Master's degree—information on professors and areas of research.
  • Go to undergraduate research conferences on campus (see the list below)
  • ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ to on campus or off campus research scholarship programs (see the list below)

Scholarship and Grants

visit CPP Office of Undergraduate Research

Faculty with research interests

Research Programs On Campus

  • See a list of programs under  (Office of Undergraduate Research at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½)

Summer Research Programs and Internships Off Campus

Undergraduate Research Conferences - On Campus

Undergraduate Research Conferences - Regional and National

  •  - mid November
  •  Annual Meeting on early May
  •  - January
  • California State University Student Research Competition - early May (selected from the campus Student Research Conference)
  • National and international conferences of specific research disciplines - check with faculty

Other Resources