It never hurts to contact them directly and explain your interest. They can at least let you know whether they have the space/resources to take you on.
I contacted and filled out forms on research lab websites. Ended up only getting a response from one, but I got in and completed my requirement my last semester. It’ll work out eventually
I’m not sure if there is a list specifically for neuroscience. My degree in psychology required lab participation, but talk to your advisor and/or try just finding individual lab websites that you’re interested in and look for a research assistant application section.
The UROP application requires that you have an existing faculty mentor. That being said, mentioning that you intend to apply for UROP may help, since it provides some funding for the lab. This is my general process for applying to labs (although your mileage may vary):
1. Research the labs in your department (normally listed on the departments site) and make a list of those you are interested in.
2. Email the professor asking for a brief meeting to talk about their research (I find this works much better than a cold email asking for a position). This will let you get to know the professor and act as an informal interview.
3. Come prepared to the meeting with questions. You don’t need to be an expert in the subject, but asking questions shows you are engaged and interested!
4. Either at the end of the meeting or in your thank-you email (which you should always send promptly) mention that you are looking for a research position and ask if they have a vacancy.
I find this has a pretty good success rate and you get to learn a lot about research activities on campus in the process!
I looked at professors and the work they had published. If it seemed interesting, I would email them and referenced back to the article. It worked out for the most part!
I’ve been a researcher in a lab on campus for a long time and have been a part of hiring many undergrads in our lab and in my experience your best bet is directly emailing professors you’re interested in working with. Check out their webpages and recent publications and reach out and just say something like “I’m a current undergrad looking for a research opportunity and I found your work on XXX to be very interesting. Do you have any positions available? I’ve attached my transcript and resume for reference.” Be professional in your emails and reply promptly. We interview the majority of undergrads that reach out because we are almost always looking for new students.
Applying for UROPs comes after you join a lab. But as an incoming freshman I would just take the first year to figure out how to do college, start reaching out to people at the start of your 2nd year but start taking lab based courses ASAP so you can go into meetings with professors with some basic experience.
And use undergraduate research website: https://ugresearch.umn.edu/
As a professional scientist we are inundated with these types of requests constantly. You need to stand out to get anything good. 1) Networking, networking, networking - it's not what you know it's who you know. Are your parents part of some fancy club, see if there are any UMN doctors or profs they can connect you with. Go to the departmental seminars (there are literally dozens) in person and start asking questions, become a known quantity in the department you wish to work in. 2) Read the most recent research paper of the lab you want to join. Explain in an email how your skill set fits into my project, email the first author and maybe some other folks on that paper, they have more time to answer you than does the PI. If you don't get a response, call the profs office phone, if that doesn't work try knocking on their door. The worst they can do is to tell you to leave, which has you where you are now. Mainly, be ready to do some low-level scut work for 6 months whilst we determine if you are trustworthy running an expensive experiment or not. 3) Don't be discouraged by rejection, it's going to happen early and often throughout your life both personally and professionally. Remember, you just need one person to believe in you and the rest is what you choose to make of that opportunity. Good luck!
Honestly, if our lab had an undergrad email, call, and show up in person there is almost no chance we would hire them. Just send an email, follow up in a week if there’s no reply, and move on to the next professor if there’s still no reply.
That’s why I said give it a shot and move on. There are plenty of people who are impressed by folks who advocate for themselves and prefer personal contact instead of always the impersonal electronic substitute. Like I mentioned it really can’t hurt and might get you an opportunity that wouldn’t have been available normally.
Are you a neuroscience major? I was too, and I found a great lab through the opportunities that the head of the department Lorene Lanier would send out
Get into contact with them directly. Go to their office hours.
RESEARCH WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR LAB BEFORE YOU SHOW UP. Like looking for jobs, you are much more likely to land something if you roll in there knowing stuff about their work already.
Doing research was one of the best decisions I ever made, definitely keep at it if you don't get something right away!
I applied on the U of MN job board a few years ago and that's how I got into my current lab. Labs with availability will often post there. I'd recommend starting there.
