Research Advice and Opportunities

Opportunities

Working in a Penn State Lab Nearly every faculty member at Penn State has undergraduates working with his or her research team, but since many capable undergraduates would like these positions, trying to find a place for yourself may feel like playing musical chairs. There are a number of steps you should be aware of that will improve your chances of reaching your goal, especially if you are interested in working with Biology faculty. Here are a few tips:

1. Be creative: The Department of Biology is just one of the many departments that house faculty whose research addresses biological questions. Consider working with faculty in these other departments or colleges, such as the College of Agriculture, the College of Engineering, the College of Health and Human Development, and the Department of Anthropology. By limiting your research to the Biology Department you are severely limiting your possibilities. Research at Penn State is incredibly diverse with topics and it is up to you to do some detective work and find out which scientists interest you most. Note: If you want to do research with faculty in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, you will have to fill out a special application form available in 101 Althouse Building.
2. Become knowledgeable: Learn about the research that is conducted in the various departments by reviewing the individual web pages for PSU faculty. Consult the Research Opportunities for Undergraduates Web page about university-wide opportunities. Visit the Biology Faculty Research Web page. Alternatively, you can stop by the Undergraduate Advising Office (329 Whitmore Lab) and browse through the Biology Graduate Brochure and pick up a copy of the 1998 Peterson Guide's page outlining Biology faculty and their research at Penn State.
3. Narrow your selection: Prepare a prioritized list of about 4-5 faculty whose research activities are close to your interests.
4. Put your best foot forward: Send the faculty member a letter stating your interests along with a resume and a transcript before you call his or her office. Be sure to mention if you are a work-study student, if you hope to so research for credit, or if you will require pay (during the summer). Faculty are incredibly busy. Give the person a chance to leisurely look at your credentials before meeting with you.
5. Be persistent: Do not expect the faculty member to call you back. Call the faculty member yourself - a week or so after sending information about yourself.
6. Make Appointments: Make appointments with the faculty you have selected to determine such things as:
   1. available lab space/faculty time/funding to accept you as a BIOL 296 or BIOL 496 student/number of hours/week of your time needed for the research effort
   2. the number of additional semesters you can give to the research
   3. the number of credits for which you should register. For ideal times, check out the Faculty Office Hours
7. Do not get discouraged: Unless you are the next Einstein (so exceptional that you could not possibly be turned away), you will very likely need to talk to several faculty before you get lucky. Even if you are a very talented student, you must expect to be disappointed. Faculty are constrained by finances, space, and time, and can not sponsor every student that they find promising. Being turned away may not be a reflection of your abilities.
8. Be realistic: If your grade point average is in the 2.0 range, you will not be very competitive relative to other undergraduates who have performed strongly. Perhaps it would be wiser for you to focus your energies on your course work, and defer working in a research lab until your studies are going well. Many students with a long-range interest in research find their studies very time-consuming, and wait until after graduation to work in a lab.
9. Be aware of special opportunities: Special programs exist to help minorities and Hughes Scholars gain laboratory experience. Occasionally, other special research programs for undergraduates are announced. Usually, these programs are advertised on bulletin boards in several departments, or the information is available at the advising office. Be sure to check the Biology Club bulletin board on the first floor of Mueller lab.