Undergraduate Research

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

NEW! Starting Fall 2026, the Biology Department will offer BIOL 3920 and BIOL 3910 for those who are interested in getting beginner-level, hands-on experience in a lab environment. These courses are specifically for those students who need to learn basic experimental approaches and techniques prior to engaging in the more advanced experimental design and data acquisition/ interpretation expected in BIOL 4920/4910. BIOL 3920/3910 are restricted to instructor permission. Prior completion of BIOL 2100 or 2200 is strongly recommended.  BIOL 3920/3910 are graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, and cannot count toward the Biology major.

BIOL 4920 and 4910 are graded, independent research courses that emphasize experimental design and data acquisition and interpretation. Independent Research courses build on the foundational knowledge of the required core courses in Biology and provide students with opportunities to develop the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in every aspect of 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. Prior lab experience expected via BIOL 3920/3910 or equivalent. A maximum of 6 credits of BIOL 4920/4910 can count toward the major, and a maximum of 4 credits can count toward the minor. 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.

Eligibility

• BIOL 4920 is intended for declared students in any major 
• BIOL 4910 is restricted to the following majors: Biology, Kinesiology, and Global Studies.  
  • All other majors must use the independent research courses within their own programs. 
• Students cannot take multiple independent research courses simultaneously for the same lab.
• 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 Research 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.

BIOL 4920

BIOL 4920 is a graded, 2 credit course for students intending to work in labs within the Biology Department. Once students have made an arrangement to work with a faculty member (your research mentor) in the Biology Department, students should request permission through SIS to enroll in the BIOL 4920 section that is associated with that faculty member.

BIOL 4910

BIOL 4910 is a graded, 2 credit course intended primarily for Biology majors to pursue independent research with faculty outside the department of Biology. 

• Undeclared students, who have completed BIOL 2100 or (AP credit) may also request permission to enroll in BIOL 4910. 
• Non-Biology majors may also request permission to enroll in BIOL 4910 under certain circumstances. 
• Students majoring in Cognitive Science, Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Neuroscience, Chemistry or Biomedical Engineering should enroll in the appropriate independent research course(s) provided by your major department. 
  • Permission for students in these majors to enroll in BIOL 4910 will only be provided with written approval from your department’s undergraduate program director, or director of independent research indicating that the proposed research would be more appropriately conducted through 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. 
• Students are expected to devote 10-12 hours per week in the laboratory. The Biology Department Director of Independent Research, Prof. Michael Wormington (ww2t@virginia.edu) assigns grades based on the recommendation of the student's research mentor. 
• After discussing the proposed course of research with their mentor, students should 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 the student. If a student does not want BIOL 4910 to count towards the initial 15 credit enrollment limit in SIS, a student should not accept the permission given until after SIS raises the credit limit.  Permissions will expire on the Add deadline for each semester. 

For BIOL 4910, summer: Once you have made an arrangement to work with a faculty member outside the Biology Department, please contact 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.

Independent Research Paths for the Biology BA, BS and BA/BS DMP

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