Undergraduate Research (Biology 98)
Opportunities exist for a few exceptional and highly motivated
University of North Carolina undergraduate students to participate in
ongoing research projects
within our lab. Most students who participate in research enroll in Undergraduate Research (Biology 98) to receive academic
credit. Students who successfully develop research projects during one or more semesters of Biology 98 may become eligible for Biology Honors (Biology 99) and participation in the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Qualifications
To be eligible for Biology 98, a student must obtain permission from a faculty sponsor and have a grade point average of approximately 3.0 or higher. Space in most labs, however, is severely limited, and ours is no exception. During most semesters we can
usually accommodate only one or two undergraduate research students. Thus, the number of applicants greatly exceeds the number of available positions and admission is competitive.
In general, we favor highly motivated students who are planning to pursue
advanced graduate training in science, medicine, education, science
journalism, or a related field in which a detailed understanding of
scientific research is of clear benefit. Research students who enroll in
Biology
98 during the school year are usually expected to work in the lab for at least 8-10 hours per week. Opportunities for participation in intensive field research during the summer months also arise on occasion. Because
research inevitably involves failures as well as successes, applicants must be willing to persevere through difficult and sometimes frustrating experiments.
How to Apply
Students interested in being considered for undergraduate research positions in the Lohmann Lab should submit the following information to Dr. Ken Lohmann or Dr. Catherine Lohmann:
- a transcript of courses completed at UNC and elsewhere
- a brief (one page) statement of your research interests and career goals
- a brief list of notable skills and achievements
- a telephone number and e-mail address where you can be contacted
When a research position becomes available or a new project is started, we review the applications that we have on file and contact students with appropriate interests and abilities. Different projects require different talents, but skills that are often
useful and may give applicants a competitive advantage include computer and electronic expertise, computer programming ability, expertise in constructing mechanical devices, carpentry skills, experience operating small boats, mathematical or statistical
aptitude, and SCUBA certification.
When to Apply
Students can submit applications at any time during the year and are encouraged to apply well in advance of the semester when they hope to begin. Because most research projects require considerably more than one year to complete, we prefer that students
begin their research as sophomores and juniors rather than as seniors.
More information on the UNC
Biology Page
Back to the Lohmann Lab Page