Undergraduate Research

MCB 4905

Microbiology and Cell Science majors with a University of  Florida GPA of 3.0 or higher are encouraged to seek out a faculty research  laboratory and register for undergraduate research, MCB 4905.  Students  interested in doing undergraduate research should investigate different professors  areas of research and find an individual doing research in an area of interest to them.  An excellent starting point is to access the Contacts link which lists various professors and their research interests and then proceed to contact the professor.   Another good starting point is to visit the main administrative offices of different departments (microbiology, biochemistry, molecular genetics and microbiology, zoology, horticultural sciences, environmental engineering,food science, and obtain a listing of the professors and their individual research areas.  Do not be discouraged if your initial contact is unable to accommodate you in their lab; ask them is they might know of someone else doing similar research.  There are numerous professors on campus who would welcome the opportunity to have an undergraduate in their laboratory. 

Some professors may wish to review your transcript.  Professors are interested in students with qualified backgrounds which will enable them to be successful in the laboratory setting.  Be prepared to make a commitment to the research effort for at least a year; it is difficult to do a meaningful research  project for a professor in one semester.  Professors invest substantially  in their undergraduates and a long range commitment is expected. 

When a professor is located, discussions will determine the amount of time you will spend in the lab, your weekly schedule to be in the lab, the number of credits you should register  for, your responsibilities in the lab.  The department policy is that  4 hours  spent in the lab per week  equals 1 credit  hour during a 16 week semester.  For the 12 week summer C session, 6 hours spent in the lab per week equals 1 credit hour.  For the shortened 6 week summer A or summer B sessions, 8 hours spent in the lab per week equals 1 credit hour.   In order to register  for research credits in MCB 4905, you must be a microbiology and cell science major and you are required to complete the MCB 4905 Undergraduate Research Form. You can stop by the the main office and pick one up or you download the form off the web (see link below).  Please return the form to the secretary in the main office for registration  The secretary cannot register you for  the research without this form.  Students cannot register for  more than 4 credits  in a semester (including the entire summer semester) and no more than 10 credits total. 

At the end of the semester your professor should call the department secretary at 392-1906 or email Janet Lyles at janetgil@ufl.edu to submit your grade.  If this is not done, the professor will be contacted to provide your grade. Often students meet the requirements to apply for the University Scholars Program.

There are also opportunities for undergraduate research through the Research Experience Program for Undergraduates at the University of Florida.  For more information about this program go to:
http://www.chem.ufl.edu/~reu/main/index_uf.html