Research Opportunities
Undergraduate biology majors are encouraged to participate in research at some point during their time at Boston University, and there are a number of different programs that help make this possible. In most cases, students should initiate the process by inquiring with potential faculty mentors conducting research in their field of interest. With the approval of a faculty mentor, students may enroll in Directed Research for academic credit beginning as early as the freshman year.
In addition, there are several sources of financial support for undergraduate research. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) administers and supports undergraduate research at Boston University. Support from UROP includes stipends for students conducting research both during the academic year and during the summer and support for research expenses.
Please consult UROP for more information, including listings of specific research opportunities. Individual faculty often have grant funds dedicated specifically to supporting undergraduate researchers, and students with Work-Study grants may find positions in research laboratories, allowing them to gain relevant research experience while they work.
Finally, during the senior year, qualified students may engage in Work for Distinction, an 8-credit, two-semester sequence culminating in the presentation of a senior thesis. Students are advised to inquire about research opportunities and make arrangements for Distinction research well in advance of their senior year. Senior Distinction students often initiate research during their junior year or even earlier. Research credit, including one semester of Work for Distinction, may be substituted for one of the advanced biology courses required for the major.
Each year, approximately 100 Biology undergraduates participate in research in faculty laboratories. View brief profiles of some our undergraduate researchers.
Our Undergrads
Erin McDougal works in Professor Jelle Atema's laboratory studying female American lobster mating preferences for healthy versus shell-diseased males.
Florencia Rago, a Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major, works with Dean Tolan on enzyme protein structure and function. She is a Beckman Scholar supported by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.
Verity Salmon is a senior who currently works in Professor Adrien Finzi's lab. Her project examines the role of tannins in soil nutrient cycling,
Peter Stetson works with Professors Phil Lobel and Les Kaufman on coral reef mapping technologies in Belize.
Beth Cimini works in Professor William Eldred’s laboratory on signaling pathways involving the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the retina.