3 answers
Grace
Student
Oregon, Wisconsin
1
Question
Updated
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How do I participate in undergraduate research at a 4-year university?
Hi! I'm currently a high school senior, looking to pursue a degree in Biochemistry. I would love to also partake in cancer research while attending college to help those in need. #FALL25
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3 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Grace,
It's great that you want to get involved in research during your undergraduate studies. It's the best way to learn practical skills and make meaningful connections between the classroom and real-life problem-solving.
What this will look like will be different at each university and in each department. Some schools have "research classes" from the start. Some schools have structured extracurricular research activities funded e.g. by a "Research for Undergraduates" (REU) grant from the NSF. In some schools, you'll have to contact the department or individual faculty members about opportunities to join their research teams. Some schools/professors will be happy to take on first-year students, others will want you to learn some skills - especially lab skills or computer skills - before you can join their group in year 3 and 4 of your studies.
When you get accepted to a university, you'll get a bunch of information and an invitation to some orientation and welcome events. Make sure to pay attention if you need to sign up for any activities in first year. Start getting to know the people in your department. Find out what kind of research people in your department and maybe even in other departments are doing. In your case, find out what kind of research people in the biochemistry department are doing. But if you have a healthcare department, medical school or nursing school at your university, you can also find opportunities there.
You find this kind of information by perusing the research profiles of faculty members and by talking to your TAs. TAs are typically graduate students in your department, i.e. students who are just a few years ahead of you and who are working on their masters or PhD thesis. Also attend presentations in your department and look up research papers (co)authored by people from your university. Once you have identified research groups with interesting projects, you can contact the professor to find out how and when you could be involved in their research.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It's great that you want to get involved in research during your undergraduate studies. It's the best way to learn practical skills and make meaningful connections between the classroom and real-life problem-solving.
What this will look like will be different at each university and in each department. Some schools have "research classes" from the start. Some schools have structured extracurricular research activities funded e.g. by a "Research for Undergraduates" (REU) grant from the NSF. In some schools, you'll have to contact the department or individual faculty members about opportunities to join their research teams. Some schools/professors will be happy to take on first-year students, others will want you to learn some skills - especially lab skills or computer skills - before you can join their group in year 3 and 4 of your studies.
When you get accepted to a university, you'll get a bunch of information and an invitation to some orientation and welcome events. Make sure to pay attention if you need to sign up for any activities in first year. Start getting to know the people in your department. Find out what kind of research people in your department and maybe even in other departments are doing. In your case, find out what kind of research people in the biochemistry department are doing. But if you have a healthcare department, medical school or nursing school at your university, you can also find opportunities there.
You find this kind of information by perusing the research profiles of faculty members and by talking to your TAs. TAs are typically graduate students in your department, i.e. students who are just a few years ahead of you and who are working on their masters or PhD thesis. Also attend presentations in your department and look up research papers (co)authored by people from your university. Once you have identified research groups with interesting projects, you can contact the professor to find out how and when you could be involved in their research.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Cara S
Chemist
4
Answers
Vancouver, Washington
Updated
Cara’s Answer
Hello, Really glad to hear you are excited about participating in research during your undergraduate studies. I think it's such a great way to learn and gain practical experience. I got my first Chemistry job out of college solely due to specific skills I learned working in research during my undergraduate and graduate degrees. My recommendation would be to reach out to the Chemistry/Biochemistry departments at the colleges you are applying to and ask them about what research opportunities are available. This both signals your interest and may help you make a final decision on what college to attend. Most colleges will have emails listed on their websites for specific departments. You can also browse the professors and see if any of them are working on research that specifically interests you. I think reaching out early and inquiring about available opportunities would be a great first step!
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Electrical Engineer, Software Developer, and Career Mentor
517
Answers
Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
Start by checking out faculty profiles and research labs in the biochemistry or related departments at the universities you're interested in. Contact professors whose work matches your interests, and connect with them through lab courses, science fairs, school projects, workshops, internships, or online platforms like Praxilabs, which provides virtual lab simulations. Once you're on campus, join seminars, meetups, research fairs, workshops, and information sessions. Look for structured undergraduate research programs or internships to learn about projects and gain hands-on experience. Volunteering in a lab, taking a research course, joining lab rotations, or participating in summer research fellowships can help you build skills and smoothly transition into more advanced research roles.
Working closely with a faculty member, post-doc, or graduate student teaches you lab protocols, research methods, data analysis, and effective information-seeking. This allows you to contribute meaningfully to research projects. Building connections with faculty, alumni, and professionals is important, as these relationships can guide and support you. Stay proactive and persistent, as research opportunities can be competitive. Keep your curiosity alive, prepare thoroughly, and be willing to learn and contribute through internships, volunteer work, or research programs. This approach can open doors to valuable cancer research experiences during your undergraduate years.
Working closely with a faculty member, post-doc, or graduate student teaches you lab protocols, research methods, data analysis, and effective information-seeking. This allows you to contribute meaningfully to research projects. Building connections with faculty, alumni, and professionals is important, as these relationships can guide and support you. Stay proactive and persistent, as research opportunities can be competitive. Keep your curiosity alive, prepare thoroughly, and be willing to learn and contribute through internships, volunteer work, or research programs. This approach can open doors to valuable cancer research experiences during your undergraduate years.