Undergraduate Research
Undergraduates play a major role in ZEAL. See Expectations of undergraduate students for what I expect of everyone in these roles.
Lab maintenance vs. independent research
Lab maintenance
Most undergraduates start out helping with lab maintenance. This keeps the lab running and is how you learn the basic skills we use every day. Lab maintenance tasks include:
- Water changes and feeding for the copepod cultures
- Preparing nutrient media (see the Media Calculator)
- Autoclaving water and lab supplies, like pipette tips
- General organization, like cleaning up and organizing the lab space
Independent projects
Independent projects are possible once you’ve been trained in the lab. Training will typically take at least a semester, and may also involve a summer working alongside current students and assisting with their projects.
Independent projects are typically run during the summer, often with support from a program like the Kennedy College of Sciences Science Scholars program. During the academic year, you can work on an independent project through:
- Research for credit: Senior Research or Directed Study
- Scholarships: the Moloney Scholar Program
- Academic programs: RHSA Roads to Research, Immersive Scholars, or the Honors College
See Programs at UMass Lowell below for details on each.
Time commitments
| Typical commitment | |
|---|---|
| Semester, lab maintenance | 2–3 hours per week |
| Semester, independent project | 10–12 hours per week |
| Summer | At least 20 hours per week |
Time on an independent project includes lab meetings, one-on-one meetings with me, and reading background literature, not just time at the bench. Your schedule is set with me at the start of each semester or summer (see Scheduling and workload).
Programs and opportunities
At UMass Lowell
These programs can support research in the lab. Details change from year to year, so check each program’s page for current dates and requirements, and talk with me before you apply. Note: several of these programs have restricted eligibility.
| Program | When | Support | Who’s eligible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science Scholars | Summer | Stipend up to $5,000 | Rising sophomores to rising seniors in a KCS major |
| Moloney Scholar Program | Fall or academic year | Up to $2,500 | Full-time students in an unpaid position |
| Roads to Research | Academic year | $2,500 scholarship | River Hawk Scholars Academy students |
| Immersive Scholars | Summer or academic year | $4,000 stipend | Students offered it with their admission merit scholarship |
| Senior Research (BIOL.4110L/4120L) | Senior year (two semesters) | 4 credits per semester | Senior biology majors |
| Directed Study | Any semester | Course credit | [check with your academic advisor] |
Science Scholars (Kennedy College of Sciences): paid summer research with a KCS faculty member. Students must be in good academic standing, returning to UMass Lowell, and authorized to work in the U.S. Applications open in mid-spring and KCS students get an email, so talk with me before the spring application cycle. Ends with a 3–5 page report and a presentation at a student research symposium.
Moloney Scholar Program: support for students doing on-campus research with faculty or unfunded off-campus internships (e.g. with the National Parks Service). Arrange the position with me first, since you’ll need an offer letter or email from me to apply.
Roads to Research (River Hawk Scholars Academy): 150 hours of mentored research over the academic year, plus a workshop series, for RHSA students in any major who have finished their first-year requirements and are in good standing. Ends with a poster at the Student Research and Community Engagement Symposium or end-of-year events.
Immersive Scholars: 300 hours of research, either full time over a summer (about 30 hours per week for 10 weeks) or part time during the academic year (about 10 hours per week). It’s a one-time opportunity offered to some students as part of their admission merit scholarship, usually in the summer before sophomore year, so students can’t apply directly. If you’re eligible, apply for open lab positions posted on JobHawk. Ends with a poster at the UMass symposium.
Senior Research: Research-for-credit. Two four-unit course options, which take the place of an upper division elective with lab.
Directed Study: Research-for-credit. Two course options, for either 1- or 2-credits. Contribute to free electives.
Honors projects
For students interested in doing an honors project with me, I encourage at least one semester of prior work in the lab. The Honors College sets the official requirements, summarized here. Always check the Honors Project/Thesis page for the current details and the Honors College’s forms and deadlines.
What will this entail?
Honors projects vary in scope, and are ideally based on your own interests. I will typically be your primary mentor, but you may also work with a graduate student if your project overlaps with theirs.
As an honors student in the lab, you will:
- Write a project proposal
- Write a thesis, with the expectation that it could lay the groundwork for a peer-reviewed publication
- Present your thesis work at the Honors presentation at the end of the year
- Give a poster presentation at the Student Research and Community Engagement Symposium
Honors College funding
- Honors College Student Fellowship: $1,500–$3,000 for pre-approved scholarly work guided by a mentor. Fellowships take about 75 hours (one semester) or 150 hours (two semesters), must include a critical reading component, and end with a 15-minute presentation. See Honors College Fellowships.
- Honors Project Grant: up to $500 for project materials, depending on available funding. You must be a member of the Honors College in good standing and working on an Honors Project. Apply by the end of the add/drop period in the semester you’ll need reimbursement.
Honors timeline
See the Honors Timeline for when each step happens. See the templates page for links to the relevant quarto template documents.
Research Opportunities Beyond UMass Lowell
List of REU programs, field stations, and courses: TBD.
Letters of recommendation
As long as you are meeting the expectations described in this handbook, you can assume that I will write you a strong letter of recommendation.
Check with me when you’re deciding to apply for a program, and give me at least two weeks before the deadline. When you ask for a letter, it helps if you send me:
- A description of the program or opportunity
- What’s required for the application
- Drafts of your application materials
- Anything you’d like me to emphasize in my letter