How to Find a Research Lab

You should look for faculty who conduct basic research in areas of biology that interest and excite you.  Within the Biology Department, start with the Research page of the Biology Department website.  Outside of the Department, start with the links that are listed at the bottom of this page.  As you identify faculty doing research in your area of interest, check out their lab’s website to learn more about the specific research they do and their lab culture.  Some faculty may even advertise open positions on their lab’s website.

Once you have a list of possible research mentors, send each one an email to inquire about research opportunities.  In this email you should include the following: your year, what you hope to gain from a research position, what type of position you are interested in (hourly pay, work-study, credit), and why you are specifically drawn to the faculty member’s research. Attach a copy of your resume. Note that you need not have a perfect GPA nor prior research experience to do research. Many jobs you might have had previously (e.g., food service) can offer great preparation for the day-to-day of a research position. 

If you do not hear back, follow-up after ~one week with a polite email forwarding your original inquiry. Faculty may not have openings at the time, but you can ask them to keep you in mind if future positions open up. 

It can be hard to find an open position, so aim to contact multiple faculty.

Positions for hourly pay

Faculty will often hire undergraduates for specific research tasks or projects. These positions are paid by the hour and are a great way of getting introduced to a faculty's group and research. Keep an eye out for positions advertised in your Biology classes or on the websites of faculty members. The description of the position will specify the nature of the work and the process for applying. 

Federal Work-Study

Work study positions are posted on Handshake, with details of the position and how to apply. Eligible students are also encouraged to inquire with faculty about the possibility of a work study position even if a position is not listed on Handshake. 

Research for credit

Students can enroll in Independent Research (BIOL 4910 and 4920) to earn course credit for research. Independent Research builds on the foundational knowledge of BIOL 3000 core classes and provides students with opportunities to develop the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in every aspect of basic research. Students can expect to gain experience formulating a hypothesis, designing and carrying out experiments to test that hypothesis, and analyzing the results of those experiments to extend or modify the hypothesis. Students are strongly encouraged to present their research at UVA’s Undergraduate Research Symposium, the Biology Department’s Annual Symposium, and/or a relevant conference. 

Students whose mentors are in the Biology Department should take BIOL 4920 and those whose mentors are outside the Biology Department should take BIOL 4910. Students may enroll once in either BIOL 4910 or 4920 course per semester or summer session term, and students are expected to stay within the same laboratory during any semester of BIOL 4910 or 4920.

Students receive 2 credits for each semester of BIOL 4910/4920. These are graded courses, with students expected to devote 10-12 hours per week on their research.  At the start of the semester, students should discuss expectations with their research mentor. Students are advised to work with their mentor to draft a research plan or syllabus detailing what a successful semester should look like. For 4920, grades are assigned by the research mentor. For 4910, grades are assigned by the Biology Department Director of Independent Research, Prof. Mike Wormington (ww2t@virginia.edu) in consultation with the research mentor. Two semesters of Independent Research completed in the same laboratory may be used to satisfy the Biology laboratory course requirement for the B.A. major.

Please note that independent studies in strictly clinical settings generally do not satisfy the requirements for Independent Research.

How to enroll in Independent Research

Consultation with your prospective research mentor is required prior to enrollment in BIOL 4910 and BIOL 4920. Some faculty only take on students for Independent Reseach after they have spent a semester working in the lab, so if Independent Research is a goal, start looking early for a position in a lab.

For BIOL 4920: Once you have made an arrangement to work with a faculty member (your research mentor) in the Biology Department, you need to request permission through SIS to enroll in the BIOL 4920 section that is associated with that faculty member.

For BIOL 4910: For the fall 2025 semester, you need to request instructor permission to enroll in BIOL 4910 in SIS. Your request should include a brief description (3-4 sentences) of your proposed research and both the name and computing ID of your faculty research advisor. This should be the principal investigator of the lab, not the graduate student, postdoc or technician who may be directly training you. Prof. Wormington (ww2t@virginia.edu) will confirm with your research advisor that you will be working in their lab. Permissions will be issued after SIS increases the enrollment credit limit in early August and will expire on the Add deadline, Sept. 9, 2025. NOTE: Students who have declared a major outside biology should first discuss their proposed research project with the director of their major undergraduate program or track before requesting permission to enroll in BIOL 4910. Depending on your project, it may be more appropriate for you to enroll in the independent research course offered by your major instead of BIOL 4910. Even if your research would be more appropriately conducted under BIOL 4910, not all programs or tracks will allow these credits to satisfy major degree requirements.

For BIOL 4910, summer: Once you have made an arrangement to work with a faculty member outside the Biology Department, please contact Assoc. Prof. Dave Kittlesen by email (djk3w@virginia.edu) instead of completing the application form mentioned above. Please see the Summer Session web site https://summer.virginia.edu for tuition fees and the summer calendar.

Regulatory Issues For Animal or Human Subject Research

Work with live animals requires Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval prior to initiating research. ‘Animals’ in this context includes all animals with a spine. For additional information contact your research mentor and consult this link.

Human subject research requires specific Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals prior to initiating research.  Human subject research includes research with living subjects and work with human-derived data that can potentially be identifiable. For more specifics, contact your research mentor and consult this link.

These regulatory approvals can take considerable time to process. Make sure your lab initiates the approval process for you early to avoid delays.

Scholarships and Fellowship Opportunities

Please visit the Center for Undergraduate Excellence's page on opportunities for Scholarships and Fellowships as well as their Awards Database. Students in the Biology department take advantage of many of these opportunities, including the Harrison Award and the Double Hoo award to support research over the summer. 

Other Departments for Independent Research Opportunities

Environmental Sciences

Chemistry

Basic Science Departments in the School of Medicine

• Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
• Molecular Physiology & Biological Physics
• Microbiology, Immunology & Cancer Biology
• Cell Biology
• Neuroscience
• Pathology
• Pharmacology