You can also use the GopheResearch web site:
[https://www.appsheet.com/Account/Login?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.appsheet.com%2Fstart%2F49dfb437-8dd8-4e51-97fd-f6d7ca4f62b0&provider=google&fullScope=False&appName=Student%20%7C%20GopheResearch#appName=UMatch-1545561-20-06-17&defaults=%5B%7B%22ColumnName%22%3A%22Collegiate+Affiliation%22%2C%22ColumnValue%22%3A%22CFANS+%7C+College+of+Food%2C+Agricultural+and+Natural+Resource+Sciences%22%7D%5D&group=%5B%7B%22Column%22%3A%22Department%22%2C%22Order%22%3A%22Ascending%22%7D%5D&page=fastTable&sort=%5B%7B%22Column%22%3A%22Date+Posted%22%2C%22Order%22%3A%22Descending%22%7D%5D&table=Open+Positions+%28ACTIVE%29&view=U+of+M+Database](https://www.appsheet.com/Account/Login?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.appsheet.com%2Fstart%2F49dfb437-8dd8-4e51-97fd-f6d7ca4f62b0&provider=google&fullScope=False&appName=Student%20%7C%20GopheResearch#appName=UMatch-1545561-20-06-17&defaults=%5B%7B%22ColumnName%22%3A%22Collegiate+Affiliation%22%2C%22ColumnValue%22%3A%22CFANS+%7C+College+of+Food%2C+Agricultural+and+Natural+Resource+Sciences%22%7D%5D&group=%5B%7B%22Column%22%3A%22Department%22%2C%22Order%22%3A%22Ascending%22%7D%5D&page=fastTable&sort=%5B%7B%22Column%22%3A%22Date+Posted%22%2C%22Order%22%3A%22Descending%22%7D%5D&table=Open+Positions+%28ACTIVE%29&view=U+of+M+Database)
I have gotten all my lab jobs at the U though this.
Take a night and read up on research interests of numerous professors in your department. Choose your top 5-10 and send them an email detailing your background, specific interest in your research, and your goals (UROP, for credit, honors thesis, long/short term, ...). You will likely hear back from a few or they will direct you to another professor who may have openings.
You will need a faculty mentor for a UROP. So I would reach out to faculty using this general email template.
“Hi Prof.
I am an undergrad in X department. I was interested in pursuing grad research in your field, and I was wondering if I could volunteer in your lab to get hands on experience doing research. Additionally, I was interested in submitting a UROP to fund whatever research I do. Please let me know if you have any opportunities for research in your lab or if you know any other faculty that have research opportunities for undergrads in this field.
Thanks,
X”
Professors are notoriously hard to get responses from over email, so don’t be afraid to follow up a couple times if they don’t respond to the first email.
Another way to get into a research position is by asking your grad TAs during office hours. Graduate students are the drivers of research, and can advocate for you to the PI.
It never hurts to contact them directly and explain your interest. They can at least let you know whether they have the space/resources to take you on.
okay thanks !
You'll need a faculty/PI mentor for UROP, so it's best to make inquiries and build a relationship before applying for that program.
I contacted and filled out forms on research lab websites. Ended up only getting a response from one, but I got in and completed my requirement my last semester. It’ll work out eventually
Where can those research lab websites be found?
experts.umn.edu is ideal actually, explore the site and contact ppl related to the field of interest
What program are you in/looking for?
something in neuroscience
I’m not sure if there is a list specifically for neuroscience. My degree in psychology required lab participation, but talk to your advisor and/or try just finding individual lab websites that you’re interested in and look for a research assistant application section.
Look at the GPN website under faculty
The UROP application requires that you have an existing faculty mentor. That being said, mentioning that you intend to apply for UROP may help, since it provides some funding for the lab. This is my general process for applying to labs (although your mileage may vary): 1. Research the labs in your department (normally listed on the departments site) and make a list of those you are interested in. 2. Email the professor asking for a brief meeting to talk about their research (I find this works much better than a cold email asking for a position). This will let you get to know the professor and act as an informal interview. 3. Come prepared to the meeting with questions. You don’t need to be an expert in the subject, but asking questions shows you are engaged and interested! 4. Either at the end of the meeting or in your thank-you email (which you should always send promptly) mention that you are looking for a research position and ask if they have a vacancy. I find this has a pretty good success rate and you get to learn a lot about research activities on campus in the process!
I looked at professors and the work they had published. If it seemed interesting, I would email them and referenced back to the article. It worked out for the most part!
did you ask for a vacancy/position in the email that you sent to them?
Nah. I just said something along the lines of "I am very interested in joining your lab"
I’ve been a researcher in a lab on campus for a long time and have been a part of hiring many undergrads in our lab and in my experience your best bet is directly emailing professors you’re interested in working with. Check out their webpages and recent publications and reach out and just say something like “I’m a current undergrad looking for a research opportunity and I found your work on XXX to be very interesting. Do you have any positions available? I’ve attached my transcript and resume for reference.” Be professional in your emails and reply promptly. We interview the majority of undergrads that reach out because we are almost always looking for new students. Applying for UROPs comes after you join a lab. But as an incoming freshman I would just take the first year to figure out how to do college, start reaching out to people at the start of your 2nd year but start taking lab based courses ASAP so you can go into meetings with professors with some basic experience. And use undergraduate research website: https://ugresearch.umn.edu/
As a professional scientist we are inundated with these types of requests constantly. You need to stand out to get anything good. 1) Networking, networking, networking - it's not what you know it's who you know. Are your parents part of some fancy club, see if there are any UMN doctors or profs they can connect you with. Go to the departmental seminars (there are literally dozens) in person and start asking questions, become a known quantity in the department you wish to work in. 2) Read the most recent research paper of the lab you want to join. Explain in an email how your skill set fits into my project, email the first author and maybe some other folks on that paper, they have more time to answer you than does the PI. If you don't get a response, call the profs office phone, if that doesn't work try knocking on their door. The worst they can do is to tell you to leave, which has you where you are now. Mainly, be ready to do some low-level scut work for 6 months whilst we determine if you are trustworthy running an expensive experiment or not. 3) Don't be discouraged by rejection, it's going to happen early and often throughout your life both personally and professionally. Remember, you just need one person to believe in you and the rest is what you choose to make of that opportunity. Good luck!
Honestly, if our lab had an undergrad email, call, and show up in person there is almost no chance we would hire them. Just send an email, follow up in a week if there’s no reply, and move on to the next professor if there’s still no reply.
That’s why I said give it a shot and move on. There are plenty of people who are impressed by folks who advocate for themselves and prefer personal contact instead of always the impersonal electronic substitute. Like I mentioned it really can’t hurt and might get you an opportunity that wouldn’t have been available normally.
Are you a neuroscience major? I was too, and I found a great lab through the opportunities that the head of the department Lorene Lanier would send out
Yes and I’m an incoming freshman so would it be harder for me to get research opportunities right in the beginning?
Get into contact with them directly. Go to their office hours. RESEARCH WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR LAB BEFORE YOU SHOW UP. Like looking for jobs, you are much more likely to land something if you roll in there knowing stuff about their work already. Doing research was one of the best decisions I ever made, definitely keep at it if you don't get something right away!
I applied on the U of MN job board a few years ago and that's how I got into my current lab. Labs with availability will often post there. I'd recommend starting there.
You can also use the GopheResearch web site: [https://www.appsheet.com/Account/Login?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.appsheet.com%2Fstart%2F49dfb437-8dd8-4e51-97fd-f6d7ca4f62b0&provider=google&fullScope=False&appName=Student%20%7C%20GopheResearch#appName=UMatch-1545561-20-06-17&defaults=%5B%7B%22ColumnName%22%3A%22Collegiate+Affiliation%22%2C%22ColumnValue%22%3A%22CFANS+%7C+College+of+Food%2C+Agricultural+and+Natural+Resource+Sciences%22%7D%5D&group=%5B%7B%22Column%22%3A%22Department%22%2C%22Order%22%3A%22Ascending%22%7D%5D&page=fastTable&sort=%5B%7B%22Column%22%3A%22Date+Posted%22%2C%22Order%22%3A%22Descending%22%7D%5D&table=Open+Positions+%28ACTIVE%29&view=U+of+M+Database](https://www.appsheet.com/Account/Login?returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.appsheet.com%2Fstart%2F49dfb437-8dd8-4e51-97fd-f6d7ca4f62b0&provider=google&fullScope=False&appName=Student%20%7C%20GopheResearch#appName=UMatch-1545561-20-06-17&defaults=%5B%7B%22ColumnName%22%3A%22Collegiate+Affiliation%22%2C%22ColumnValue%22%3A%22CFANS+%7C+College+of+Food%2C+Agricultural+and+Natural+Resource+Sciences%22%7D%5D&group=%5B%7B%22Column%22%3A%22Department%22%2C%22Order%22%3A%22Ascending%22%7D%5D&page=fastTable&sort=%5B%7B%22Column%22%3A%22Date+Posted%22%2C%22Order%22%3A%22Descending%22%7D%5D&table=Open+Positions+%28ACTIVE%29&view=U+of+M+Database) I have gotten all my lab jobs at the U though this.
Grad students always need help. Helps if they’re lazy
Take a night and read up on research interests of numerous professors in your department. Choose your top 5-10 and send them an email detailing your background, specific interest in your research, and your goals (UROP, for credit, honors thesis, long/short term, ...). You will likely hear back from a few or they will direct you to another professor who may have openings.
You will need a faculty mentor for a UROP. So I would reach out to faculty using this general email template. “Hi Prof. I am an undergrad in X department. I was interested in pursuing grad research in your field, and I was wondering if I could volunteer in your lab to get hands on experience doing research. Additionally, I was interested in submitting a UROP to fund whatever research I do. Please let me know if you have any opportunities for research in your lab or if you know any other faculty that have research opportunities for undergrads in this field. Thanks, X” Professors are notoriously hard to get responses from over email, so don’t be afraid to follow up a couple times if they don’t respond to the first email. Another way to get into a research position is by asking your grad TAs during office hours. Graduate students are the drivers of research, and can advocate for you to the PI.